Thread: Please help with new razor set up!!

I have been DE shaving for six months and love it. I have about 15 DE razors in rotation. I what a complete strait razor set up. I get to buy a complete set up out. The wife says to me get what makes you happy! Wow now I get one chance and the budget is 500.00 or less. Please help me make the right first choice.

Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki should tell you all you need. With a budget of USD 500, you can add some nice creams, after shaves, and so on.

Happy shopping,
Robin

Badkarma,

Congratualtions on your decision to enter the world of str8 razor shaving.

You needn't spend all of your alloted budget to get a complete str8 razor shaving set. Check out the sets offered by the vendors who advertise here at SRP. You ought to be able to find something that suits your fancy.

For starters, check out the following link. This will give you a crash course in the basic equipment you will need.

Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Then peruse the websites of the various vendors. My advice wouuld be to go with one of the lower priced sets. You can always trade up by adding another, more expensive str8 razor to your collection later, if it turns out that you really like str8 razor shaving. The differences in price do not necessarily mean that the quality of the blade steel is any less, you're just paying for fancier scales/handles and other assorted bells & whistles on the razor.

Whichever set you get, upgrade to the 3" strop. It will make stropping a lot easier. Also I personally prefer to purchase razors from vendors who have them professionally honed prior to use by customers. But that choice is up to you.

Just my 2 cents.

Take care--and smooth shaving

Why not start by getting the razor you already have honed? Throwing $500 at this is not going to offset in any way the investment of time and effort that is required.
If you want a complete setup in addition to your razor pick something in the 5/8-6/8 size that you like as well as a strop. Since you've been using DE razors, I suspect that you are already familiar with brushes/soaps/creams/aftershaves and can make relatively informed decision on these.

I would suggest you don't buy a hone yet.

I assume since you already wet shave, you have brush, soap, and after shave, so that would leave:
1. Straight razor (I recommend a Dovo 5/8 French point. Generally more expensive razors use the same blade with more exotic materials for the handle.)
2. Strop (beginner one to practice on and nice one once you learn to use)
3. Camellia Oil for the blade to keep it from rusting

You should be able to get that for around $200. I wouldn't spend more until you decide you like straight shaving.

Originally Posted by gugi

Why not start by getting the razor you already have honed? Throwing $500 at this is not going to offset in any way the investment of time and effort that is required.
.....

+1
You have seven razors in rotation now (if I understood your post).

Send two razors out for professional honing to start.

Tell us what strop you have.... I suspect an upgrade
but perhaps a hanging hard felt strop would be
the correct addition. A good strop need not be expensive,
less than 20% of your budget would find you a FINE leather+canvas
strop.

Tell us what shaving brush you have and what you think
about it. Since many here are fans of inexpensive boar
brushes consider them too. A quality badger brush with
a knot of about 20 to 22 mm is high on my list of historic
purchases yet I still keep and use my $7.98 CVS boar brush.
If you do not have one run and get one even if you only use it to brush
lint off your keyboard.

Tell us what sharpening and honing tools you have. It is possible
that a touch up hone like a SS12K is in order but at 20% of
your budget who knows. A Norton 4/8K work horse and a DMT
or flat counter and wet dry paper to lap it flat is also very high
on my list of historic purchases I do not regret. For some
people sending a different razor out every six weeks keeps the
rotation keen and sharp, so honing is not a requirement. Hones
are an expense that can be postponed.

Soaps and creams... Tell us what you have. If you use a
can of goo now, run do not walk and get yourself a good
soap. Tabac and MWF are at the top of my list yet I keep
and use a puck of Williams to honor the Scotch/Irish side of
my family. It was also the first shave soap I ever bought.

I thought when he said he had 15 razors in rotation he was talking about DE Razors? I'm a little confused he wants to have 15 STR he owns to be honed? or a set of 7 new STR so he can shave each day without stropping? I'm confused.

I'd start off slow, but if you've bin DE shaving you might like it. If you live in S.L. there's Lorenz' knife shop they've been there for over 40 years and these guys are very reputable, I believe it's one of the only places in town to put your hands on a straight before you buy. They only sell one brand but they are Bokers I'm not sure what styles they have though, not shure if they sell any kind of strop though. I bought strop from srp and I love it great value for the money but I do recomend a cheap practice strop cause you don't want to ruin a strop like those, they are a real work of art concidering whats out there. I live in Salt Lake pm me if you need some help. You've got plenty of time to blow 500 bucks get good value for your money.

15 DE razors no straits sorry. Thanks for the advise!!