Thread: Expensive to Learn

So, let's put aside the fact that its tough to pass up a razor. In fact, I bought a brand new Dovo from the AoS, got connected with Obie to have him hone it for me, and walked out of his residence with another $100 straight. Restraint is difficult. I'm promising myself to stop at 2 (at least until I pick up my honed razor from Obie mid-week).

I got started on straights two months ago when I tried some Art of Shaving products. I ended up getting the pre-shave, cream, balm, and alum block. This is nearly $100 to start, $200 for the razors, a scuttle from Robert Becker for $35, some other mugs that I couldn't pass up at a local antique shop, an IRS 127 for $35 and a $23 honing.

However, continuos research on this site yielded some cheaper alternatives. Today I bought VDH soap, witch hazel, and pinaud clubman all for $23 to see if that will work.

So, I'm looking at my stock. Two real good, serviceable razors, a strop, plenty of mugs, an expensive set of products (for my Sunday shaves, and my cheaper set for my weekday shaves)...someone tell me I can stop!

Does anyone use face wash and warm water for prep, VDH, witch hazel and clubman as their routine? I would like to avoid the expensive products and put that money into quality shaving brushes or razors. I will probably still bring out the alum for the nasty ones I still get (I'm only 2-3 months in still).

By the way, anyone in the Milwuakee area, Obie is your man.

You can honestly get away with using some of the cheapest stuff out there in terms of soaps, creams, etc. if you're not into the scents and the goal to find the absolute best. My first puck of soap was from wal-mart, in a mug from my great grandfather, and a vintage boar brush from his as well. Everything worked fine and I used only my Dovo blade for a few months.

Then I went wild and bought a Plisson brush, MWF Soap, more razors, hones, different scented creams and soaps (I think I'm up to about 10 different ones) and a new shaving bowl.

Using a straight can probably been insanely cheap in the long run if you let it be. There are just high startup costs. And it would be debatable as to whether you're better off sinking money into "quality" brushes, strops, and razors. A couple of my best shaves have been from $15 razors off of eBay that I honed myself. Meanwhile I have more than a few razors worth 20x (+) that amount.

Originally Posted by mrdubs

So, let's put aside the fact that its tough to pass up a razor. In fact, I bought a brand new Dovo from the AoS, got connected with Obie to have him hone it for me, and walked out of his residence with another $100 straight. Restraint is difficult. I'm promising myself to stop at 2 (at least until I pick up my honed razor from Obie mid-week).

I got started on straights two months ago when I tried some Art of Shaving products. I ended up getting the pre-shave, cream, balm, and alum block. This is nearly $100 to start, $200 for the razors, a scuttle from Robert Becker for $35, some other mugs that I couldn't pass up at a local antique shop, an IRS 127 for $35 and a $23 honing.

However, continuos research on this site yielded some cheaper alternatives. Today I bought VDH soap, witch hazel, and pinaud clubman all for $23 to see if that will work.

So, I'm looking at my stock. Two real good, serviceable razors, a strop, plenty of mugs, an expensive set of products (for my Sunday shaves, and my cheaper set for my weekday shaves)...someone tell me I can stop!

Does anyone use face wash and warm water for prep, VDH, witch hazel and clubman as their routine? I would like to avoid the expensive products and put that money into quality shaving brushes or razors. I will probably still bring out the alum for the nasty ones I still get (I'm only 2-3 months in still).

By the way, anyone in the Milwuakee area, Obie is your man.

Just think about how much money you will no longer be spending on multiblade razors and canned goo. And when you get the straight mastered, you'll no longer feel like your face was slapped silly by a wet hand on a cold windy day.

Like anything else it can be as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. At the risk of being booed out of the room, I think folks are a little delusional if you think you are going to save a lot of money. The upfront costs to start can be as little as, ballpark, $200.00 for 2 shave ready razors from the classifieds here, a decent used strop, a boar brush, some decent soap/cream and a hone to maintain razors. If you can stay at that level you will come ahead of the game but as you already found out most of us can't, including me. I don't kid myself any longer, I do it for a bunch of other reason and saving money is not one of them.

Bob

Just think, if you didn't spend your money on this quality shave gear you'd probably blow it on some worthless junk.

You do realize that this site is full of enablers, right?

Sounds like you have a good set up to start. Once you catch RAD its hard to shake..... I think it starts off the same for just about every one who has RAD. When i was looking to buy my first straight i was in the mind set that a straight razor if cared for properly will out live the owner and be an heirloom. Then i found a cheapie but goodie at an antique store that needed a little fix'r up; so i looked in to restoring. After i completed my first restoration i took a step back a said woah, this thing looks good as new! And so you have it... you now have rad!

Personally i am not afraid to spend my money on shaving gear- razors, soap, skuttle brushes, but IMHO AOS is a little steep. .I think that equally or even better quality products are to be had outside their doors, and depnending on what your into you can get some real wild soaps / creams / balms etc.... I am a big fan of Glycerine Soap. My Favorites are SRD or Mamma Bears. SRD soaps have all EO scents which is nice however Mamma Bears comes in hundreds of different scents, however most are scent oils and not EO like SRD unless noted..... Either you choose would be a cost effective and possibly even superior alternative to either product you mentioned above IMO. of course YMMV. Either brand soap can be had under $20, Mamma bears you can even get like 3-4 small pucks for about a $20 bill which is real cool deal.

Some recomandations on these soap scents-
SRD Opus X (tobacco Scent, i dont smoke and i love it)
SRD Sandlewood- the best if you like that sorta thing
SRD Vinilla Bourbon- Holy Icecream cone!
MMB's- Awakenings Mentholalted- the coldest soap- ever... makes your face feel like an ice cube!
MMB's- Masonic Lodge- Awesome Scent - Smells like teakwood, lemon oil, leather tanin and pip tobacco!
MMB's- Ye olde Barbershop- Fall inm love with it after the 1st use!

As for brushes if your ambitious and handy i recommend picking up a vintage handle, shining it up and reknotting it with a knot from TGN. TRUST ME you will not be sorry! I spent $15 on an awesome vintage brush handle and bought a $30 Super Badger knot for a whopping total of $45...... That brush is just as nice as any simpson brush, trust me cuz i have them too!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Just think, if you didn't spend your money on this quality shave gear you'd probably blow it on some worthless junk.

I think the official formula for males is that you spend a third of your money on booze, another third on women and the rest you spend foolishly. The foolish bit must be the worthless junk.

Bob

Sure, the cost of a straight set up will take 10 years to ammortize compared to drug store Bic razors. But, the point is, that straight shaving is just plain fun! So who cares! (Oh, and other habits like drinking beer are cheap?)

Yea, the whole point is nothing is free and you will spend your money just make sure it is on something you enjoy. Besides I don't know if I have 10 years left to recoup my initial outlay, that is OK for you young fellers.

Bob