newbie with some money to speeeeend!

Hey all so my electric shaver died and I decided to go straight. Normally I wouldn't spend as much on an introduction spree but since i got an unexpected photo gig that is sticking 2 G's in my pocket I figure that like photography or other hobby "getting good steel in the beginning is worth it in the long haul"

That being said I also figured I would help out the local economy by supporting the forum users and buy from here. That also being said I really know very little about the topic and so I thought I would ask some pointers on which of the classified ads would be best for me. I was REALLY looking at this one here 5/8 Otto Deutsche 'Hans' (soligen – Bresduck) Extra Hollow squarepoint. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds main reason being is that it is sexy. I am an artist and that just looks nice haha. But how would it be for a beginner?
Others that caught my eye were
Brookes & Crookes, Sheffield, England. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
and
Eugen Hoppe, Aevos-Special, Solingen. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Whadda you think? Any insight would be much appreciated and if you have other websites to point me to that would be cool. I also would need to get a strop/cream or soap along with other beginning essentials one would need so if there is a good starters kit that you could point me to that would be wonderful.

Ok I am getting close to falling asleep so I am going to be done with questions and let the answers to the above questions be answered :)

Thanks for any help offered and have a wonderful day/night!

PS
I would like to spend no more then $300-350 on a beginners kit so any pointers with that price range in mind would be grand!

_I_ think that you'd be better off with a round-point razor. The edge of any straight razor can slice. The end of a square-point (also called "spike point") razor can also gouge pretty deeply. You must be _constantly_ aware of its location, or risk damage. [Others may disagree about suitability for beginners.]

On that basis, I'd recommend against the Otto Deutsche. It sure is pretty, though.

The Hoppe would be fine for _anyone_ who didn't demand perfect esthetics, IMHO. Pits and cracked scales don't affect the shave.

Charles

You could blunt the spike if you really fancy this razor.

Hi,
If you really like the Otto Deutsche, go for that. My first razor was a spike and while it added a degree of difficulty it wasn't all that difficult. Just be careful when you do your lower side-burn area, you can end up digging in to the area just below your ear on your neck if you're not careful, though I've never actually cut myself with the spike point.

I'd also caution against dulling the point, unless you do it very mildly. Why not just respect the razor and leave it as it was made? I asked here about the point on my razor and MOST people said to leave it as it was; I'm glad I heeded that advice.

A strop will probably cost about 100, a good brush maybe 50; you can pick up a nice pottery bowl from a market for maybe 20 at the most. Then apart from cream, that's all you need to get started. I'd also recommend a hone (Norton 4/8). But of course you'll end up with more than one razor anyway, so why not get two from the three you mentioned, the Otto Deutsche and another?

Carl

If youve never shaved with a straight razor before Id start with a cheapie. By no means should you limit yourself to that, but if you find yourself not liking how the straight shaves you wont be out a lot of money and you can always go for a more expensive razor down the road. Get some practice with a cheapie first before you commit to spending an arm and a leg. You could end up cutting yourself really bad and look at that pricey razor you bought and never touch it again since it brings up a bad memory. Long story short, Ive read from most of the mentors here that you should start with a low-end razor and move up to the more expensive ones as your skill progresses.

Try Gemstar Customs and Whipped Dog. Different ends of the spectrum both great results. You can learn with a square point it helps to keep you focused or else.

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Originally Posted by stevenbrandt

Hey all so my electric shaver died and I decided to go straight. Normally I wouldn't spend as much on an introduction spree but since i got an unexpected photo gig that is sticking 2 G's in my pocket I figure that like photography or other hobby "getting good steel in the beginning is worth it in the long haul"

That being said I also figured I would help out the local economy by supporting the forum users and buy from here. That also being said I really know very little about the topic and so I thought I would ask some pointers on which of the classified ads would be best for me. I was REALLY looking at this one here 5/8 Otto Deutsche 'Hans' (soligen – Bresduck) Extra Hollow squarepoint. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds main reason being is that it is sexy. I am an artist and that just looks nice haha. But how would it be for a beginner?
Others that caught my eye were
Brookes & Crookes, Sheffield, England. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
and
Eugen Hoppe, Aevos-Special, Solingen. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Whadda you think? Any insight would be much appreciated and if you have other websites to point me to that would be cool. I also would need to get a strop/cream or soap along with other beginning essentials one would need so if there is a good starters kit that you could point me to that would be wonderful.

