Thread: A Minimalist and A Total Newbie

What is the least amount of equipment I can use with a straight razor? I already have a badger brush and some good shaving soap. Do I NEED a hone? How many? I guess I do need a strop. Will strop paste work like a hone? The less I have to buy the better. Then again, I don't want to have to send my razor in for honing. I would rather do it myself. Thank you all. This is a great forum.

You don't really 'need' a strop, but, I would highly recommend it and so will just about every one else. You can just use the palm of your hand, or newspaper, but it's less than ideal really. You can get some good strops for not a lot of money, so, wait until you see a deal and go for it.

If you want to hone your own razors, you're gunna need a hone. If you just have the one or two (two is recommended) straight razors, and you bought them both shave ready, then you could pick up a barbers hone for $30 and it will serve you for some time. In that time, you could perhaps wait for a deal on a Norton 4/8k or a BBW/Coticule (or just a coticule) and you would likely never need to buy another hone in your life time.

Pasted strops don't really work like hones. They are more like coarse strops than fine hones in my humble opinion. I do have one, but I rarely use it, I don't think you need one.

Hope that is useful to you.

I'm a newbie on a budget, too, but I think I can answer your question. Obviously you need a shave ready razor. If you start with a good, sharp razor you will not only get better shaves, but you will also know what a sharp razor feels like on your face, so when it does need some service you'll know it.

You will need a strop, and hit the wiki's so you will know how to strop. Many newbies ruin the edge on their razors by improper stropping. Again, use your new, sharp razor before stropping, so if this happens to you you'll know it.

The leather strop should keep your razor sharp between honings, which may be about every 3 to 6 months or more.

You do not need any kind of paste or stone at this point in the game. Just use the plain leather on the strop, and work on proper stropping.

An inexpensive but good strop a lot of newbies get is the Rup Razor Filly. The idea is you want a quality strop, but because you may cut it up a bit you don't want an expensive one.

Down the road you will probably want to sharpen your own razor, and there are plenty of videos and experts around here to help you do that when the time comes.

Oh, yeah. To help keep your blade sharp watch your stropping and start slow. Speed will come later. And, don't bang the blade on the sink spiggot. Doesn't take much, and seems like that's a common goof. The edge is very fragile.

Good luck.

Yeah, I have to respectfully disagree with gregs. You'll need a strop, period. The reality of the matter is that we have alot of newbs around that mess up their edges on proper strops let alone on something not designed to maintain a razor.

Originally Posted by red96ta

Yeah, I have to respectfully disagree with gregs. You'll need a strop, period. The reality of the matter is that we have alot of newbs around that mess up their edges on proper strops let alone on something not designed to maintain a razor.

As far as I know, leather was not designed to maintain a razor, it's just a happy coincidence that has been turned into a marketable product.

So yer, you don't need one, I recommend you get one but if you're short on cash then the palm of your hand or newspaper or a car seat belt or a normal run of the mill smooth leather belt will all do the job. It's not ideal, but what compromise ever is?

When I was investigating I found straight razors with disposable heads... if he doesn't want to bother with a strop, would that be a good option? (I'm asking, I have no experience with them).

I started with one of those, I completely forgot about them.

Certainly give a close shave. You do have the issue of two spike points to deal with, and they are a little harsher to shave with. However, if you can get good and comfortable with one, you will be able to shave with a straight razor very easily. Certainly a good alternative if you want to spread your costs a little.

I still have mine and take it traveling as a back up. I think it cost me about $15 with 10 blades.

I have to completely agree with red96ta, a strop is a necessary item as part of the basic set. The hone is another story as they very expensive. I'd only have to add some yellow strop paste. I think in the wiki here you can find some valuable prep info for your strop.

This is very helpful stuff. I have looked at looked at some of the wikis, and have done a lot of research about proper honing and stropping techniques. I think the disposable razor sounds like a great starter. What are some suggested brands?

I also have to disagree with those strop substitutes. Newspaper & your palm are not effective. Seatbelt webbing is brutal & is a good substitute for linen, but not for leather. You can't use paste as a substitute for a hone, either: in the long run paste convexes your edge, which at some point you will have to correct with a hone.

So here's my minimalist set:

-- Shave-ready razor from the classifieds $50
-- Strop, make from scrap Latigo or buy off eBay, or even use an old belt or guitar strap if it's flat & made from thick leather $0-$20
-- Swaty hone from eBay $15-$20
-- Boar brush from Walgreen's $8