Thread: Beginner looking for cheapest usable SR

if you want to mess about then GD isnt bad
but they usually need a little extra work

The classifieds here would be my bet. The members here knows what a shave ready razor is and they do have a reputation to uphold.

Good luck.
(Also read the Wiki)

+1 on the classifieds. There are some great razors in there.

You'll also need a strop. RupRazor sell a great starter strop called The Filly, which is about $20 IIRC.

Good luck!

EDIT: +1 on ursus's advice. Avoid the 'Bay, its a real minefield if you dont know what you are looking for!

Thanks for the quick replies.

I'm going to do some reading on the Gold Dollar razor since it seems there's lots of talk about it here.

I just checked the classifieds here and there isn't anything in my price range.

Originally Posted by Stropper

Check on this combo from Ruprazor:RupRazor - Gold Dollar Razor and Filly Strop

$60 is more than I wan't to spend. I'm just looking for something to experiment with. I really don't even wan't to spend $20, but I will if that is the cheapest I can get a somewhat decent razor for.

Originally Posted by ursus

Read the beginner's guide properly before making your decision. Also you could use the shopping list and the budget shopping list.
Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Buying a beginner's set on a budget - Straight Razor Place Wiki

To re-iterate: Ebay is not the place to buy your first blade. Classifieds and reputable sellers are your best bet. Get one shave-ready.

The quality of prep is also a major factor, so take that in account.

Welcome and happy shavin

I am only looking for a razor now and have read the razor section of both of those, but they don't say what company makes a good razor or where to buy them other than the classifieds here. I can't afford the ones in the classifieds and don't know where else to look if cheap ones on ebay are no good. All the websites I find are really expensive and I have no idea what would be good if I did find cheap ones in my price range.


So do you think these ebay razors would be junk compared the the Gold Dollar razor?

http://cgi.ebay.com/STRAIGHT-RAZOR-SHAVING-REMOVAL-BARBER-QUALITY-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ270518704292QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item3efc2bd8a4

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Red-Straight-Razor-Carbon-Steel_W0QQitemZ160381945821QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item25578247dd


Does anyone know of anything else that would be as good or better than the Gold Dollar for around the same price?

Originally Posted by Alltracturbo

$60 is more than I wan't to spend. I'm just looking for something to experiment with. I really don't even wan't to spend $20, but I will if that is the cheapest I can get a somewhat decent razor for.

You have been shown this link by ursus. Have you read it? If not, why not?

Next, define "experiment". Straight Razor Place Wiki:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki has unambiguous definitions of what works, and what does not. There is no in between. If you want a razor that is shave ready, it will come at a price.

Originally Posted by Alltracturbo

I am only looking for a razor now and have read the razor section of both of those, but they don't say what company makes a good razor or where to buy them other than the classifieds here. I can't afford the ones in the classifieds and don't know where else to look if cheap ones on ebay are no good. All the websites I find are really expensive and I have no idea what would be good if I did find cheap ones in my price range.

Again, these will give you all the background information you need to make an informed decision:

1. Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki
2. Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki
3. Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by Alltracturbo

So do you think these ebay razors would be junk compared the the Gold Dollar razor?

http://cgi.ebay.com/STRAIGHT-RAZOR-SHAVING-REMOVAL-BARBER-QUALITY-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ270518704292QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item3efc2bd8a4

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Red-Straight-Razor-Carbon-Steel_W0QQitemZ160381945821QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item25578247dd

Your secundum comparandum is a bit off. If you want to purchase a new razor with an acceptable level of quality assurance, the cheapest alternative currently available is the Dovo Best Quality. The razors you just linked to show that the good people in Pakistan have learnt something new - they are not listing the names of their letter openers in the ad anymore.

Originally Posted by Alltracturbo

Does anyone know of anything else that would be as good or better than the Gold Dollar for around the same price?

I know of many things that would be better than at least 20% of all Gold Dollar razors. As far as razors are concerned, I would definitely go for a razor from the Classifieds that has been honed by a member with an impeccable track record in the honing area (but that is also what the above Wiki articles say, and the Frequently Asked Questions).

To cut this longish story short: I strongly recommend that you do some basic research first. Your current expectations simply cannot be met. And yes, you will need a strop in addition to your razor.

Regards,
Robin

Originally Posted by Alltracturbo

I am only looking for a razor now and have read the razor section of both of those, but they don't say what company makes a good razor or where to buy them other than the classifieds here. I can't afford the ones in the classifieds and don't know where else to look if cheap ones on ebay are no good. All the websites I find are really expensive and I have no idea what would be good if I did find cheap ones in my price range.

So do you think these ebay razors would be junk compared the the Gold Dollar razor?

http://cgi.ebay.com/STRAIGHT-RAZOR-SHAVING-REMOVAL-BARBER-QUALITY-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ270518704292QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item3efc2bd8a4

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Red-Straight-Razor-Carbon-Steel_W0QQitemZ160381945821QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item25578247dd

Does anyone know of anything else that would be as good or better than the Gold Dollar for around the same price?

Frankly, there isn't much that can be done with a $20 budget. What first comes to mind is those "disposable straights", which are essentially a straight-like holder a DE-blade. No, they're not quite like straights, but can provide quite excellent shaves. You can get those around $20 mark I think. Some people have started with those. Many firms make those, for example Dovo, Fromm, Moniseur Charles, Sanguine. I use the latter myself. I think check amazon and ebay for these and buy a packet of proper blades, or a blade sampler.

I haven't seen any real straights at classifieds at $20, $40 perhaps.

To put in bluntly, anything else at the budget is generosity or amazing stroke of luck: Ask your family if they have any straights lying around and get it honed. Just to put things in perspective, pro honer can charge about $20+postage for his/her services. You'll still need to a strop still, but it's possible to improvise these. Or sign up to the SRP giveaway and hope you get lucky.

Sorry. In all probability, those Ebay-razors are textbook examples why newbies should stay away from ebay.

Do understand that you need to get the gold dollar honed to shave-ready state if it isn't already

Good luck on your hunt.

Alltracturbo,

IMHO twenty bucks is an impossibly tight budget for a str8 razor that can meet all of your requirements.

As suggested in several previous posts, read the SRP wiki very closely before buying any str8 razor. Don't be penny-wise and pound foolish. Remember that cost is only one of several considerations when buying a str8 razor. Consider the quality of the steel that the blade is made of and its ability to acquire and hold an edge. That will determine your true ability to shave with it. Anything less is a waste of money.

Just my 2 cents...

Originally Posted by Alltracturbo

Thanks for the quick replies.

I'm going to do some reading on the Gold Dollar razor since it seems there's lots of talk about it here.

I just checked the classifieds here and there isn't anything in my price range.

$60 is more than I wan't to spend. I'm just looking for something to experiment with. I really don't even wan't to spend $20, but I will if that is the cheapest I can get a somewhat decent razor for
........
Does anyone know of anything else that would be as good or better than the Gold Dollar for around the same price?

You will be hard put to find a str8 in you budget as you have presented it.

My last $9.99 razor required lots of trips to my set of hones and multiple
packs of wet dry paper and is still a work in progress. The sum of all the
repair bits would take you over budget.

A straight does require a strop, shave brush, shave soap and a friend
with a hone.

What do you shave with now?

Originally Posted by Stubear

RupRazor sell a great starter strop called The Filly, which is about $20 IIRC.

+1 It also has 0.5µ Chromium Oxide on the back/rough side for touching up every 4-5 or so shaves.