Advice Needed on razor choice + other things

Hey everyone, ive got a few questions and thoughts i would appreciate some advice with.

so i mentioned when i joined i was on a limited budget to purchase my first SE razor and bits. after some contemplation and thought ive adjusted my budget a bit and set my sights on the first Starters Kit from here

Shaving Starter Kits

does anyone have any other suggestions or recomendations on a starters "kit" for that sort of money in terms of razor and bits? im happy to get this one but if there are others i should consider i would like to before jumping in.

Ive also done enough reading on here to know that im likely to be the main factor in the razor going blunt quicker than it would normally. i also know i will need to get it honed at some point to keep it sharp whilst paying to-do this for a while is acceptable i would ideally like to be able to-do this myself in the future (especially if i end up owning a few SE Razors).

would someone say that buying a cheap ebay SE and some of the more generally used hones to practice with would be a good idea??? i know that due to quality and a lot of variables with cheap razors i may never get a good sharp edge but id prefer to kill a £10 razor practicing on how to hone than destroying my pride and joy new SE that i paid a lot more for?

i mean whilst i may never get a Dovo quality edge on it i should eventually be able to get a good working edge to let me progress onto my own razors? what do you guys think?

any suggestion or recomendations on this would be appreciated.

Hi Kris. 'Grat's on your decision to take the plunge.

On what makes a razor go dull - for the noob, I'd say awkward stropping will do it most quickly. (I'm at 7mo and still regularly humbled). I've chewed alot of strops. Perhaps some practice w/ a junk razor or even a butter knife. It would be very well worth the effort to look up the stropping vid done by Sham (hi_bud_gl). Slow, pressure-less strokes. My worst habit was not lifting the edge before completing the stroke. When I tried to stop the stroke, there would always be minute movement that included a slight edge-first wiggle that ate the strop. In all likelihood, you won't have the problem I did.

Be aware that learning to hone at the same time you're learning to shave may slow your shave learning down. This is also autobiography.

Resource-wise. You've hit the gold mine of info, good help, and great attitudes. Another place I'd ask these same questions is on coticule.be. Note that they have a standing offer for free honing.

I'd also search for the forum member's map that shows the location of other members. There's quite a few in England, such as the honorable Tat2ralfy. Hooking up w/ other users can help alot. If any of them are willing to let you try their gear, you can save alot by not having to buy everything in order to try it.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/vbgooglemapme.php


'Hope you have alot of fun on your journey.

Hi Kris. Since your from the promised land, same as myself....I can sort you out with a razor if you want. I don't want anything for it and I couldn't really sell as it isn't pretty looking like a new one you can buy. It does work though. I've got a few like that so your welcome to one. I'll sanatize it and hone it for you. No problem. Let me know if you want it. Its easier if you email me at darren78ok at gmail.com as it will come through on my phone. I don't have a strop though...

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Originally Posted by Darren T

Hi Kris. Since your from the promised land, same as myself....I can sort you out with a razor if you want. I don't want anything for it and I couldn't really sell as it isn't pretty looking like a new one you can buy. It does work though. I've got a few like that so your welcome to one. I'll sanatize it and hone it for you. No problem. Let me know if you want it. Its easier if you email me at darren78ok at gmail.com as it will come through on my phone. I don't have a strop though...

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Hi Darren,
thanks for the message, ive done as you asked and sent you a quick email, id be so greatful if you were willing to let one of your razors go to a new home like that.

thanks again for the offer, hope to speak with you soon.

Kris

Yeah, no problem at all. I had your email and I did reply.

Welcome aboard! Besides a good "shave ready" razor, you'll need a strop, preferably canvas/linen and leather, a good cream or soap, a number of which are produced right there in the UK (Taylor of Old Bond Street and Truefitt & Hill come to mind), brush, styptic pencil or powder (I prefer powder) and a nice aftershave.

If you're going to purchase a starter kit, make sure you're getting quality items. For example, Pakistani produced razors are notoriously bad. If that's what's in the kit, I'd avoid it. Also, your brush should be badger's hair, or at least boar's hair. Badger hair retains water much better. Your soap/cream should be from a recognized manufacturer, such as those I mentioned above.

I say this because poor quality items will give you a poor quality shave, turning you off to the whole SR experience. Use the wealth of knowledge available here and you'll be off to a great start

Welcome to your new obsession!

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Originally Posted by LAsoxfan

Welcome aboard! Besides a good "shave ready" razor, you'll need a strop, preferably canvas/linen and leather, a good cream or soap, a number of which are produced right there in the UK (Taylor of Old Bond Street and Truefitt & Hill come to mind), brush, styptic pencil or powder (I prefer powder) and a nice aftershave.

If you're going to purchase a starter kit, make sure you're getting quality items. For example, Pakistani produced razors are notoriously bad. If that's what's in the kit, I'd avoid it. Also, your brush should be badger's hair, or at least boar's hair. Badger hair retains water much better. Your soap/cream should be from a recognized manufacturer, such as those I mentioned above.