Ok I am getting close to falling asleep so I am going to be done with questions and let the answers to the above questions be answered :)

Thanks for any help offered and have a wonderful day/night!

PS
I would like to spend no more then $300-350 on a beginners kit so any pointers with that price range in mind would be grand!

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Hello Steven and welcome . I started last May on straights and went with Larry at Whippeddog :

Whipped Dog Straight Razor Shaving Equipment

you get all you need to start (minus a brush and cream/soap ) . The process of learning to use a straight is long . not to put you off, but it is not learned quickly - that being said it feels grand when you get it sorted and have great shaves ! At least with this deal , you can practice and eventually move on to different razors , strops etc...

For me the stropping was the key . It looks easy , but it does take a bit of time . Very easy to dull your blade through poor stropping ( I know that too well !) .

Whatever you decide , best of luck and we`ll be here to help you along !

Cheers,

Scott

My couple of cents. Buy the razor while you can afford it, sure good idea. I would suggest finding a good cheap DE or if you still have a bladed razor sitting around, use it. Point is, get the wet shave portion down first. When you have consistent good lather, break out the straight razor. When you do, listen to the dang guides, stick to the cheeks and keep it slow, add in more parts as you get more and more comfortable handling the razor.

I must disagree with the cheap razor option. Find something you like and be super duper careful. As you can see in the classified they hold their value fairly well. $100 on a cheap but good dovo probably wont hold the resale value as well as a more sought after vintage kept in good shape. However if you are clumsy the dovo may be a better buy.

Good advice already abound. Just some things from my viewpoint. No need for a stone yet. You're whole beginner kit can be had for less than a hundred bucks. That's even including the only stone you should need for the first year(barber hone for 10-30 bucks). But I'd question whether you even need a barber hone honestly. Everyone seems to love proraso soap. I use Mitchells Woolfat(2 bucks), and haven't had any problems. I don't really like a boar brush(8 bucks), but it's what I bought so it'll have to do for now. I hear good things about horsehair brushes, and it's humane harvesting too, so that's a nice thing(18 bucks). Most importantly, get what you really want the first time around. I've spent a whole lot of money in "beginner" stuff, that was fractionally less expensive and quickly replaced with more expensive gear. Which effectively raised the overall expenditures, while not really working as well as the good stuff. Buy the best you can afford for your 350, if that's your limit. A replacement component for an SRD strop doesn't cost much more than a beginner strop(same price as some "beginner" strops actually). So buy the nice one, ruin it, replace the component, and you've spent ten extra bucks to start with the best. JMO

I am interested in trying a straight razor myself but am not a newbie to wet shaving having used multi blade razors for years. If you have not wet shaved before, I would get a decent DE or SE razor, a good badger brush and a good shaving cream/soap. Learn to get a good lather and a good shave from these razors first before trying a straight razor. In the meantime set aside money to purchase a really good straight, strop and maybe a set of hones. If you are comfortable with wet shaving with safety razors go get your straight razor kit. That will also give you time to research exactly what you want in a straight. Personally that is roughly what I did. I got a fat boy DR and an Ever Ready 1924 SE, a better brush and learned how to make a proper lather. I am now just waiting for my vintage straight to come back from have an edge put on and a good stop. Using the old Ever-Ready was an eye opener and if what some say that it is as close to shaving with a straight as you can get from a safety razor, I think I am about ready to try the straight when it comes back.

Bob

I always see people telling new folks to go cheap... IMO I think that's a good option only if you are on a budget. There is a good chance that if you are careful with your stuff, no serious damage will be done. If you don't like it, you can sell it on the classifieds and get most of your money back out of it...if you do like it, you have a blade you will always want to keep.

Now, that being said, strops are a different deal because invariably all new folks will at LEAST nick a strop once. Honestly, for you, I would recommend the SRD modular paddle strop. Paddle strops are always useful to have around, it being a paddle...it takes the tautness learning curve out of things for now, it's a good value and it's good looking. Plus, if you nick a pad, you can get a replacement fairly inexpensively. Plus, with the rough leather, felt pad, crox, etc...you'll have everything you need to keep your razor going for a good while.

Main reason I decided to chime in is I've dealt with enough photographers/cinematographers to know if something isn't aesthetically pleasing, they will enjoy it less...so I highly recommend against the cheap set-up route for you.

+1 for whipped dog Larry does a good job and get the kit with the poor mans strop but you can buy the nicer strop as well. You'll want the poor mans for a little while when you're working on your technique. You will most likely put some nicks into it and wouldn't want to ruin a nice strop. Once you get started you can use that extra cash to really start building a collection of stuff.

