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  1. #1
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    Thumbs down New Member here: A few questions I'd like answered please

    First off, I'd like to say hello to all the wet shavers out there. I came across this website from one of Mantic59's video. I've gone back to traditional wet shaving for about 4 years now. And yes I am a new member. lol

    I'm confused on which is needed and which is useless. There are so many kinds out there and all different prices. Are the $35 strops better than the $65+ kind? I'm really confused. Do I really need to spend $50+ for a hone?

    Also, what's with these oils and lubricants? i.e, Oils, pastes etc... Are they needed?

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    I'd also like ask if anyone has or have used a hot lather machine. What kind of shaving creams can you put in it? Can you use stuff like Art of Shaving, Truefit & Hill, Proraso, etc.. in the machine or do you HAVE to use the creams specifically created for hot lather machines?

  2. #2
    Scutarius Fbones24's Avatar
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    Welcome!

    The general answer to all of your questions is basically no. You do not need an expensive strop at all, but you certainly need a strop.

    As far as hones, oils, pastes....these things are not necessities. Eventually a razor will need to be sharpened, but this can be done by a pro every so often, and a hone is certainly not needed to get started. Pastes are also used for this purpose, but are not necessary. Oil would be used to prevent rust on your blade, but again, not necessary if you are careful.

    The only thing you need is a shave ready razor and a strop. That's all. Good luck!

  3. #3
    This is not my actual head. HNSB's Avatar
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    I have no experience with the lather machine, so can't help with that...

    As to the strops, hones, and pastes: To start out you just need a shave ready razor and a decent strop. The strops are slightly better as they go up in price, but a cheap strop will be adequate to give you a good shave.

    It's best to learn shaving before you worry about honing. If you want a hone to maintain your razor, a simple barber hone will do. You should be able to find one for less than $40-$50 US. If you want to take antique razors to shave-ready then you will need more hones.

    As to the oils, pastes, etc... Oils are a pre-shave item that help to increase the glide of the razor. With a good soap, they are not necessary, though some people like them. Pastes are an abrasive media to put on the strop. Pastes can take the place of the barber hone. IMO, a barber hone and a linen/leather strop is of more value than a pasted strop.

    Make sure you spend some time reading the wiki here... You will be able to find lots of answers to your questions there.

    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

  4. #4
    BF4 gamer commiecat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BlackMamba24 View Post
    First off, I'd like to say hello to all the wet shavers out there. I came across this website from one of Mantic59's video. I've gone back to traditional wet shaving for about 4 years now. And yes I am a new member. lol

    I'm confused on which is needed and which is useless. There are so many kinds out there and all different prices. Are the $35 strops better than the $65+ kind? I'm really confused. Do I really need to spend $50+ for a hone?

    Also, what's with these oils and lubricants? i.e, Oils, pastes etc... Are they needed?

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I'd also like ask if anyone has or have used a hot lather machine. What kind of shaving creams can you put in it? Can you use stuff like Art of Shaving, Truefit & Hill, Proraso, etc.. in the machine or do you HAVE to use the creams specifically created for hot lather machines?
    First, I moved this to the beginners forum for more visibility.

    Next, what sort of setup do you currently have, having been wet shaving for a while? To new members I'd say that to start it's good to have a brush, a good soap/cream, your razor and a strop.

    There is a difference in strops, but they all get the job done. It comes down to the type of leather, the size, if it has handles, etc. Just stay away from the new strops on eBay from Zeepk.

    Honing is a whole other area and would generate a thread in and of itself. As someone starting out, I'd suggest you just disregard it for now and then as you gain experience you can read through the wiki and determine what's right for you.

    What oils, lubricants and pastes are you referring to? There are all different types for different applications.

    Can't answer your hot lather machine question. I just use a brush soaked in hot water and soap.

  5. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth hi_bud_gl's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BlackMamba24 View Post
    First off, I'd like to say hello to all the wet shavers out there. I came across this website from one of Mantic59's video. I've gone back to traditional wet shaving for about 4 years now. And yes I am a new member. lol

    I'm confused on which is needed and which is useless. There are so many kinds out there and all different prices. Are the $35 strops better than the $65+ kind? I'm really confused. Do I really need to spend $50+ for a hone?

