Thread: Reality Check Please....

I'm in the process of figuring out what I want to buy to start using a straight razor. Clearly I need a razor. I already have an ok brush and use cake type soap (that's what started this madness).
The short:
Do I need to buy a hone right now?

The long:
I'm going to get a daily use, 2-sided strop (leather & linen). I'm also thinking about 2 more single strops to use with the pastes (feel free to offer opinions about the different grades & brands of pastes). If I get a new razor from SRDesigns, with free honing, can I put off the hone purchase? If so, how often will I be sending in my razor (assuming I don't mess it up)?

Other random info:
1) I pretty much have a baby face. I can make a crappy, twin blade last for a month or 2 without trying. It's a very dull blade at the end, but I can get away with it.

2) I live in Colorado. It's very dry here. Things will stay dry if I pay attention.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Scott

You don't need a hone now.
With pasted strops, and lifetime free honing, you will never need a hone.
If you stick with this long enough, you will probably find yourself wanting a hone at some point.

My dad used to say, "do you need it or do you want it", and like you said, you need a razor and my way of thinking for the purpose of giving them the suggested rest inbetween shaves, it might be better to consider a 2nd razor, etc., (not absolutely necessary, but, probably a good idea) before buying a hone for one or more. As HNSB said, you'll want a hone(s), and like the vast majority here...will in time acquire one or several.

Regards...S~

You need a shave ready razor and a strop. Good luck (I wouldn't even bother with pastes at this point if I were you).

Hi,

From one newbie to another, no you dont need a hone right now. As mentioned above, if you get a razor right now thru SRD, you would probably never need one. You get free lifetime honing with each new razor you purchase till the 1st of the year. I just got another razor just because of the that.

As for what razor, well how much do you want to spend. I decided to go with new since I didnt know much about used. But if you use the classifieds hear you will deffinatly wont go wrong buying used. I bought a packaged deal from SRD that came with every thing I needed. But they have just strop and razor sets that you can buy since you have everything else. I went with there razor of the month set when I did it, an extra 25% off. Either way you slice it, your getting a good deal.

Hope this helps, good luck. I am glad I switched to straights.

Brian

Also, as for the strop, I highly recommend the 3 inch wide ones. They make it much easier when starting out.

Thanks guys. I'm glad my thinking wasn't totally out to lunch. The info you gave me is quite helpful.

Scott, you have already had your questions answered but as you are in Denver, I wanted to give you a link to last years Colorado Meet Up and let you know that Logistics/Travis and I are already planning on the Second Annual one this coming Summer, and would love to have you join us...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...eet-greet.html