Newbie Shopping List

Guys,

After reviewing the site and a lot of the information here, I have decided on getting the following items:

Boker Edelwiess
I will probably get a DOVO Carpe Diem and if I become an addict I will look at a vintage razor.

Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush, Imitation Light Horn
My reading says a decent brush is important, but I don't want to go all out until I am experienced. I also would prefer not to have a plastic handle.

Fromm Razor Strop 2 1/4 X 21
I read that there is a good chance I may ruin my strop, but that you can mess up your razor with a poor strop. I figured this was in-between.

Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap /w Ceramic Bowl
Castle Forbes Cedar/Sandalwood Shaving Cream
I figured I would get a cream and soap to try out. I have heard nothing but rave reviews on both these.

I am thinking of holding off on a shaving bowl/scuttle. I really want to buy a nice one, but from what I have read there are cheaper alternatives for right now. I will probably not start shaving (with a straight razor) until April at the earliest, so we will see where I am in my purchases.

Probably the last thing I will get is a Hone.

If I am missing something please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

The Edelweiss is a fine razor. I would suggest you get it honed by a pro when you buy it. This is already done if you get your stuff at SRD. Also they have a complete starter kit that will probally save you quite a bit of money. Good Luck and Very Best, John

It's a very impressive starter list, but before you go spending your dosh, I'd suggest seeing if shaving with a SR is something you will enjoy.


I'd suggest rather then spending a lot on a new razor, head over to whipped dog and pick up a sight unseen deal which includes a shave ready razor, an el cheapo strop kit etc, then head over to SRD and find a brush and some soap you like. (that's part of the fun is trying all the different soaps and creams :) ) then once you have a few shaves under your belt you can let your RAD kick in :)

But if you do decide on the new one, wildhog speaks wiseom, make sure it comes from someone who honed it (SRD)
Good luck!

McGyver,

You are probably right! I'm just excited and want to get everything right off the bat! I think I probably will go with Whipped Dog. It will save me a lot of money, especially if it turns out that Straight Razors aren't for me for whatever reason. I'm not rich (with $ at least) and I would hate to waste all that cash. You think a razor from Whipped Dog will give me a enough shaves to tell if it's for me? I was looking at the $55 Straight Razor/poor man strop kit. My only concern was not getting a real feel for using a straight razor if I use inferior material.

Thanks for the advice!

Here is the sticky.

I would rather get a Straight Razor Wet Shaving Set from SRD or even something from the classifieds here than any "sight unseen deal" from anybody.

+1 for Whippeddog.com

Larry's a stand up guy, and you'll get a good, serviceable shave ready starter razor, a strop and pasted balsa for about 1/3 the cost of an Edelwiess, as lovely as they are. Once you've played with that for a bit, then invest in the shiney pretties, because.. lets be honest... you're gonna trash the strop, maybe muck up the edge of the razor on the strop, use the paste way before you (should) need to, and use it too much when you do, and a symphony of other stops and starts down the line.

Larry's hitting a rough patch at the moment, but he's got the rest of the company set up to deal with it, and he's still pounding out orders. In any case, welcome aboard!

Hello superpatriot, welcome to the forum!

I would change the soap and the strop. Get an easier soap to lather and a wider strop. I had MWF ( Mitchell Wool Fat) for over a month and still don't get consistent lather from it.

The only times I have made nicks on the strop was trying to do X patterns. Which you need to do with a 2 1/2" wide strop. I practice on a news paper until I had the flip down. Rolled the news paper in a 3" wide rectangle, hang it around the towel hanger and went to town on it. A note on the strops. There are some strop you can change the leather and keep the hardware. I think SRD strops do that and I know for a fact that the ones from Vintage Blade also do that. For $25.00 I can have my latigo strop leather replaced.

Get the razor you want. I think it will motivate you to keep at it. Also a second razor has prove to be very valuable for me. It let's you have feed back from your stroping, refreshing the edge and honing. By having one always professionally hone to shave ready.

That's my 2 cents. Welcome and good luck. Double O

I also started with Mitchells as my first soap, and it's a winner! Had some issues getting the lather right the first week as well, but once you get the hang of it, it's amazing! Do recommend a few drops of glycerine though, it makes it a little bit more firm..

I agree with mcgyver74 100%. It wouldn't hurt to approach SR shaving with a little caution concerning the outlay of funds for the hobby for the present time. Take your time, make posts if you have questions, and develop your shaving skills. If it all works out for you, then go for the gusto and get what you truly want.

I started with a Magic Shavette that you use one half of a double edge razor blade, it cost me $9.99, then I got some Van Der Hagen shaving soap and a boar's hair brush to start with. Got the idea of SR shaving, then I upgraded. I wished I knew about some restored "starter" SR razors, I was not a member of this forum then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcgyver74

It's a very impressive starter list, but before you go spending your dosh, I'd suggest seeing if shaving with a SR is something you will enjoy.