Nice to see there's another photographer on the forum!

It looks like you got a lot of advice. I'm just going to say welcome.

How good that I haven't such big budget when I start :) Otherwise, I could die from the abundance of choice

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Originally Posted by Bonbon

How good that I haven't such big budget when I start :) Otherwise, I could die from the abundance of choice

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I hear ya. I forced myself into a slim budget and set some ground rules for upgrading. I am still waiting to fulfill my 2 month rule on the strop to buy a nice new one and some other gear I have had researched and lined up for a couple months. Its nice to engage self rules, they force you to think more about future purchases.

If I had a bigger initial budget, and no confirmed future big checks. I would probably have gotten 2 razors, and went with the SRD & bought the replacement strop at the same time. Probably a few more soaps, and an rbecker scuttle off the rip. Then slowly played with things over the time. but as it is, I have the smaller yet steady income of the 8-5 job.

when you have plenty of money, buy al three.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ryanjewell

I always see people telling new folks to go cheap... IMO I think that's a good option only if you are on a budget.

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You can get really cheap and cheerful vintage razors from the classifieds. If you don't like it you can sell it again. If you look well after your vintage razor you can sell it without a loss. If you buy a new one you will lose money when selling it second hand. If you prefer to buy new: DOVO has fairly cheap razors that are just as good as their more expensive ones.

Holy helpful forum! I dont believe i have ever had that kind of response an ANY other online community :D

Ok so after some major hand tying I decided against that Otto blade(perhaps if it is still for sale. I will for sure go with the Eugen Hoppe but I would like a second blade so let me know if the next few would be good for beginners...

first
***REDUCED***Hall & Fielding Sheffield - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
second
7/8 Jacques Le Coultre "Replaceable blade"Frameback featuring the original horn scales - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
third
13/16 Herder - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
fourth
RARE - EIRENE #77 - Solingen - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
fifth
Brookes & Crookes, Sheffield, England. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds


I needed a shave so I went to walmart(yeah I know... but I needed a shave and that was the only place I could go!) and grabbed a wet shave setup(cheap brush/bowl/soap) so I have that at least. I will prolly get one of those stropping sets from whipped dog and maybe DE or SE safety razor from somewhere to fill in while I am learning the art.

I am not really worried about being scared away from this art because of cuts or that sort of thing. I just want something I can learn on without having to plug up a bunch of holes after each pass haha. So yeah any input on those other choices would be swell :)

Thanks again all, I have learned a lot about shaving since checking out the straight razor crowd :)

@Cavere
Yo what kinda photography do you do? Do you have a website? I do mostly fine art landscape and am getting into portrait stuff big time in the last year or so :) Check out my stuff at Zenfolio | Steve Brandt Photography

BTW when it comes to fancy blades I am really attracted to Damascus steel or Mokume Gane looking stuff... Anyone know a place that sells that style of blade for reasonable? Or at all?

Poorman's strop is good.
The paddle version is easier to use, but I feel that there are slight warp in the paddle (perhaps due to the adhesive behind the leather?). Does not degrade performance, however.

Also, do not underestimate the power of balsa wood + 0.1 micron iron oxide + oil.
There is some kind of magic in that stuff.

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Originally Posted by xuz

Poorman's strop is good.
The paddle version is easier to use, but I feel that there are slight warp in the paddle (perhaps due to the adhesive behind the leather?). Does not degrade performance, however.

Also, do not underestimate the power of balsa wood + 0.1 micron iron oxide + oil.
There is some kind of magic in that stuff.

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Thanks! I will definitely add that to my purchases!

I'm really liked Brookes & Crookes, Sheffield razor. Maybe it will be easier to use because of round point

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Originally Posted by stevenbrandt

Thanks! I will definitely add that to my purchases!

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There is probably no need to separately add the balsa wood + iron oxide.
I believe every poorman's strop comes with the complete set.
Good luck!

Well you've either bought one or two of the ones you listed or your field has narrowed. Of the two I see left the I'd go for the Hoppe. I like the profile of the blade and the Dutch clog trademark is cool. I like the covered tang, too. You could always get new scales, but it would be a pity to lose the trademark...

Thanks I will be ordering the Hoppe tonight, along with another asap. If you go to page two you will see some other choices. I think I may make a new thread with new choices as I dont think everyone was reading comments other then my first one haha.