Thread: Torn on First Kit to Buy

I've continued my SR research here on SRP and I've decided it's time to buy my first kit. But I'm torn!

The "easiest" to buy would be the 6/8 Dovo Special set from SRD and upgrade the strop to 3" and to which I'd add the sandalwood soap. This would come to about $250 including free shipping.

The slightly more "customized" set up that I believe may be more versatile would be:

• 6/8 Dovo Special from SRD
• Modular paddle strop from SRD
• Robert's Ceramic Feats of Clay Small Scuttle
• Mama Bear's Dragon Tears soap
• 22mm Grade A Silvertip brush from The Golden Nib

This would come to about $300 (including about $20 in shipping charges from different stores), but would get me the modular paddle strop and a nicer brush (albeit a non-name brand).

Any advice for a complete beginner from someone more experienced would be appreciated. I know this is largely a personal choice that I will have to make on my own, but I'm finding it difficult to make the choice without having ever used any of these products. It's completely abstract to me at this point.

Cheers,
ElChe

PS. Apologies for the poll, I usually dislike them, but just wanted to test out the feature.

Check out SRD's monthly wet shaving kit, the new one is posted now and you can do a bit of customizing with it also. Just a thought

You can't go wrong either way, but I voted for the SRD for the quality and slightly better pricing. Either way you go, that Dovo Special will be one of the most spectacular razors you'll ever own. Mine is always smooth and consistent from month to month.

I don't want to tick off any serious Scuttle Men here, but I bought a double decker ceramic "self watering planter" at Lowe's or walmart's garden/lawn for seven bucks. I think it still beats out any 50$+ Scuttle for holding the desired temp. I'm mostly a face lather'er these days, although my RedNeck/Urban scuttle still sees some use, I think it's one of those things I can cut a corner on. Especially since I hardly use a scuttle at all. Nice choices in razor, strop and brush. Maybe even soap too, I've never wiffed it. Welcome to SRP.

I voted for the SRD kit. Mainly because it's cheaper than the custom kit. Also, as a fellow beginner, I don't see the need to start out with the full on package of a scuttle or top-grade brush. I prefer the idea of starting out with the bare essentials. You may be of a different opinion, in which case go for the more expensive kit; it's your money and your gear.

Welcome to the game and happy shaving!

If you've got the money, either way will do you just fine. I can see the advantage of buying all new stuff but my practical side says that it's overkill for someone who is starting out to spend so much money on something that may or may not appeal to them. That is, you could get a $50 razor from the classifieds, a $40 Illinois strop, a $40 brush, and say $30 for a couple of soaps. Odds are that you will continue to use the brush and soap regardless of whether or not you stick with straights and you can always resell the straight and strop for about 80% of what you paid for them. Total cost would be $160 with about $70 of that recouped if you sold the razor and strop.

I completely agree with utopian.
As appealing as a new razor looks, you don't want your first razor to be brand new, chances are you'll drop it or harm it somehow, before you get the hang of maintaining it. Same thing goes for expensive strops, there's a chance you'll nick it or scratch it.

I'd go for the SRD kit to start off with if you have the money for it. Once you know you like it then you can start adding in other kit like the modular paddle and different soaps, but the SRD kit will get you started very nicely.

As Utopian says though, you could certainly get started for less money so do examine other routes such as the classifieds and an Illinois strop before sinking the coin into anything more expensive. That said, if you got the SRD kit and didnt like straight shaving you could certainly sell the kit off and recoup some of the money.

I say you go for the cheapest set up you can get. Get a razor from the classifieds for cheap. then get yourself the philly strop for $20. These should be good to just start because the strop will get nicks and you will need to upgrade to a better when you get the hang of it. But the brush and soap you could buy now. Those you will use forever.

But if you had to pick from the options i would pick the SRD set. Even though the brush doesnt look as nice but it holds warm water really well and it lathers up pretty quickly. Ive never tried the other one you want but I really do recommend the Simpson that comes with the set.

I would second those saying go cheap and simple. If you find yourself unable to wait for something good to pop up in the classifieds - like me - I would highly recommend the SRD set. I bought a Dovo BQ set a little more than a month ago, and I could not be more pleased.

I would also highly recommend staying with the 2" strop. I am JUST learning to not brutalize my strop, (2" latigo) and will be buying a replacement leather(or maybe splurging on a premium 4.....) in another few months. I was amazed to find just how ridiculously easy it it to nick the heck out of a strop.

Any way you go will be a step towards the light, and the SRD set is great way to go. Great quality stuff that is a pleasure to use, and not super expensive.

Good luck, keep us up to date!