I'd suggest rather then spending a lot on a new razor, head over to whipped dog and pick up a sight unseen deal which includes a shave ready razor, an el cheapo strop kit etc, then head over to SRD and find a brush and some soap you like. (that's part of the fun is trying all the different soaps and creams :) ) then once you have a few shaves under your belt you can let your RAD kick in :)

But if you do decide on the new one, wildhog speaks wiseom, make sure it comes from someone who honed it (SRD)
Good luck!

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The stuff Larry sells are vintage straight razors that may have some cosmetic flaws (Pitting, ugly handles etc) but are fully functional and truly shave ready. I got my first true straight from him and it's still in my rotation today, In fact, I prefer the shave I get from it over my Dovo I got from SRD and my TI that was honed by Lynn)

Please understand this is NOT a knock on SRD etc, they sell QUALITY stuff and anything honed by Lynn will be as sharp and smooth as that particular razor is capable of being (He wrings every last drop of sharpness/smoothness out of the blade....truly masters level work IMHO :) ) It's just that I find the cheapo WD razor I have to be more comfortable FOR ME (this is one of those YMMV things :) )

Get the inexpensive WD razor and use it for a few shaves, then if you feel this is for you, get the SRD stuff going forward since you will want a 2nd razor at least so when one is off being re-honed (or you roll the edge on the strop etc :) ) you have a spare to keep shaving with.


As for the soap, that is also a very personal thing, I would look for soap sampler packs so you can try different things, MWF is my soap of choice these days, but it does take some getting used to to build lather with it. but then again trying all the different scents etc is part of the fun and enjoyment!

Good luck!

I started with the Straight Razor Wet Shaving Set; it set me up well and also, getting the razor from SRD assured me that my razor was shave ready. A person will not go wrong with SRD sets; when that set arrives, YOU ARE READY TO ROLL!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Otto

Here is the sticky.

I would rather get a Straight Razor Wet Shaving Set from SRD or even something from the classifieds here than any "sight unseen deal" from anybody.

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IMHO a 2 1/4 inch strop will be harder for you to use. I know it is only a 1/2 inch but go for at least a 2 1/2 inch strop, 3 inches if you can find one. I think this would reduce the chances of you ruining your first strop. Otherwise, good job :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by superpatriot

McGyver,

. . . You think a razor from Whipped Dog will give me a enough shaves to tell if it's for me? I was looking at the $55 Straight Razor/poor man strop kit. My only concern was not getting a real feel for using a straight razor if I use inferior material.
. . .

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PMFJI --

The Whipped Dog razors, and Poor Man's strop, aren't made of "inferior material". The razors are good vintage steel, and the occasional report on Larry's honing has been favorable. The strop (which I own) is decent leather -- not large, not fancy. It makes a good travel strop if you "graduate" to something else.

You'll cry less if you nick a Poor Man's strop, or if you drop a Whipped Dog razor, than if you damage a Boker Edelweiss.

Your face probably won't know the difference.

Charles

Quote:

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Edwin Jagger Best Badger Shaving Brush, Imitation Light Horn
My reading says a decent brush is important, but I don't want to go all out until I am experienced. I also would prefer not to have a plastic handle.

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Isn't "imitation light horn" the same as "plastic" ?<g>

. . Charles

PS -- I have a Plisson badger brush that's about 20 years old with a plastic handle. It's still working. So I might be biased.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

PMFJI --

The Whipped Dog razors, and Poor Man's strop, aren't made of "inferior material". The razors are good vintage steel, and the occasional report on Larry's honing has been favorable. The strop (which I own) is decent leather -- not large, not fancy. It makes a good travel strop if you "graduate" to something else.

You'll cry less if you nick a Poor Man's strop, or if you drop a Whipped Dog razor, than if you damage a Boker Edelweiss.

Your face probably won't know the difference.

Charles

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I certainly did not mean to disparage Whpped Dogs items. After reading all the posts I am looking to do a low-cost starter kit. I appreciate all the feedback. When I finally get started I will let you all know. From all my reading it seems I will have it a little easier, because I need to shave every day (I sometimes take Sat/Sun off from shaving if possible). Not having a lot of growth should help me out as a beginner.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

Isn't "imitation light horn" the same as "plastic" ?<g>

. . Charles

PS -- I have a Plisson badger brush that's about 20 years old with a plastic handle. It's still working. So I might be biased.

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I did not know, but I was wondering. I thought imitation light horn would be made of wood, but I honestly have no idea. I just wanted something more solid than plastic (personal preference, although I haven't even started yet!). Even if I don't prefer whatever I buy first, I keep hearing it is good to have spare items.