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Hey all'
I am new to the S/R game and I have questions. I am a family man with little cash and I would like to start S/R shaving. I was concidering cutting start up costs by getting a shavette, and buying a set with a boar hair brush and hard soap that they sell at walmart. How mutch will I regret it?
I would like to start off right so any other Ideas that I am not aware of?
You will get a lot of replies on this one I'm sure. My advice is to get a decent shave ready razor ,strop, reasonable quality brush and soap. I'm in the UK so I have no knowledge of what your quality supermarkets sell. I've not used a shavette type either but I get the impression they can be a bit unforgiving.
It may be a good idea to save up and buy reasonable kit, rather than start in a hurry and have to buy it all again. Lynn has posted some really good tips for first time shavers, I'd advise reading those before you start.
Walmart set isn't bad at all. The soap lathers fine. Brush is a little stiff for me, but maybe will break in if you use it awhile. Bowl is small and easy to use.
Hello,
Here's the Wiki guide to getting started on a budget. That should get you started.
Welcome,
I can not comment on the shavette, but have heard they are not quite the same as a true straight. Here is a link for an inexpensive set RupRazor - Gold Dollar Razor and Filly Strop, i do not own this set but have read many good comments on this. You cn also check out the classifieds.
Enjoy the journey and keep us informed on your progress.
:gl:
Lu
Welcome to srp.if you are willing to cover shipping charges let me know.
Shipping charges I can probably do.Quote:
Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl
shavettes are ok but not very forgiving, if you learn to shave with one then you will find it very easy to use a true SR. The blades are more flexible, give more feedback and do not have two spike points, many don't even have one.
I started with a shavette and modern but good high quality shave foamless soap, this basically gave me an opportunity to read up on razors and strops etc etc and gave me a more educated opinion when it came to buying all the 'proper' kit.
the walmart kit is supposed to be pretty decent.
That budget starting guide isn't that clever IMO.
Tweezerman badger brush from amazon, $12
Filly strop (kenrup) $20
soap from walmart, $1
shave ready razor from classifieds, $50
or just jump straight for a Dovo best quality from Straightrazordesigns for $72.
Cheap, dependable setup. great to see if its right for you.
+1 on Undream regarding the Dovo from SRD. They're giving free honing for life. (I'm going to wear that out... :))
Also, I got the Filly strop. It works and it's cheap - what more can you ask for?
I also bought some cheap accessories, but I'd recommend getting nice, low-to-mid priced gear since you'll probably continue to use the brush and soaps even if straight razors aren't for you. Can't really comment on the items Undream recommended, but there are definitely a lot of well-priced choices on the web.
I though it was only for next honing not for life, are you sure?Quote:
Originally Posted by BingoBango
Here, try to do this, instead of spending 30 bucks on a shavette save your money get a used razor, shave ready for around the same price, or a little more. Get the set at walmart and slowly upgrade. Get the filly from ruprazor.com for 20.
The walmart set is fine. The bowl will last as long as you want it to aslong as it doesnt break. The brush works fine and the soap lathers up good. Eventually after you have all of your stuff and you use it for a while get a better brush, you can find a decent badger brush usually for under 20 dollars.
Hope this helped.
Thanks for all of the responces to this guys it has been very helpful. I have to wait until next payday to get anything but when I do I think I'll have a pretty good idea what to do. I'll keep ya posted on what happens.
If you buy before the end of this month then it's for as long as you own the razor. It's for one honing usually though.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielG
My understanding is that you hone whenever the blade gets dull which is after a certain number of shaves and when the strop cannot do the job anymore. doesn't that mean several honings? At least that i what i got from the guides. Am i wrong?Quote:
Originally Posted by dannywonderful
Daniel.G
I think you're misinterpreting mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielG
Normally, you only get one free honing when you buy from SRP.
At the moment, you get hones for as long as you own the razor.
He didn't mean that a lifetime worth of honing a razor would 'usually be one honing' if you see what I mean.
Of course, I could well be missunderstanding you as well ;)
NO he is right . it is for life of the razor. it is special deal has been made.
I've been using a shavette-type disposable straight razor, and it is very unforgiving, i.e. you have to be very careful. It does give a very close shave, used properly though. The only other thing is that my beard is VERY tough, and I only get about 2 shaves before the blade starts dulling noticeably. So keep that in mind. And that soap sold in the set at Wal-Mart works great.
WOW life time honing this seems like an awesome deal zomg thank you guys!!
I had to say somthing on this post. This is why I love being part of this community. My hats off to you hi_bud_gl :bowQuote:
Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl
Hitman,
I'm new to using a straight myself and am currently using a shavette, and would agree that they are very unforgiving.
I would agree with what the others have said and wait and get a good quality straight either from the classifieds here or from SRD. If you can get a new straight from SRD as the free honing for the life of the razor is too good to pass up.
I have just purchased a Dovo Bergisher Lowe from SRD (a little treat to me for my birthday and christmas) and have a cheap 5/8 round point I got some time ago.
I'm going to use the 5/8 to get started and keep the BL until I'm a little bit more confident using a straight.
Looking at some of the posts from the guys in the US the Walmart set seems to be ok, but you can be sure that you will upgrade the brush and soap once you get used to them.
I'm currently using the Edwin Jagger sandlewood soap which I really like and have 2 best badger brushes.
I also have a cheap synthetic brush that I have just replaced. I must say that a good quality brush makes a big difference.
Also one thing to get also is a good Alum bloc. Great for getting rid of razor burn. Been using one for about 2 years on the advise of my barber. He always uses one after a hot towel shave.
Hope this helps.
Stuart.
Just an update one of the members here has just sent me a razor and strop for only the cost of shipping. as I said before I have not got alot of money so this Is so astonishing! I was figuring that I would have to gradualy put together a set one Christmas /birthday at a time but this changes everything. Thank you all again for your posts and I will keep you updated on how it goes.
Cheap is how I started. Ironically hi_bud_gl helped me too, I will explain in a minute.
The way I see it is you can do two things for bare minimum:
Shavette or cheap straight.
Either way get the van der Hagen set from Walmart. The brush is stiff and loses bristles, but after +/- 20 or 30 uses the bristles get split ends, stop shedding and start softenign up (this is good). $10 (I still use the bowl, and the brush from time to time when I need something a little stiffer than badger)
Then get a cheap strop you can cut up- risk on ebay, or reliable from Kenrup (the filly model) either way, $20. (go with Kenrups filly)
Then get your blade- a cheap shavette option is getting a thinning razor and blades for it- some use DE's others you have to find hiarshaper blades for- ebay abounds though. You can get the razor and blades for like $10-$15 total if you look around.
The alternative is a not well known ebay razor that is stained (not rusted) or otherwise cosmetically (but not functionally) impaired. Send it out for honing (someone might offer to hone it free) and you're out $20-$40 bucks total, depending.
Or you can buy shave ready from the classifieds (also $20-$40 depending).
I personally got an ugly blade of the bay and hi_bud_gl offered to hone it for me. So I got the VDH set ($10) a basic basic strop ($20) and a razor ($15) for a total of $45. I also have a dubl duck hair shaper and blades that I use for camping and what not which I got for $5 and blades run $.10 to $1 depending the quantity and shipping and stuff.