Thread: What is the best use of my money?

Ok, so I just got about $150 of birthday money that I can invest in my new hobby. My question is how can I get the most mileage out of it? I am currently shaving with a C-mon that Lynn honed for me. I have two other razors that I can send off for honing. I have a vintage shell horse hide Illinois strop that I have re-conditioned through the advice on this forum. I have a cheap boars hair brush and a shaving mug. I have a barbers hone, and I have been using Bigelow shaving cream and glycerin for a lather. I also invested in the "World of Straight Shaving DVD."

I definitely want to upgrade to a badger brush. So I'll spend $10 or $20. I don't know if I should even be thinking about learning to hone and this point or not. I would like to at some point learn to restore razors as well, but right now I just want to learn how to get the best shave possible. BTW I am very frugal, so money saving tips would be great. Thanks!

75 Arko shave sticks. How's that for mileage?

TI straight razor :-)

I would say 60 for a badger brush and norton 4/8k hone will get you the best bang for your buck in the long run.

Send your money to me and I will invest it wisely for you...


Mick

Do you like the other two razors? If so, send one to get it honed, if not, get a new vintage shave ready razor. You'll still have some money left for creams and aftershaves, or...

How is the strop? Is it really nice? If not, get a really nice strop with a linen side. I just got one after a year with an 'OK' strop and it's one of the best things I ever got. With your barber's hone and a really nice strop you should keep a shave ready razor going for a while. However, if the strop you've got is nice, go for another razor and some creams and soaps and aftershaves, etc.

How is the strop? Is it really nice? If not, get a really nice strop with a linen side. I just got one after a year with an 'OK' strop and it's one of the best things I ever got.

This is my strop. http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...age-strop.html I think it is in pretty good shape after working on it a while. But the truth is I don't have anything to compair it to. It does have a linen side, too.

Here's my two cents for consideration...

1) Amazon has Taylor Of Old Bond Street tub of sandalwood shaving cream and a badger brush set for $29. The brush is smaller but is quite good quality. The cream is awesome and will last a long time and unlikely you will have to use pre-shave oil or glycerin with it so you may save there.

2) There a SS double wall cup/brush combo from China on eBay for $6 (shipped!) and gets here in just under two weeks. The brush is quite coarse, but still better than the $10 ones you find at Walgreens and could work great as a traveler. The cup/scuttle is great and really helps to concentrate your brush and lather.

3) There is a Wapienica NOS razor on eBay for $50 ($10 of that is s/h) that is new old hospital stock still in the original packaging.

4) Do a search on eBay for NOS strop... There are a handful on there and you may get lucky if people are battling for one particular type and ignoring another. ??

That is under $100 for new brush, great cream, new scuttle, spare brush and New Wapienica which leaves you either most of the way there for a really nice new strop or outside chance at an eBay score or perhaps a push toward saving for a nice strop.

Hope you find great deals! :-)

Gold coins. It's close to what a 1/10 of an oz would run.

What is your objective as a straight shaver?
All the advice in the world is moot without knowing that...

Are you looking for sustainability? Comfortable shaves? Saving the planet? Cost savings?

Edit:
I missed this:

I am very frugal, so money saving tips would be great.

That being the case, it would be, IMO, prudent to get items that will give you long term return on investment for their ability to save costs.
You already mentioned you want a badger hair brush.
That being the case, this is really good advice:

Originally Posted by Casteel33

I would say 60 for a badger brush and norton 4/8k hone will get you the best bang for your buck in the long run.