Everything Acquisition Disorder

I've been wetshaving with DE razors for a few weeks, and shaved with an SE ONCE. I've already purchased a Norton 220/1k stone, a Norton 4k/8k stone, a 2-sided paddle strop, some .5 micron and .25 micron paste, balsa wood with CrOx, Wet/dry sandpaper (320 and 600 grit) for lapping my stones, two DE razors (Futur and Merkur 23C), Proraso shaving cream, Proraso sensitive shaving cream, Proraso pre/post shave cream, TOBS rose shaving cream. On top of that, I'm already bidding on vintage SRs on eBay to "restore". I think I need help. Is there a 12-step program for this? :banghead:

Heh, no, there is no 12 step program that I'm aware of.
Just enjoy the ride and have fun with it.
If you think you've gone completely over board, just check out the collections of a few of the seniors on here and you'll see that it is in fact comfort to find in that you are so not alone in this:)

MisterSensitive,

Re : ADs

Resistance is futile :borg:

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

You ain't bought nothin yet!

Here's what I did. I thought I was getting a little overboard and so did SWMBO. That's when I saw the thread "Show us your hones". At about page two or three, Oldengaerde posted a couple of pictures of his stuff.....SHELVES of this hones...not just three on a table. Shelves of Eschers and Thuri's....shelves of Coti's.

At that point, I rushed to show SWMBO. We both know I still have a way to go.....

(then I bought a new tool box and an Escher...heh) :) I win.

Hello, MisterSensitive:

Looking at your stash, I don't see any high-end shave soaps. Also, you need a scuttle. Oh, yes, and there's always room for a Thater, a Simpson or a Rooney — or all three. After all . . .

Regards,

Obie

It's a good thing you already have some wet'n'dry paper. Looks like all you need for your resto is some 120, 240, 800, 1200 and 2000, plus a finishing hone, some brass rods and a small assortments of washers. And some autosol. And some scale materials, for instance some micarta, g10 and some exotic woods would set you up. Oh, and something to work those with, a saw of some sort. A drill press possibly. And some superglue if you are going the wood route.

The 12 step program, for me, worked like this:
1) buy razors. Many.
2) Buy restoration equipment.
3) Buy hones.
4) buy strop.
5) Buy shave soaps and brushes. And aftershaves. You know, the basics.
6) Shave a while, discover that you need better hones
7) Get better hones
8) Now that you got good gear for restoring, ain't it a shame it's all sitting there? Go ahead and buy some razors to fix up. At this point it could be a point to tell SWMBO that you are keeping a budget so you can see how much you paid for them, so you know what to sell them for after they are done. Tell her you'll show her all the money you make. Also take some of your first batch of razors with you and store at your gym, your office or in some shelf that SWMBO never visits.
9) Now that you are going to sell your restores, you need better resto gear. Buy some horn for scale material, if you have not already.
10) Listen to Obie, there's luxury out there. Get better soaps.
11) Get better strops.
12) Start looking for those ultra nice razors that hopefully will give that elusive supershave. No stress at this point, since your basic shave gear is already aquired :)

I have to add that SWMBO never asked about all the revenue, bless her soul. There is a theoretical chance she never believed me in the first place, about the selling part I mean, but I've been hesitant to ask.

Yeah, I'm going to go in the opposite direction. If you have shaved with a straight only once, then you, or anyone else who is new to this, should only be concentrating on learning how to use that razor. If you want to buy stuff, then focus on a good brush and some soaps and/or creams. Even if the straight doesn't work out for you, that stuff will serve you well for any other kind of wet shaving, which of course should only involve a DE razor.

Of course a good strop is essential while you are trying to figure out how to use a straight razor, but hones are not something that a beginner should even touch for a while, much less buy.
:soapbox:

Str8fencer That is how I am with pipes, and was with DE razors. As long as the bills are payed and money going into savings she never asks. FWIW she also has never asked about revenue of sold items. thank goodness :)

Yes, as the other's pointed out, there are many more items to buy if you desire. I don't see that you got the Norton flattening stones. A DMT C or XX will help you greatly in lapping the stones. TOBS Rose is a good cream, I'm not crazy about Proraso because I don't like Mentholated soaps, other than that, it's a good cream.
Thather brushes are awesome, Soft tips, and a good backbone. A good all around brush. Simpson, and Rooney are excellent too. For Strops, You need to hit SRD.
I recommend the Premium 1, and they have a nice selection of scuttles. Let the madness begin.

I have to agree with Utopian. You really don't need to be messing around with hones at this stage. Concentrate on shaving and building lather. That should keep you busy for a while. Even stropping takes a bit of practice. Buy an inexpensive starter strop, because chances are, you'll cut it.

