Thread: advise before purchase please?

After much research (with tons of thread reading and youtube videos), and a bit of bad experience with Aqua Velva. i've decided that i need to purchase a few supplies, and i've decided on a few, but i'm still hesitant.
I just purchased a used Straight Razor and it came with a still sharp edge... (i know it's not recommended) but i tried it out on my face with success. i didn't cut my self, but it did tug a bit. so i decided to not use it again until i get it professionally honed (probably by Lynn's service) and pick up a few things.
Strop
Dressing for the Strop
Alum block (and whatever aftershave i can find that isn't too smelly and helps with my oily skin)

firstly, i've decided to buy from Amazon.com due to shipping costs, and this is what i've found.

Strop

Strop Dressing

Alum

i was considering buying something from
starshaving.com
but i want to purchase all at once...

also, i was considering purchasing a piece of Balsa Wood from a hobby store, but i didn't want to have to worry about how smooth it should be and glueing it to a larger piece of wood then treating it, and then worrying about wether or not i'm doing anything right...
i need a simple solution. especially since my face breaks out if i'm not treating it proper and i'm on a budget.

any thoughts? comments? recommendations?
thank you in advance for any help.

foxjaeger,

First, welcome to SRP.

As for your questions...I would recommend that you send your razor to Max or Maximillian, an SRP member, for honing. He is a lot closer to you than Lynn and he will do an excellent job of honing your razor. You can find him under the SRP Classifieds. There may even be some SRP members in CA who can hone your razor for you or at least check it for sharpness.

Second, I would suggest purchasing the 3" strop from starshaving. The width will make stropping somewhat easier for a newcomer to straight razor shaving. You won't need any strop dressing or balsa wood at this point.

Next, purchase a puck of Mitchell's Wool Fat shaving soap. It is a bit more expensive than some other shaving soaps, but it contains lanolin and is supposedly very good for sensitive skin.

Finally, purchase some Thayers witch hazel aftershave and see how your sensitive skin reacts to it. You can get it from Best Grooming Tools. It may even be available at Wall-Mart or Target. Or you can just purchase some generic witch hazel at your local drugstore or Wal-Mart and use that as both an astringent and an aftershave. No need for an alum block.

BTW...You didn't mention that you already had a shaving brush. If you don't, go to your local Walgreens or Wal Mart and get a Van der Hagen shaving brush.

+1 On what JHenry has said. My favorite razor so far has been a well honed razor! And buying some things on the cheap is always a good way to try things out. I also started using Shave Secret. Some people don't like it but it works well for me as a pre shave oil. Once my face is nice and clean and wet, I just apply 4 or 5 drops. Leave it on as I lather up my brush and then apply lather right over it. The blade glides right over my face and seems to help tame those whiskers. Most of all, take your time and have fun putting the whole system together. Before long you will get a knack at what works best for you! Welcome and best of luck!

Hello, Foxjaeger:

My friends jhenry and dadvest offer excellent advice. If you are on a strict budget, as you note, and that you prefer to buy from one outlet to take advantage of free shipping, then let's see what you have selected thus far.

That strop appears to be the Illinois 127, which is a good strop. I have that and like it. You must remember, however, to strop in an X-pattern to include the entire blade. I am not sure why you need a strop dressing. Give the leather on the strop a good rubbing with your hands daily (before you've washed them) and that will take care of it.

Osma is a good alum bloc.

For a brush, try an Omega boar bristle or a pure badger. You might find them as part of your free shipping. And for a soap, yes, Mitchell's Wool Fat is tops. Also try Provence Sante, Tabac or L'Occitane, all of which you might find on that free shipping train.

On the other hand, vendors here at SRP offer free shipping if your tab exceeds $100. You be the judge and do the best you can.

Welcome to Straight Razor Place.