    Also, what's with these oils and lubricants? i.e, Oils, pastes etc... Are they needed?

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I'd also like ask if anyone has or have used a hot lather machine. What kind of shaving creams can you put in it? Can you use stuff like Art of Shaving, Truefit & Hill, Proraso, etc.. in the machine or do you HAVE to use the creams specifically created for hot lather machines?
    At firs welcome to SRP.
    Prices depends too many factors. We cannot say 35.00 strop better or worse 60.00 strop unless you let us know exact name of the strops you are asking.
    hone again what is your plan?
    Are you planning to hone your own blades or just keep shave ready edge sharp?
    if you like to keep edge sharp just use barber hone.
    pastes etc is personal preference.
    Some people likes others dont.
    if you are wet shaving for years greating lather shouldn't be a problem. by soap and rest is history.
    have fun

  6. #6
    illegitimum non carborundum Utopian's Avatar
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    If you click on the beginner's link in my signature line, you will find some helpful information from a former member.

  7. #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
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    Welcome to SRP. I guess my best answer for the part that I know about is "you get what you pay for." IME an $80.00 strop will be better than a $40.00 strop. Arguably the $40.00 strop may be good enough to do the job. OTOH, as with a lot of things there are nuances of material and workmanship that are apparent as the price increase.

    At some price point the nuances may become more hard to see. Once north of a hundred bucks I don't know if I could justify the purchase of some of my strops beyond saying I wanted them and I'm glad that I got them.

    An entry level Dovo will probably shave you as close as a razor at twice the price but again we get into the fore mentioned nuances. If you take a look in the SRP Wiki here you'll see in the beginner's guide a tutorial on what is recommended for starting out.

    For honing a Norton 4/8 will get you by with sandpaper to lap it. A diamond plate is more economical in the long run. You can use chrom-ox on a self made balsa hone for under $10.00 although it isn't absolutely necessary.

    I had a lather king professional barber hot lather machine. It required a default soap that barber supply houses carried at the time. Talking 25 years ago. A much thinner and less pleasing lather than I get with a puck of soap or jar of cream and my brush. Don't ask which of my 20 + brushes is the best to get ... IOW, that is another possible acquisition disorder.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  8. #8
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    Hey Black Mamba.

    A strop is a strop. That's basically all you need and all you need to know. More expensive strops might have two different types of stropping-material on them, or might be wider and longer, but really, if a $35 leather hanging strop is all you can afford, or all you want to pay, then that strop will be fine. A strop is, after all, just a long, smooth strip of leather, so even the most basic leather strop should work fine. In fact, you could even use an old, smooth leather belt for a strop, provided you don't love it anymore (because stropping will strip off the leather as you run your blade over it).

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  10. #9
    Smooth Operator MrDavid's Avatar
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    Already received some great advice above... nothing fancy needed, just a shave ready razor and a decent strop to start. (Yeah, that's what I told myself at the start. Several cases of razors later... never mind.)

    If you have one of the new-type hot lather machines - the ones you buy at Bed Bath & Beyond or Sharper Image - they typically just take generic cream cans (i.e. Barbasol, etc.). I had one years back that you just slid the whole Barbasol can in from the bottom and turned it on while you showered. After a few minutes... voila! Hot shaving cream. Didn't really DO anything other than give you hot Barbasol, which is fine for some people and not for others.

    Personally, I prefer hot lather in a mug or scuttle made the old fashioned way: hot water and a puck of good shaving soap. I think most here are in the same camp.

  11. #10
    illegitimum non carborundum Utopian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shangas View Post
    Hey Black Mamba.

    A strop is a strop. That's basically all you need and all you need to know. More expensive strops might have two different types of stropping-material on them, or might be wider and longer, but really, if a $35 leather hanging strop is all you can afford, or all you want to pay, then that strop will be fine. A strop is, after all, just a long, smooth strip of leather, so even the most basic leather strop should work fine. In fact, you could even use an old, smooth leather belt for a strop, provided you don't love it anymore (because stropping will strip off the leather as you run your blade over it).
    There are exceptions. A Zeepk or a Beauty & Barber strop is NOT a strop. Such strops are useless.

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