Thread: 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.

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!

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