Complete Newbie Needing Advice! >.<

So I'm 19, when I was little I'd always watch my great grandfather shave with a straight razor but he passed away almost 8 years ago and all of his old things are gone. I want to learn how to shave with a straight razor and I have no idea where to go, who to ask or what to buy. I read the newbie FAQ but I just became more confused. I sure don't want to purchase a $200 razor. I looked on ebay and saw this

B&B GOLD LEATHER STROP STRAP WITH A STRAIGHT RAZOR - eBay (item 170401059182 end time Dec-29-09 17:47:35 PST)


However, I'm not sure if its a legit razor to learn on. Can I get any feedback? I'd appreciate it very much!

If it was me I would stay away from this one. Find yourself a nice vintage razor in the classifieds

oh really? If I buy a vintage one how would I sanitize it?

Wash it with soap and water. Rub it with some alcohol. If you're super-neurotic soak it in sodium hypochlorite. Clean it well afterwards and dry it.


edit: Bleach causes rust, but it takes a week or better to happen. You'll be soaking it for 30mins or so.

Vintage razors can be disinfected using alcohol.

+1 on staying away from that B&B kit...the razor looks like junk. The classifieds are a great place to find history at a reasonable price and honed to go. Ruprrazor has a strop for $20 if you're in a pinch, and besides, you'll probably cut your first strop up at any rate...so the price is right.

Oh...and welcome to SRP!:)

I would strongly encourage you to buy this:

RupRazor - Gold Dollar Razor and Filly Strop

The razor is new, cheap and shaves great. Same for the strop. Amongst all the razors and strops I have I still use them both because the strop has gotten better over time, and the razor is always reliable.

Cheers, and hope you find it as fun as the rest of us do.

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Originally Posted by Frankenstein

I would strongly encourage you to buy this:

RupRazor - Gold Dollar Razor and Filly Strop

The razor is new, cheap and shaves great. Same for the strop. Amongst all the razors and strops I have I still use them both because the strop has gotten better over time, and the razor is always reliable.

Cheers, and hope you find it as fun as the rest of us do.

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ooh this is exactly the help I was looking for. especially to the people who included the tips for disinfecting etc. Thanks for the help guys!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-aids-etc.html

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Originally Posted by FreezeKitty

oh really? If I buy a vintage one how would I sanitize it?

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You should buy it already honed and good to go. The edge will have freshly exposed steel, as far as the rest of the blade as long as there isn't active (orange) rust there's nothing to worry about.
Hot water, soap, alcohol, barbicide all these things are good enough, but in my opinion not even necessary.
Any honed and shave tested razor has been in contact with somebody's skin, and the ones that are in sealed factory packaging are usually dull so you don't have all that many options if you're really paranoid. You should figure out what level you're comfortable with. For example if you don't eat at a restaurant because you're worried how sterile the silverware is you may have to take the hard and painful road of learning to hone while learning to shave.

WOW. this is what I needed also. So the ruprazors are good? I already have a strop so it is a choice between the 208(looks like my master(see my "HOLY CRUD" thread), would look like I had a matched set), the 200(neat checkered flag design), or the ultra save a coulple of bucks and go with the 84. Leaning towards the 200. Thinking I gotta jump on the lifetime hone warrenty, make a desicion tonight.

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Originally Posted by smills

WOW. this is what I needed also. So the ruprazors are good? I already have a strop so it is a choice between the 208(looks like my master(see my "HOLY CRUD" thread), would look like I had a matched set), the 200(neat checkered flag design), or the ultra save a coulple of bucks and go with the 84. Leaning towards the 200. Thinking I gotta jump on the lifetime hone warrenty, make a desicion tonight.

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yeah im assuming they are, i bought one last night! a great deal imo

the B & B makes a fairly good letter opener and not much else. i am with all the others on the kit from ruprazor. i think you will be more satisfied. i have a gold dollar razor also and it is a great shaver for the money.

Smills,
The 3 month honing service is a great deal... that I wish I had... I bought 2 shave ready straight razors because i was afraid I'd mess one up before I figured out how to keep it sharp and I did... I have sent mine off for repair for the standard 20.00 plus shipping... have to do it... to buy the stones you need to hone would cost 200.00... plus months of practice before I'm good enough to hone my razor to a sharp enough edge to shave with.. this deal from rup razor is great... if you have another razor... use it to practice with on the strop...proper stropping requires some practice too... so practice on your strop for several hours before you take your new razor to the leather... My mentor had me practice on my strop with a butter knife for two days before I used my new razor on it.. Ifyou'll practice the technique with something a little less sharp than your new razor you may save a few nicks on your new strop! you can ruin a strop with too many or too deep nicks in the wrong place!! good luck and have fun.... Maq