Thread: And so it begins....

First post for me... I have been researching shaving with a straight for about a month in a half now; with the majority of my time spent here. I wanted to thank everyone involved for all the great information/advice. I aquired my first piece of shaving gear yesturday on Ebay. I hope I did not snag it from anyone. There was only one other bidder. I am now the proud owner of a Kingwood handled silver tip badger brush. I got it for 46$ and was quite proud of myself. Gimmie a little more time saving money, checking flea markets/pawn shops; and I may actually be shaving soon. If I could just convince my mother to let me have the 6 straight razors and 2 strops she has hanging in her bathroom, and I could make out like a bandit. Unfortunately that is not going to happen any time soon. Thanks again for all the information contained here, and wish me luck getting the rest of the gear I need.

The best way to get'em off her is to show her that they will be used and well-cared for. Get an old piece from a flea market or off e-bay, the more rust the better. Show it to her. Restore it so it looks pimp, start using it on a regular basis and it should get you out of the red and into the treasure chest

Or better yet, stick a bunch of bandages on your face and visit your mom with the rusty razor in hand.

"The first few shaves have been a little rough," you'll say, "but I really think I'm starting to get the hang of it!" Then mention that the rusted blade feels a bit like sandpaper and that you'd love something else to practice with.

"But I just can't seem to find anything!"

...

Mom: "Well...why don't you use some of the old shaving equipment from the bathroom?"

You: "Really? Oh, no -- I wouldn't want to impose..." (Wince while touching one of your bandages.)

Mom: "No, no -- I insist."

Just curious, but why does your Mom have straight razors hanging up in the bathroom? It must be a decorative thing right?

Well my Mother is a barber, and she actually uses straight razors. In fact when she went to barber school they were still segragating people by race. When I was around 12 my Father and I turned our screened-in-porch to a salon for my Mom. We added pulmming and electricity, and put in windows...stuff like that. My Mom worked out of it until I was about 17. Ok so how does that relate to the razors hanging in her bathroom.....?????

We originaly kept working on the screen porch a secret saying we were building an addition when in fact it was a suprise for my Mom. We opened it to her on her birthday. As an additional gift being the crafty fellow that I am; I took her grandfather's straight razors and window boxed them. They hung as a decoration over the door to her hair salon for years. Now both my parents are remarried, and the razors are now a bathroom decoration in the same windowbox frame I made for them somewhere around 20 years ago.

Does that answer your question? LOL

Great to see you making out out well with the brush. Please post a link so I can see what I'm missing.

I think Ilija has it spot on on how to eventually obtain those beauties. The only question is how long it will take. Bladeweilder's advice may actually help.

Have you been thinking about a strop?

X

I now not only have a brush but last night I got my first razor. It was not the razor I really wanted of course, but that is the way Ebay goes I guess. It should be a good starter razor. So far I have spent around 62$ with shipping. I would like to think I am doing well so far. Here are the links to the razor and brush I purchased. Sorry if I do not get the links correct.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9522585647&rd=1&sspage name=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1


Yes, I am looking for a strop next. I would like to get a hanging strop, but so far I have been out bid on the decent ones. I am gonna hit a couple flea markets this weekend. Wish me luck.

You've made out like a thief so far, especially on that brush. Nice catch!

X

well done at this rate you will have every thing you need and nice quality as well
Kind regards Peter

Strop aquired !!!! I will actually be attempting to shave very soon. I think I sniped the strop I got from someone here, but not 100% sure. If I did sorry wopman.