Regards,

Obie

this is what i have so far.


after inspection, i've discovered there is some minor rusting where the metal meets the scales, causing the hinge to be a bit stiff. i've kept it dry and made sure to clean it thoroughly with a tooth brush, q-tips and some TP. but i'm a bit worried about it, and i wonder if i should have it maintained. and should i keep this vintage blade oiled to prevent further rusting? what are the best practices on that?

i would very much like to avoid this --->

also, before i purchased the straight, i went to Rite Aid and purchased the Van der Hagen kit. it's been working pretty well so far, but the hairs have been falling out randomly... as if i didn't break it in well. i wonder if that's normal.

i thought i needed to get some sort of treatment for the strop. but i guess i don't.

furthermore, thank you all for the sound advise. this is only my 2nd post and i've felt a pretty warm welcome so far. i really appreciate all of your advise.
i think i'll do my best to hunt down my supply as jhenry recommends. i'm a bit excited about the lanolin soap and the secret shave. lol

I bought that same strop last week and it is working great for me! I have read where the hairs on that brush will fall out. I too have a couple of cheap brushes to get me started on. Make sure you wipe the blade off well when you finish and use some folded paper towel to dry out the inside of the scales. That will help keep moisture away from the blade. I have read where some guys use a light weight oil or some razor oil on their blades. I also use a alcohol wipe to go over the blade and jimps with. Also strop after you shave. That helps remove any residual water and what not. And yes there is a lot of nice people on this site!

I also have very sensitive skin and don't care to break the bank to shave. So far the best cheap shave cream I have found is Kiss My Face Moisture Shave Unscented. It lathers up great with a brush, holds its moisture well. It doesn't chap my lips or dry my face and it rinses clean.

If your skin is sensitive, that VDH brush has got to feel horrible. My skin isn't sensitive and I couldn't handle it so it's my kids now. They get to play with it while I shave. Pick up an Omega if you want to keep the tab low: Amazon.com: Omega Shaving Brush and Stand Pure Bristles # 80266: Health & Personal Care They do make some cheaper than that but I have that brush and it breaks in nicely. It still sheds the random hair here and there but even though it can still be scrubby at times, a 5 minute soak in warm water pre-shave does wonders for it. One of these days I'm going to pick up a Wee Scott or a Vulfix, but for the time being, the omega works wonderfully.
Also, for your soap, you can try this stuff out: Amazon.com: Shave 2 Cream, Double Concentrated, Sensitive Skincare Formula, 5.07 fl. oz.: Health & Personal Care . I have the regular stuff and enjoy it. However, purchased from my local big box drug store it only cost $6...
To keep your razor from rusting (or help to prevent it, anyway), don't put it in water. If you feel you must, only rinse the portion of the blade that has lather/hair on it. On some of my more rust sensitive razors I wipe the lather off with a piece of toilet paper(I recommended not trying to be thrifty and using a piece that you have wiped with). If it's soft enough for my butt, it's soft enough for my razor. Then when you're done shaving, give it another wipe then 5-10 passes on the stop. For the more rust prone in my collection, I hit them with some mineral oil after that is done. For the ones that don't seem to have a problem I oil them a couple times a month.

Additionally, I too get many items Amazon Prime, but keep in mind many vendors that specialize in shave gear, provide free shipping with minimum purchase.

By the time you put a strop and puck of soap in the cart, you probably have free shipping.

To clean the rusty pivot try some dental floss and metal polish.

update: i've been to 3+ drug sores in my area in search of Thayer's Which Hazel with no success. however i did stumble upon "The Real Shaving Co.'s products and was hesitant to purchase until i found that bharner recommended them.
i went to Thayer's website and discovered that Whole Foods carries there products... so maybe i'll also find some "shave secret" and Real Shaving Co.'s p products.

i've also decided to go with This Strop
hopefully i'll be ready to start shaving with my straight by the end of next week.

i guess the reason i haven't really used some of the Vendors on SRP yet because i'm not really sure of which one to go with. however i'll probably use "Max or Maximillian's" services to get my straight honed.

and i just tried to run dental floss through the pivot as dirtychrome suggested, and i couldn't get the floss between the metal and the scales... i wonder if i should add a drop of Household Oil in there to help loosen it up. any suggestions?

thanks again for all of your help. all of you have really helped a great deal. ^_^