Thread: Doing it on a budget!

I just wanted to post my beginners experience. I have no job and am getting ready to go back to school to finish my masters. I have a 4 year old daughter. That being said I have practically no money.
I wanted to start shaving after many years without a razor on my face. I've always had razor burn which led to me not shaving in the first place. I read on instructables.com about the great shave a gentleman got with a str8.
In my pursuit I spent many hours on this forum. Eventually joined and purchased a razor through the classifieds, learned to make soap via this and another (soap) forum, made a leather and jean strop, turned my own brush, made an aftershave and turned a soap cup and lather bowl. All in all this has been interesting, I have proven that this can be done, and well, on an extreme budget.

$35 razor from classifieds
$5 for strop leather from local saddle maker
$15 for materials for soap and aftershave, I owned a lot already
$45 (I think) for brush from golden nib

Since I have set up I have gotten a lot more like a legit strop, another rebirthed razor, have restored one of my own and have made one more.

I don't know if this was worth posting, but I know I would have been interested in seeing this when I first started.

That all sounds very cool! Post some pictures so we can see your work

Really nothing worth looking at yet. The restore and my homemade both look very amateur, but workable. I'll post my brush, cup and bowl soon. My 'puter is dead so for now its all vis cell phone.

Welcome to SRP!

Good luck in grad school and be sure to read Lynn Abrams's excellent article:

First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Namaste,
Morty -_-

Read it actually quite a few times there is very little in the wiki I haven't read.

Originally Posted by willow2006

That all sounds very cool! Post some pictures so we can see your work

Absolutely......show us them pics!

Being one for learning the skills to make my own everyday stuff I find your post well worth it

Thanks for sharing. It will pay for itself quickly if you were using cartridges before.

Pabster

I actually haven't shaved in years. I have very thin and sensitive skin, but I'm having to for the career I'll be entering. Any links to home made soaps, creams, preshave oils, razors etc... I love to experiment. I have searched the forum with little luck. Plus my wife steals my shaving soap.

Very impressed with your resourcefulness!