Thread: Please help a noob pick out everything he needs

So I just decided to learn how to shave with a straight edge razor. So far this is everything that I've picked out.

Razor-http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522940/186369.htm

Strop-http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/817097.htm

Strop Paste-http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/196060.htm

Brush-http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/6909862/6873178.htm

Hone-http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/196094.htm

I would like to learn to sharpen my own razor. Part of switching from cheap crappy razors to a straight edge razor is to save money in the long run.

DVD-http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522940/3712199.htm

Shaving bowl-http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522952/5687043.htm

So my questions is how does this stuff look and what else do I need?

Is the strop oil I picked out good for the strop I picked? Do I need to put oil on my razor after using it? Or do I just dry it off and store it somewhere that isn't humid? I've also never bought real shaving cream, anything I need to know about that? Otherwise I'll just pick out some cheap stuff I guess.

And also I was thinking of just finding a cheap razor to use, instead of the one posted, to learn to hone and strop with (so if I mess it up it wont really matter, and then using the more expensive one to use as a comparison). Does anyone have a suggestion, a specific suggestion with link included if possible, for a cheap razor to get?

"Get something like this set. You will nick that strop, and this strop has replaceable parts. I would upgrade to the 3" one. Get some neatsfoot oil in any event."

Ok, I went with that set, I also put everything you recommended into my shopping cart also.

You will not need that hone for now.

Don't you need to resharpen your razor after 15-50 shaves?

Invest that money in another razor from the classifieds and use that for learning. Chances are you will drop/ding against faucet/let rust that Bismarck, and it would be a shame, would it not?

Can you give me a link to the classified section? I looked for the classifieds section, and I couldn't find anything. Are you talking about the section on Ebay?

And I agree, it would be a shame to ruin a good razor. That's why I was thinking of getting just a cheap razor to learn with.

Welcome Steak!

razor/strop-Beberlin gave you some great info, the set he suggested would be great for a beginner.

strop oil-You shouldn't need the strop oil since there strops come pretreated and with proper care strops only need to be treated maybe once a year if that. Just rub the strop daily with the palm of your hand the oils in your skin will help break in the strop.

Hones- Since price doesn't seem to be an issue a nice starter set to learn to hone would be this norton starter set grab some cheap razors in the classified section of SRP (straight razor place) also check your local antique dealers and e-bay for lot sales of razors, you will have to do some restoration work on these though.

shaving bowl- is very nice but unecessary you can use any cereal bowl or coffee mug or since you like the metal look at cat water dishes

soap/cream- Don't know where your located but if your in the USA williams and VDH (vander hagen) can be found at any wallgreens CVS or wallmart dirt cheap.


for creames the easiest and cheapest to find is C.O. Bigelow (relabled proraso) can be found at most bath and body (not to be confused with bed bath and beyond or the bod shop) for $5-10


great starter soaps and creams till you learn to lather and can then upgrade to better ones. Also alum blocks work great some people don't like the sting they produce so I will suggest you get some with hazel (WH) also any store that has a pharmacy section carries the stuff its pretty cheap too.


WH has a very pungent smell if you want to try scented WH theyers makes a line of it with different scents and can be found at most Vitamin GNC or whole foods stores but its kinda pricey.



To answer your other questions, drying a razor depends on your area and the climate there. If you live somewhere wet and humid rust can be a big risk and you should oil your razor after every use and then wipe it off right before you shave. If you live in a dry area simply rinsing it under hot water then drying with a towel or tissue may suffice.

building lather is a art in itself and more difficult than most newbies give it credit for, I suggest checking out the wiki and video section of the forum and also watching Mantic's videos

Good luck and once again welcome you won't regret your decision to switch over. Str8t shaving takes alot of patience and effort when starting out but the closeness of the shave and the wonderful community here at srp will keep you coming back.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Originally Posted by Steak

Don't you need to resharpen your razor after 15-50 shaves?

Can you give me a link to the classified section? I looked for the classifieds section, and I couldn't find anything. Are you talking about the section on Ebay?

Depend on your beard stubble frequency of shaves and your razor, but yes when it starts tugging time to be refreshed. This however doesn't require a set of hones a simple barber hone like a swaty or a pasted strop will do this just fine. 5-10 quick strokes will "refresh" a blades edge only when you restore a blade or sharpen it for the first time do you need a set of hones and a pyramid system.

I put a link in my post above but the classifieds section is at the top of SRP where it says: forums, reviews, wiki, classifieds, fact chat, webcast community etc.

E-bay is a horrible place for newbies to find razors and will never be suggested by a knowlegable member except for beat up non-shave ready razors for practicing restoration and or honing.

Welcome Steak!

Thank you. And thanks for all your recommendations. It will save me money. Money is somewhat of a factor. It's just that this is my first time getting in, so I have to buy a lot of things. The only thing I'm really splurging on is the brush, because that will last pretty much forever correct? And I can't really mess that up? Or can I, lol?

And thanks for explaining the hone thing. I looked up the swaty, but for some reason neither of the websites I'm going to be ordering from has one. So I went to ebay. Is this what you are recommending?

vintage franz swaty wahring beiwien austria hone - eBay (item 110450123677 end time Nov-01-09 16:35:05 PST)

Also, in the article above (Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki) that explains what makes a good razor, it says to get a 6/8. Would it make much a difference if I got a 5/8? I found a cheap $50 razor that seems to be in good condition, but it's only 5/8.

FS: Morley 5/8 full hollow - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Originally Posted by Steak

Thank you. And thanks for all your recommendations. It will save me money. Money is somewhat of a factor. It's just that this is my first time getting in, so I have to buy a lot of things. The only thing I'm really splurging on is the brush, because that will last pretty much forever correct? And I can't really mess that up? Or can I, lol?

