I think I got a live one..

I figured I would post here as the title says, I think I converted a buddy at work into shaving with a straight.

Several months ago I talked to him about my new hobby, he mentioned that his wife the hair dresser purchased a straight razor with some antique scissors or something. Of course I wanted him to bring it in.

Today he placed a vintage Shumate (St.. Louis) razor with a nice looking leather case in my hands, It looked NOS all but some pitting on the bevel. Then he said something that surprised me... " how much is this going to cost me to get the stuff to shave with it?"

Flash forward a few hours.

After putting it on some rocks which proved to be more difficult than I thought getting past those rust pits. I managed to get a nice clean shave and was pleasantly surprised.

So I need to get a game plan together and give him that advice.
I have a few ideas, but that is what friends are for...

What would you suggest?


Here is a photo,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/d2d3b30d.jpg

Like any goo dealer you have to get him hooked before you tell him the cost. If you have any extra brushes and cream or soap, I would lend them to him to get the hook set. Then you can tell him the cost, after all he is going to be saving money.";"

And if he doesn't take to it you probably just scored yourself a new razor. Most people tend to just look at me like I am crazy when I tell them what I shave with.

Just an idea: There are inexpensive, but perfectly serviceable, supplies available. One source that comes to mind is whippeddog.com with its poor man's strop kit and a brush and soap bundle--35 bucks(?) for all. Another idea: There are VDH boar brushes and soap at CVS. Another source for a strop would be starshaving. That combo would be approx. 30-35 bucks too. Others probably know more places for cheap stuff. A beginner's set up is probably less than a month's worth of cartridges.

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Originally Posted by oldsCool

Just an idea: There are inexpensive, but perfectly serviceable, supplies available. One source that comes to mind is whippeddog.com with its poor man's strop kit and a brush and soap bundle--35 bucks(?) for all. Another idea: There are VDH boar brushes and soap at CVS. Another source for a strop would be starshaving. That combo would be approx. 30-35 bucks too. Others probably know more places for cheap stuff. A beginner's set up is probably less than a month's worth of cartridges.

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Those were exactly the options I was thinking myself.

Is that a pre-op or post-op picture? I ask because it looks like there are some chips still in the blade about 1/3 of the way in from the toe.

Looks like the razor still has a lot of life left in her, but man you gotta lose those scales......

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Originally Posted by Duzzy

Is that a pre-op or post-op picture? I ask because it looks like there are some chips still in the blade about 1/3 of the way in from the toe.

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That was preop, it was not fun honeing all that out.
i had to take off more than I expected, As I could only see it with my loup but this rust chips kept showing up the more I honed, the bevel looks clean now.
:(

Haha, those scales are outstanding. I would totally shave with that razor, but only after sweating in some big collared polyester first.

I picked up a piece of leather that is used on one of the auto strops, I don't have a photos but it's just like the ones if you google Leather auto strop(images).. It was 2$ and I am thinking of giving it to my buddy as a starter strop.

Other than being a little short, and having that crease in the middle like all of them do It should be ok won't it?

I also offered to give him one of my spare boar brushes and let him know he can get one at Walgreens which is just like the one I use everyday, he would just have to break it in...

Whipped dog has the poor mans strop kit for like 25 bucks ish, you can get a starter brush online for 20 bucks and then a puck of soap for 20 bucks and an old coffee mug...

He can get in for under 100 if he wants to do it cheap (but once the hook is set he will be like the rest of us dropping crazy money on soaps, creams, Razors etc :) )

You can get a Williams shaving Puck from CVS for less than $2.

I find its also easier for a beginner to whip up a lather considering the tallow in Williams.

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Originally Posted by KindestCutOfAll

You can get a Williams shaving Puck from CVS for less than $2.

I find its also easier for a beginner to whip up a lather considering the tallow in Williams.

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Actually, Williams is notoriously hard to work into something passable as lather, hence the saying "If you can lather Williams you can lather anything".

Spend a few more bucks and buy some Proraso, or better yet (for a tallow fix) Tabac...

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Originally Posted by sidmind

Other than being a little short, and having that crease in the middle like all of them do It should be ok won't it?

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I'm not that sure. Why don't you give it a try first. Shave for two weeks with stropping on that thing and see if it's doable.
Also I'd let him make some decisions himself. It's pretty clear he needs a strop and may be brush/soap/cream. If he's that good friend let him use yours to try it out.
I think it's best to concentrate helping him with the important parts, i.e. how to make lather, strop, and shave, instead of picking his equipment for him. Just give him guidance from what you know and there is no need to sugarcoat the costs or try finding the cheapest ghetto setup for him.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Actually, Williams is notoriously hard to work into something passable as lather, hence the saying "If you can lather Williams you can lather anything".

Spend a few more bucks and buy some Proraso, or better yet (for a tallow fix) Tabac...

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That explains a lot. I just got some Tonsorial Shave Cream from New York Shaving Company. I was amazed at how easy it was to lather.

I thought Williams was difficult at first, but I'm kinda stubborn. Now I can get it to lather pretty well. Looks like it was good practice. Maybe we can list Williams as a training aid!!! :roflmao