Thread: Damn Newbie

Hey can anyone help me? which is a good razor, brush, strop and honing stone to go with? More important is the razor.

Welcome to SRP. Have you taken a look at Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki already? The article was written with beginners like yourself in mind.

Yeah, you really nead to check the wiki... but I'll give a few starting points for you.

1. For an inexpensive razor that will perform well check out ruprazor.com for either a shave ready wapi, or a Double Arrow (I'd get the wapi if it were me). You will get a good shaver that is truly shave ready, and from what I understand ken offers a honing voucher in case you dull the edge while you are learning. This would be my first recommendation for you.

2. Check the classifieds for a cheap razor that is shave ready... nobody here is going to screw you over. You probably will not have anyone to hone it up for you if you ruin the edge while shaving... cost to get a razor honed properly (by a real honemeister) is about 20 bucks.


As far as strops and brushes etc.... a cheap way would be to go with something like and omega boar brush (can be found easily on ebay for really cheap). an economy version of either a Tony Miller strop or a ruprazor strop. And for soap... I'd get a sampler pack from Coleen at thegentlemensquarter.com. that way you can try a bunch of really good soaps for about 15 bucks.

Just my thoughts.

P.S. If money isn't a big concern, (just speaking for myself....) I'd pm Max and ask him if he has any sheffield blades he is selling (I love his work). Then I'd get a silvertip badger brush, a 3" Tony Miller Heirloom strop with latigo and linen, and still use the soaps from thegentlemensquarter.com

A good razor would be a Dovo or Theirs Issard.
For a brush a Vulfix is very good.

It would be a good idea to go with a pre honed razor.
This would give you a bench mark on what a shave
ready razor is like.

Checkout Straight Razors - Safety Razors - Wet Shaving & Grooming Supplies


For a strop The Well Shaved Gentleman, Heirloom Razor Strop Company, Straight Razor Shaving Supplier These strops
are made by forum member Tony Miller and are first rate.

Hope this helps.


Terry

I just went with a shave ready gift set from ClassicShaving.com. I knew the razor (Dovo Pakkawood) was a good one from the research and it came with everything else I needed to get started at what I thought was a reasonable price. I'm very happy with the purchase and the overall experience dealing with ClassicShaving.com.

Of course I'm already looking for more razors and some stones and some other accessories but that is just RAD kicking in. Pretty sure everyone gets bit by it eventually.

Here you go, Short and sweet

Dovo -Razor
Tony Miller- Strop
Brush - Rooney

Everyone has their own personal favorites. Dovo's are good razors and new, make sure you get it pre honed. Some member's will tell you to check the classifieds here, which is a great idea. The problem is, They sell out as soon as their put up. So, it'd be easier for you to hit the lottery. Any vendor that advertises on this site woulld be a good one. In all honesty, Don and Lynn at Straightrazordesigns do have the lowest prices....
Tony Miller hand makes his own strops. They're the best. Nuff said....
I like Rooney brushes. They feel good in your hand and on your face.

Also check out some of our other vendors for products. SRD (Straight Razor Designs) has some great buys on things for new straight razor users. One thing to know up front, there is no such thing as beginner straight razor, it's either a striaght razor or it's not. Training wheels are not issued with them. Round point razors tend to be a little more forgiving than a spike point. But we have members who learned on a spike point as well. You are going to need the following as a minimum to start:

1. Shave ready straight razor (SRD, Kenrup, classifieds, etc...)
2. Strop (hanging is best, paddle will work)
3. Shave Soap/Cream (personal choice)
4. Brush (from less than $15 to obscene prices)

You will eventually need either a pasted strop or something like a barbers hone to refresh your edge.

Welcome to SRP !

The guys have given you the goods so I''ll just say:

Welcome, madic208

X

Welcome aboard the straight train, may yer ride be long and smooth....