I've been at it a few months now. I've got:
2 straights (a whippeddog special and one i bought off another forum for $20)
3 brushes (a vdh boar, an EJ pure and a simpsons colonel x2l best)
Just ordered my 2nd strop, and first real one (going from a poor mans to a star shaving big daddy)
Have a bit of software, found I like creams so my go tos for now are Bigelo and Razorock XXX.
a GFT sampler, a penhaligons cologne sampler, a wooden bowl of La Toja, a tub of mama bears lime ice

always on the lookout for more 'affordable' straights.

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Originally Posted by rearviewmirror

Just ordered my 2nd strop, and first real one (going from a poor mans to a star shaving big daddy)

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Well, maybe we have different definitions of "real." If you'd like something that is more than just belt leather with attachments, something that has had some surface prep done to it, try a real strop from SRD.

I havn't purchased nearly as much, but the pressure is on to keep getting more! I swear it's an addiction.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Yeah, I'm going to go in the opposite direction. If you have shaved with a straight only once, then you, or anyone else who is new to this, should only be concentrating on learning how to use that razor. If you want to buy stuff, then focus on a good brush and some soaps and/or creams. Even if the straight doesn't work out for you, that stuff will serve you well for any other kind of wet shaving, which of course should only involve a DE razor.

Of course a good strop is essential while you are trying to figure out how to use a straight razor, but hones are not something that a beginner should even touch for a while, much less buy.
:soapbox:

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I'm definitely concentrating on good shaving practices for the 45 minutes I spend shaving... but what am I to do for the other 23.25 hours of the day? I say hone.

I forgot to mention to those that have mentioned the brush. I have a small pure badger that came with the AOS sampler kit (including the shaving cream, pre-shave oil, and balm. All lavender scented). I also have a Parker silvertip brush that I like very much. Holds a lot of lather, but doesn't seem to whip it up that quickly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, maybe we have different definitions of "real." If you'd like something that is more than just belt leather with attachments, something that has had some surface prep done to it, try a real strop from SRD.

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+1 to this. I started with the PMSK and then about 4 months later talked SWMBO in to letting me puck up SRD's strop of the month, which was the Premium II. It's amazing. I may well pick up another SRD strop with more draw but hot dang, I love that smooth, silky, effortless draw that's just gotten better the last two months.

However, people keep talking about the Starshaving strop so I ordered the 2" last Monday just to check out. Figured if worse comes to worse it will end up being for the kids to play with while I shave.

my thought on the purchase was, it was about 1/3 of the price of one from SRD and if I don't like it I can probably sell it for close to what I paid for it. Luckily in the shaving world things hold their value.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bharner

+1 to this. I started with the PMSK and then about 4 months later talked SWMBO in to letting me puck up SRD's strop of the month, which was the Premium II. It's amazing. I may well pick up another SRD strop with more draw but hot dang, I love that smooth, silky, effortless draw that's just gotten better the last two months.

However, people keep talking about the Starshaving strop so I ordered the 2" last Monday just to check out. Figured if worse comes to worse it will end up being for the kids to play with while I shave.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by rearviewmirror

my thought on the purchase was, it was about 1/3 of the price of one from SRD and if I don't like it I can probably sell it for close to what I paid for it. Luckily in the shaving world things hold their value.

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I have the Big Daddy from starshaving, and LOVE IT.. It takes a little care, some leather conditioner to get the draw the way I like it, but man does it make it easier. That 3" makes all the difference for me. I figure I'm gonna mss it up, so why not go a little less expensive at first. I was right, nicked it right away. So now I'm pretty good at repairing nicks and slices too..

Great choice if you ask me...

M

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxi

Here's what I did. I thought I was getting a little overboard and so did SWMBO. That's when I saw the thread "Show us your hones". At about page two or three, Oldengaerde posted a couple of pictures of his stuff.....SHELVES of this hones...not just three on a table. Shelves of Eschers and Thuri's....shelves of Coti's.

At that point, I rushed to show SWMBO. We both know I still have a way to go.....

(then I bought a new tool box and an Escher...heh) :) I win.

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What is SWMBO????

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Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

What is SWMBO????

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"She who must be obeyed". Referring to one's significant other.

OutStanding Thread!! I always have to be a bit thrifty in my purchase's that's why my bigest AD has been with strop, you know, the sad ones that need a lot of love, conditioner and lot's of hand rubbing, but SWMBO has laid down a bit 'O the old law and said enough is enough, I"ve got at least 7 strops hanging in the Lu and a number I"m doin' some work on, there for I will be selling off some strops in the near future, but I don't regret for one minute the StrpAD that I have indulged myself in, its been a whole lot of fun and I enjoy every minute of it!! So as they have already before me said here, if the bills are paid and some Bob in the Piggy goes monthly start planning your next purchase and have fun!! And of course, a BBS every day!!

Your servent, tinkersd of SRP!