Thread: Good day everyone

Hi Tom! Welcome to SRP! We love having Armed Forces members here! You came to the right place to get answers to your questions. May I suggest you head on over to the Wiki section for beginners? There's great info for new members/shavers there that will address many of your concerns.

Although I've never used any of their wares, Dovo makes a fine razor. Many members here suggest them for rookies. Mr. Lynn Abrams (this site's founder) and many senior members here recommend that rookies use a 6/8 for a starter due to their being easier for rookies to control. I can personally vouch for Mr. Abrams' integrity as I've done business with him recently and found him to be a person of first-rate character.

I strongly urge you to get a 3" strop, but not an expensive one because in all likelihood you will ultimately ruin it. Many first-time SR users do (myself included). A vendor here (sorry, I can't recall his name at this late hour--can someone else chime in and help out please?) sells a 3" latigo strop called either a "Poor Man's" or "Poor Boy's" starter kit. Many here have found it to be a very good deal for the money.

Brushes and soaps are largely based on personal preferences. Badger brushes have so many different grades and manufacturers that it can get confusing. Many shavers, myself included, use a boar's hair brush (I like my brush to be a little stiffer, whereas badger brushes tend to be softer, with the absolute top-of-the-line ones can feel like a the shadow of a cloud crossing your face). Soaps: so many!! Part of the fun of this activity is trying new things, be they different brushes, soaps, hones, razors, strops, techniques, etc.

Again, welcome to SRP. You came to the right place!

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

I strongly urge you to get a 3" strop, but not an expensive one because in all likelihood you will ultimately ruin it. Many first-time SR users do (myself included)

+1, including the "myself included" part. though I didn't completely ruin my strop, I just nicked the hell out of the very top and very bottom

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

May I suggest you head on over to the Wiki section for beginners?

linky:
Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

a "Poor Man's" or "Poor Boy's" starter kit. Many here have found it to be a very good deal for the money.

That would be the the "Poor man's strop kit" at whippeddog.com which sadly isn't 3" . The rich-man-strop however, is 3" and is $55.

I personally vouch for whippeddog.com. He runs his business with the beginners in mind. I purchased a razor and a balsa strop there and have been very happy with the service, product, and prices. It looks, however, that you are willing to spend a sizable amount of ca$h on this hobby. Whippeddog.com is aimed at budget constrained newbies(sub $100 for everything you need), so you may or may not be interested. Just sayin'...

igga:
Thanks for the clarifications and connections! I don't know how to provide links like you do.

Welcome to SRP Tom!
You will be happy with either if the sets you found so far. I'm a believer in a practice strop for folks just starting out as the tend to get nicked, it is normal and experienced shavers will nick their strops too... it only takes a half second of inattentiveness.
If the sets are within your budget then go for them.
Sandalwood is a great scent for soap or cream and the SRD soap is an excellent latherer.
boar or badger... i have both but normally use badger the boar is mainly just a for travel. either one will get the job done but the badger will feel nicer on the face.

i highly doubt you are going to be able to get a forge on the base. but ABANA might have suggestions, the SD affiliate is there in Rapid City.

enjoy,
jim

Thank you all for the help! I'll definitely get a 3" Strop, and may visit a few "mom and pop" barbers to see if they have any old strops I could use for practice. Glad to hear their isn't much concern over the razors, and I think I'll go with the 6/8 just because I'm a newbie.

And yes Jim, it looks like it may be quite hard to get a forge on this base, but there are plenty of railroad spikes laying about; just have to find out who I can talk to about picking those up. And thank you for the ABANA site, I didn't realize there was an affiliate in this city.

Thanks all,
Tom

Tom, Greetings. And thank you for your service.

It would be hard to go wrong w/ either of your choices - especially having them come shave ready. Whatever gear you go with, keep talking/asking questions here. You'll get incredible help. If your kit doesn't come w/ free honing, give me a shout - I'll help w/ the edges when the need arises

For your blacksmithing itch, look up threads on this and other sites from custome razor makers. Some are photo based, others video. They should give a pretty good enema to your imagination.

Keep us posted on your progress. You're gonna love this.