I say this because poor quality items will give you a poor quality shave, turning you off to the whole SR experience. Use the wealth of knowledge available here and you'll be off to a great start

Welcome to your new obsession!

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Hi LAsoxfan, thanks for the reply, im looking to get an invisible edge starter kit once ive got the money, which seems to have a Dovo razor including brush strop and some other bits as well.

i was looking at the cheaper razors on ebay until i did some reading on here and decided against them pretty much straight away. i was wondering if it was worth getting a cheap razor later on to practice honing with rather than chance damaging my nice razors.

Hey,
You may want to check out this site as well for a starter set.

Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales

Welcome to SRP!

Invisibleedge is a very reputable site, and any razor you get from them will be shave ready. If you are going to get a starter set from them, you can't go wrong. I'd just suggest not spending a lot on your first razor and strop.

Forget about sharpening for now. It will take a few months of shaving before you need to hone your razor, and you can cross that bridge when you come to it. For now, just focus on getting a good shave (which will take a lot of focus in the beginning).

I do like the idea of a cheep razor to practice on, but don't expect much out of a 10 dollar ebay special, as there are a variety of issues vintage razors can have that make getting a shave ready edge difficult. If all you want something to develop your coordination with the razor and hone so you don't bung up your real shaver in some newbish way, than that's fine.

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Originally Posted by Krisdavie

. . .
i was looking at the cheaper razors on ebay until i did some reading on here and decided against them pretty much straight away. i was wondering if it was worth getting a cheap razor later on to practice honing with rather than chance damaging my nice razors.

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YES !!!

Don't risk damaging the edge of a "known-good" (especially a new) razor when learning to hone.

That's the time to visit a local antique shop, or eBay, and get a _really cheap_ vintage blade to practice on.

Charles

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Originally Posted by markevens

Welcome to SRP!

Invisibleedge is a very reputable site, and any razor you get from them will be shave ready. If you are going to get a starter set from them, you can't go wrong. I'd just suggest not spending a lot on your first razor and strop.

Forget about sharpening for now. It will take a few months of shaving before you need to hone your razor, and you can cross that bridge when you come to it. For now, just focus on getting a good shave (which will take a lot of focus in the beginning).

I do like the idea of a cheep razor to practice on, but don't expect much out of a 10 dollar ebay special, as there are a variety of issues vintage razors can have that make getting a shave ready edge difficult. If all you want something to develop your coordination with the razor and hone so you don't bung up your real shaver in some newbish way, than that's fine.

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Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

YES !!!

Don't risk damaging the edge of a "known-good" (especially a new) razor when learning to hone.

That's the time to visit a local antique shop, or eBay, and get a _really cheap_ vintage blade to practice on.

Charles

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thanks for the message guys, that was what i was interested in really, ive very little experience in sharpening anything. Ive only ever done a knife or two but that was never incredidbly sharp.

I figured i would get myself a cheap razor and a recomended set of hones, then start practicing and working on the cheapy so i hopefully develop some ability to use hones etc, that way if i trash a $10 razor no one is going to loose any sleep over it, but in the process i hopefully learnt a few new skills.

What do you think?

im happy to pay to have mine sharpened for the time being but would rather be able to-do it later on myself if possible.

My first razor was bought at an antique shop. I had quite a time getting it so it would shave -- I decided to use sandpaper, rather than spending $$$ on stones. It took a while to bring it back from the dead.

I was never sure whether it was "right" or not -- no standards to judge by.

My second razor (should have been my first razor) was a Dovo "Best Quality" from Straight Razor Designs. I knew _that_ was sharp, and it gave me a goal to work toward.

I've done a bunch of razors since then; the work gets faster, and the edges get better. And I have a Norton 4K/8K, as well as the sandpaper and pasted strops.

That original antique-store blade (a Wade & Butcher) is a very nice shaver, now.

So:

. . . Yes, you can take an old blade, sharpen it, and use it.

Having a set of stones will help. And you'll learn a lot in the process.

Charles

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Originally Posted by Krisdavie

thanks for the message guys, that was what i was interested in really, ive very little experience in sharpening anything. Ive only ever done a knife or two but that was never incredidbly sharp.

I figured i would get myself a cheap razor and a recomended set of hones, then start practicing and working on the cheapy so i hopefully develop some ability to use hones etc, that way if i trash a $10 razor no one is going to loose any sleep over it, but in the process i hopefully learnt a few new skills.

What do you think?

im happy to pay to have mine sharpened for the time being but would rather be able to-do it later on myself if possible.

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Sounds perfect. Just don't get your hopes high on getting the cheepy in shave ready condition, as there can be many issues that get in the way. It will get you comfortable with honing razors, so when you do put your daily razor on the stone, you will be a lot more comfortable.