Thread: Cheep, Cheep,and more Cheep

I once brought up the suggestion for a PIF thread here. The premise was that you offered something up, the next guy took it and offered up another item for someone else. In this way, you could begin to try new things, such as soaps, brushes, aftershave, etc. without a huge investment.

The idea was shot down immediately, and unequivocally.

The reasoning behind that decision, however, was sound.

As gugi has already mentioned, a thread like that would really only detract from the site and encourage the "bottom feeders" from across the web to show up and claim items. These folks most likely are just looking to get something for nothing. That would most certainly take away from the new guys who really did need the help in the first place. It's also for this reason that the monthly giveaway has a post activity requirement to be eligible to win.

I cannot tell you how often I have seen members, individually, answer the call of another member in need. I dare to say that, using a good conservative figure, we only see about 20% of this type of activity in the threads. The other 80% (or more) happens behind the scenes.

This simply goes to show that the argument of helping being the reward, rather than the recognition, is true, and a practice that is very, very much alive and well at SRP. It's part of what makes me proud to be part of such a gentlemanly, friendly, helpful and caring community.

Now, for the topic at hand, I believe BobH is spot on in his statement about the $100-150 mark being the proper entry point. That should allow any newbie to get a decent shaver, brush, soap, mug, strop, post shave regimen and possibly even a barber's hone. If they REALLY luck out, they might even be able to get a second razor, but they'd have to be patient.

I myself started this way.

Van der Hagen Luxury set (mug, soap, Badger brush and stand)- $30

Geneva Cutlery 5/8 round point- $30

Vintage Horse Shell & Linen strop- $35

Alum block- $5

Geneva Cutlery 5/8 Round Point 9 Pyramid- $30

Genco Barber's Hone- $20

That totals at exactly $150, and I used my existing supply of aftershave. I could have kept going on this exact setup for a year before having to buy more soap or aftershave. I did have to hone both blades myself (which took a long time on a Harbor Freight diamond plate, wet/dry sandpaper and my barber's hone), but with the knowledge contained here, I did it.

As I had more cash to spend, I bought more gear and refined my skills. I'm no pro by any stretch, but I get comfortable shaves on (mostly) inexpensive gear. My SRD Black Latigo strop, my Norton stones and my Genco Easy Aces are the most expensive pieces of gear I've bought, and even then, I haven't topped the $75 mark on any one item, with the exception of the Nortons.

The bottom line is that this sport is like anything else in life- you get out of it what you put in. I may not have invested much money, at least initially, but I certainly invested a lot of my time and effort. The rewards have been far greater than the investment. I've gotten good shaves, learned new skills and achieved a sense of personal satisfaction.

Most importantly, to me, I've become a part of a community where I can get the help I need, give help to others and feel a sense of friendship and brotherhood.

And nothing, my friends, is cheap about that.