Thread: A possible convert

I use a double edge at the moment and the replacement blades are costing me approximatly $.008, eight tenths of a penny. The lowest cost I can get a straight in the Washington, DC metro area is approximatly $130. At these prices the straight is just not cost effective. Unless someone has a trick or something they can point out that can drop the straight's cost to a point where it becomes more cost effective.

Check the buy/sell forums. There are a lot of good quality razors around for less than $100. Also, check the Vendors Corner. Jim at Vintage Blades has a heck of a deal on a Dovo Best Quality razor. Look for the "razor of the month" thread. Not paying sales tax does offset some of the shipping costs.

Jordan

If you can buy DE blades for $.008 (which is hard to believe) and each blade lasts you a week, you'll only need to spend 42 cents a year on DE blades. Hell, if you're only going to live another 50 years, you could buy a lifetime supply of blades for less than 21 bucks!

There's no way you could buy a straight, a strop, and a hone to keep it functional for 50 years for 21 bucks. If you want to use a straight, you're going to have to find a non-economic reason to switch to a straight. Happily, there are many such reasons: straights are more fun, they give better shaves, they're cooler . . .

HOW, WHERE, and from WHO are you getting these blades for only 8/10'th of a penny?

Razor and Brush. I pay $.75 for a pack of five for a total of $.15 each. Divide that by the number of days I can get out of each which is 18 as of today which comes out to be approximatly .0083.

In theory, you could buy a $10 ebay str8 and restore it and then spend $10-$15 on a couple barber hones and maybe $25 for a decent strop. This could be all you need for the rest of your life.

The reality, to me anyway, is if all you are interested in is a good cost effective shave then stick with the DE.

The satisfaction/enjoyment of shaving with and caring for a str8 is what makes it for me and I suspect many others - not to mention the outright cool factor.

Jordan

How about how close the shave is? I understand that the double edge can't touch the straight when it comes to a close shave.

Originally Posted by SteveS

If you can buy DE blades for $.008 (which is hard to believe) and each blade lasts you a week, you'll only need to spend 42 cents a year on DE blades. Hell, if you're only going to live another 50 years, you could buy a lifetime supply of blades for less than 21 bucks!

There's no way you could buy a straight, a strop, and a hone to keep it functional for 50 years for 21 bucks. If you want to use a straight, you're going to have to find a non-economic reason to switch to a straight. Happily, there are many such reasons: straights are more fun, they give better shaves, they're cooler . . .

+ 1
Getting a str8 razor is a not a decision most folks make based on economics IMO. It is because they want a different experience, they want the satisfaction of honing and stropping their blades, and many become collectors of str8s.
It will be very difficult to justify moving from a DE to straight simply based on economics

Originally Posted by Amyn

+ 1
Getting a str8 razor is a not a decision most folks make based on economics IMO. It is because they want a different experience, they want the satisfaction of honing and stropping their blades, and many become collectors of str8s.
It will be very difficult to justify moving from a DE to straight simply based on economics

I have to agree there.

It's kind of like getting married as opposed to hanging around with hookers.. Price is never a good reason..

Well, yes I certainly get a better shave than I did with a DE and I think most stright users would agree. But it does take a bit more time and effort to get there. It took me a good 6-9 months to consistently beat my DE shaves, but I enjoyed that process.

Jordan