Thread: Still on the fence....

Hey folks,

First time poster in the forums. I hail from Brampton, Ontario, Canada (home of The Rose) I hope this is in the right area; I looked around and this seemed to be the most appropriate section to post this in. If it's not, I apologize.

I am so sick and tired of constantly having to buy replacement blades for my Gillette Fusion Power (pssshtt, as if the so-called "power" does anything significant anyways. All it seems to do is waste batteries).

Anyhoo...been on the fence about going with straight razor. Watched Lynn Abram on YouTube, and I gotta say I'm hooked. I never looked at shaving in this light before. You know, taking the time to actually pamper myself and get my day started off on the right foot, so to speak. I guess you can say I was one of the mindless drones who just quickly lathered up with my generic foam from my red Gillette can and stroked away at the bristles hurriedly.

So now that I'm hooked, one might ask (if one gave a damn) why I'm still on the fence. Being a newbie, the equipment is fairly expensive (especially when one is out of a job due to being laid off). I've done my research, I've looked around. I've settled with an online retailer but I'm looking at things like customs & duties and of course shipping charges. Not to mention the currency exchange.

I was wondering if anybody had a valid "Promotional Code" for classicshaving.com, I could use to help lessen the cost by a few bucks. I know it seems tacky to not make the purchase because of a few bucks, but to be honest, that white blank "Promotional Field" just staring at me with no value assigned to it was enough for me to hold off on my purchase and just look around a bit more and of course, ask my question here.

Hope this wasn't offensive in any way and/or against the rules. I didn't see any rules regarding asking for this kind of material(s) and if it does exist, please point me to the post and I'll gladly oblige.

If money is tight why buy new.?
The SRP Classifieds could get you started at less expense.
You may even find a local seller & save on shipping & taxes.

+1 to Oz's suggestions - you can pick up a straight razor in the classifieds for the cost of some multi-blade razors.

Also check out the Wikis - see button at top left of this page.

Look at equipment needed
- there are also links in the wiki section for making some of the gear such as strops (or you could just type 'strop' and 'making' / 'DIY' into a search)


Soap and brush
You also don't have to spend much on brushes or soaps.

(I'm still using a $2 supermarket brush and a $2 soap also does the job nicely).

Also - try looking through forums using words like 'budget' or 'cheap'.

All the best,
Michael.

Welcome to SRP and the wonderful world of straight razors. Not to take anything away from one vendor to give it to another but you have Rasage Poulin in Calgary. The shipping would be less. Here is their website.

As previous posters said, the SRP classifieds is also a good place to find equipment at a reasonable price. Take a look at the tutorials in the SRP Wiki here to get a leg up on all things related to straight razor shaving.

+1 on the advice given so far. Since you are on a budget, you really should check the classifieds for a used, "shave ready" razor. I bought my first razor from a vendor, nice razor but a tad expensive. My second razor was bought from a SRP member at a very reasonable price, here on the classifieds, it has turned out to be my daily shaver. As Michael stated, you should be able to find a starter brush and soap at a drugstore, not the greatest, but it is functional. Good luck and keep us posted.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

If money is tight why buy new.?
The SRP Classifieds could get you started at less expense.
You may even find a local seller & save on shipping & taxes.

I've done a search online for local resellers and I just can't seem to find any. Maybe my search terms are incorrect or something but nothing turns up. I just keep hitting the same website; Fendrihan, Classic Wet Shaving Supplies.

As for why I wish to buy new, I considered buying used (even responded to one of the classifieds on this site) but to be perfectly honest, in todays day and age of HIV/AIDS the idea of sharing a tool that is known to inflict cuts and pierce the skin and expose itself to blood does irk me some. Enough so that I want to buy new.

...nobody has a "Promotional Code" then, huh?

Originally Posted by FTG

+1 to Oz's suggestions - you can pick up a straight razor in the classifieds for the cost of some multi-blade razors.

Also check out the Wikis - see button at top left of this page.

Look at equipment needed
- there are also links in the wiki section for making some of the gear such as strops (or you could just type 'strop' and 'making' / 'DIY' into a search)


Soap and brush
You also don't have to spend much on brushes or soaps.

(I'm still using a $2 supermarket brush and a $2 soap also does the job nicely).

Also - try looking through forums using words like 'budget' or 'cheap'.

All the best,
Michael.

I'm not at all worried about either the soaps, the brush, or the mug. Those are small easy to get items. I've seen cheap solutions to these things.

What I need is a complete (and cheap) hone and strop solution, that will satisfy the basic needs of straight razor shaving. I can always upgrade later. I've got my eyes on the "Classic Straight Razor Sharpening Set" offered at ClassicShaving.com website, because it seems to have everything a beginner would need PLUS if I remember correctly, it's what Lynn Abrams referenced in his YouTube video as being a nice kit, and as JimmyHAD's signature reads : "The longer I work at this sport of honing razors and the more I read and try it hands on the more I've come to the conclusion that if Lynn said it I believe it and that settles it." I think Lynn is the top dog when it comes to this kind of thing, so I'd like to go with that specific set.

Truth is, I already have my mind made up on what I want. It's just that damn "Promotional Code" field. Staring at me. Mocking me.

*Pulling out my hair without a straight razor* *Deep Sigh*

Anyways, I'll probably just end up buying that kit (it seems to be complete for a noob's needs) and just swallow the costs associated with it. Anyways, I'll keep y'all posted.

I decided to take the plunge and placed my order earlier today. I'm guessing it'll take up to two weeks before it's delivered to me.

Question : I ordered a presharpened Dovo; Do I have to strop it before the first use?

If so : Do I have to apply the paste to the strop for first time use or no?

Originally Posted by YMS1975

As for why I wish to buy new, I considered buying used (even responded to one of the classifieds on this site) but to be perfectly honest, in todays day and age of HIV/AIDS the idea of sharing a tool that is known to inflict cuts and pierce the skin and expose itself to blood does irk me some. Enough so that I want to buy new.

That's a wise decision. An unusually high percentage of straight razor shavers do have some sort of contagious disease.