And thanks for explaining the hone thing. I looked up the swaty, but for some reason neither of the websites I'm going to be ordering from has one. So I went to ebay. Is this what you are recommending?

vintage franz swaty wahring beiwien austria hone - eBay (item 110450123677 end time Nov-01-09 16:35:05 PST)

Also, in the article above (Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki) that explains what makes a good razor, it says to get a 6/8. Would it make much a difference if I got a 5/8? I found a cheap $50 razor that seems to be in good condition, but it's only 5/8.

FS: Morley 5/8 full hollow - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

5/8 or 6/8 makes little difference, but for a new person the 5/8 and even 4/8 are easiest to handle. The stuff you have picked out is great, however like it was said above, you need to start on a cheaper strop and move up, but a 3" is easiest to use. The Soap shown above from CVS and Walgreens works and is cheap.
DOn't get too hung up on honing right now. You can have that done, but the Norton set is the cheapest and easiest way to start. I also recommend the chinese 12K as its a cheap finishing hone and cuts slow. SWaty hones are great I am told and every time I find one they are expensive and are really only for touch ups.
Take your time and be patient and you will learn to enjoy it. Going to fast will result in cuts, money wasted, and an unhappy result.
Good Luck and Welcome to SRP!

Brushes can last a lifetime if taken care of properly mantics videos I linked you to have the steps to maintaining a brush also our wiki . Expensive brushes are usually softer and have ornate handles however a $10 tweezerman or omega brush will get the job done just fine and last just as long.

If money is a factor we can readjust your orders and help you build a very inexpensive starter kit till you know if str8t shaving is for you just have to ask

Yes that swaty is what I was referring to, However you will have to lapped (flatten) that hone before you use it. You can buy barber hones in the classified section here already lapped for you other wise here is a link on the process. You wont need one of these however until at least a month or more into shaving and by then you should know whether you like str8t shaving and will continue it or not so you may want to hold off for a little while.

A newbie razor consists of a roundpoint because when starting it takes some getting use to the length of a razor and is common to nick an ear lobe if using a spike point razor. Half hollow are recommended because it is right in the middle of grinds a full hollow is very light and thin so the blades flexes too easy and cause alot of irritation for a newbie who doesn't know proper angles yet. A wedge (opposite of full hallow) is very thick and heavy so won't flex but has very little feedback (noise) so is easy for a newbie to mis-strop of use improper technique and not know it. That is why a half hallow which is right in the middle is recommended.

A 6/8 is recommended bacause again it is right in the middle of the sizes of razors (4/8-8/8) getting a 5/8 will have no ill effect on your shave and 5/8 are more easily found than 6/8.

just FYI razors do come bigger than 8/8 and smaller than 4/8 but the bigger ones are expensive and too heavy for a newbie to learn on, like wise the smaller razors are poor shavers because they are so light but make great detail razors for mustaches and goatees or for ladies shaving underarms .

Originally Posted by Steak

Thank you. And thanks for all your recommendations. It will save me money. Money is somewhat of a factor. It's just that this is my first time getting in, so I have to buy a lot of things. The only thing I'm really splurging on is the brush, because that will last pretty much forever correct? And I can't really mess that up? Or can I, lol?

And thanks for explaing the hone thing. I looked up the swaty, but for some reason neither of the websites I'm going to be ordering from has one. So I went to ebay. Is this what you are recommending?

vintage franz swaty wahring beiwien austria hone - eBay (item 110450123677 end time Nov-01-09 16:35:05 PST)

Also, in the article above that explains what makes a good razor, it says to get a 6/8. Would it make much a difference if I got a 5/8? I found a cheap $50 razor that seems to be in good condition, but it's only 5/8.

FS: Morley 5/8 full hollow - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Brushes can last a lifetime if taken care of properly mantics videos I linked you to have the steps to maintaining a brush also our wiki . Expensive brushes are usually softer and have ornate handles however a $10 tweezerman or omega brush will get the job done just fine and last just as long.

Alright, I'll probably go with a cheaper one then.

Yes that swaty is what I was referring to, However you will have to lapped (flatten) that hone before you use it. You can buy barber hones in the classified section here already lapped for you other wise here is a link on the process. You wont need one of these however until at least a month or more into shaving and by then you should know whether you like str8t shaving and will continue it or not so you may want to hold off for a little while.

The only swaty I found was a message of another member wanting one. I guess I will have to go with ebay and flatten it myself.

So the swaty will be all I need, along with the strop, to keep a blade maintained?


I'm going to ahead and by this razor-

http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...uct/4322/cat/3

This will be the one I use until I sort of know what I'm doing. Then I will move up to the more expensive one posted above in an earlier post.

Thanks for the brush reccomendation. I like the one you posted better then the one I was going to get.

This stuff is all so confusing lol. I've changed my order so many times now. I guess I will put off getting a hone until later.

I'm going to buy two razors.

Some cream and after shave

Strop

neatsfoot oil

DVD

whoops forgot about the brushes there are two types (3 actually but most don't like synthetic) boar and badger. Boar are known to be cheap and produce lather quickly but are not soft like badger and don't hold water as well. These brushes are made from real animal hair so when you get them wet the first time they will smell! The smell will go away after a few days of use though be sure to watch all of mantics videos and check the wiki for more info.





tweezerman is one of the cheapest badger brushes you can get thats decent quality can be found on amazon.com or wallgreens. Omega is a cheap boar brush brand that is well known can also be found on amazon.com. Wallmart carries a VDH set that comes with a bowl a brush and a puck of soap the bowl is tiny and the brush is probably the cheapest out of the 3 but it does work and will be find for a starter brush plus it comes with soap.