Saving money? Yeah right.

I've realized, as have so many others, that I'm kidding myself.

"One straight razor can last me a lifetime. No more buying disposable blades!"
-- yeah right. That could have happened, but it didn't. I think I've had over 30-40 razors in my possession over the past year although I haven't kept them all.

"If I buy a 4k/8k, I wont even need to pay to have my razors sharpened!"
-- Just kidding. I need a finisher and a bevel setter. Then again, if I buy the whole naniwa system, I'll get better results. Maybe the Shapton system is a little better, I'll try those too. Escher? Jnat? Coticule? Maybe.

"One puck of MWF lasts forever!"
-- But I think I'll also try some Trumpers, Tabula Rasa, and a few other soaps and creams because sometimes I just need a change in scent or feel.

"I'll only ever need one strop."
-- Nah. I think I want a red one. And one to replace my first because I knicked it a little, this one will have hard pressed wool so I can use CrOx spray. And maybe I'll try a Roo strop because kangaroos are just awesome.

"If I get this Plisson brush, it's the best and I'll never need to spend more money to upgrade"
-- but OMG, there's this new Thater brush and a group buy, it's just a deal I can't pass up. Well, I don't want to wait that long for it to show up so I'll buy one as a placeholder backup brush until it gets here.



Does this seem familiar to anyone else or is it just me? I wouldn't say I've gone overboard with any one of the categories, but there's a little seed about to bloom for each of these and then I will need a second job!

Very well said. I got into wet shaving last year with just a safety razor, cream and brush. I now recently got into straights and already have 4 and counting. Not including the countless soaps, and multiple strops.

But it is a fun and enjoyable hobby. I actually had a certain female over for the first time last night, and she of course got the shaving tour lol

Too true. I got into wetshaving with less than $50, now I'm probably a few thousands down...:dropjaw: :p

Oh yeah, I actually told my wife this way of shaving would save me heaps...
Every so often that is brought up again, by her.
For some reason they seem to coincide with the mailman bringing boxes to our door.

Hahahaha brother I used the exact same lines until the GF got wise!! Lol it ain't just you

Yeah, I could've argued the point.... but that would have been 15 razors, 2 eschers, 2 cotis a jnat and 18 creams ago... And I'm just a rookie with regard to this disease, i mean hobby.
(not to mention the norton 4/8, 220/1, chosera 1k, buffing wheels, DMT, lapping plate, crox... god don't let my wife see this list!)
:rofl2:

What are you talking about? I used the same rationale and it's worked! I've spent so much on all that stuff that it's now saving me money on safety razors and canned cream.

I can't afford them anymore!:shrug::gaah:

Howard

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Originally Posted by deadrift

Yeah, I could've argued the point.... but that would have been 15 razors, 2 eschers, 2 cotis a jnat and 18 creams ago... And I'm just a rookie with regard to this disease, i mean hobby.
(not to mention the norton 4/8, 220/1, chosera 1k, buffing wheels, DMT, lapping plate, crox... god don't let my wife see this list!)
:rofl2:

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LOL you've brought to my attention another point. "If I buy my own buffing wheels, scale materials, etc, I won't even need to pay anyone for restorations! AND I'll save money by not buying razors in mint condition!"



Next are grinders and heat treating gear. then I can just make my own razors any time I need them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Knowledgeispower

I actually had a certain female over for the first time last night, and she of course got the shaving tour lol

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Will she be coming back again tho'?! ;)

This is the exact logic that lead me to have a desk currently covered in razors.

Thankfully, I really did only get one strop. I've only bought myself 2 brushes. Oh wait. Make that 4 brushes. Unless vintage don't count?

Only 4 hones! Not counting the barbershop hone that came with a lot of razors, or the ones built into the two Rolls Razors, or the fact that the Norton is a 4k/8k.

ONLY ONE STROP! I HAVE ONLY ONE STROP!

Hmm. I keep intending to buy one from Neil Miller... And I do still plan to restore and sell enough razors to buy a Shapton set.

Yeah. So much cheaper than cartridge razors.

I think for me to actually save money, I can only buy shaving cream from now on and live another 200 years or so. But then again there's always that one razor that you can't live without. So I get it and tell myself, that's going to be the last one for quite a while. Apparently three or four days can count as "quite a while." But then again I have to consider when the next time I'll find a DD Satinedge for $15. Damn antique stores.

SRP membership was (when you sign up) and is free... but that`s all...

The Devil will tempt you in many ways and he can take on many guises to fool you.

You must be strong to resist.

Obviously we're all a bunch of weaklings.

But that doesn't mean you have to be.

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Originally Posted by jaym72

Will she be coming back again tho'?! ;)

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Oddly enough, she will be!

In all seriousness I think she got a kick out of it. She was going through my creams and soaps on her own and picking out her favorites. She was really shocked when we did the hanging hair test with the straights and the were going through like butter.

Next time I'll push the boundary and ask to shave her legs with the gear lol

Edit: to be a bit on topic. I just up ordered mwf with the ceramic dish. Saving money again!

If you stick to the basics...I suppose you can save money. 1 razor/strop would save you money in the long run. It stops being a cost effective when it becomes a hobby. I think it is a hobby for most of us. How many chores can you really turn into a hobby?

If only I can find a way to turn taking at the trash into a hobby.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jcsixx

If only I can find a way to turn taking at the trash into a hobby.

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vintage trash bags.

Hey, I found the solution ..... just stop being interested in shaving gear and start buying expensive handguns ...... :banghead:

Word ! There are more expensive hobbies than straight razors. :p

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Originally Posted by ats200

vintage trash bags.

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I was thinking a Goldberg type device.

Rube Goldberg Taking Out The Trash - YouTube

A while ago gssixgun made a list and broke down straight razor shavers into something like 5 distinct categories. It was a fine list, but you can simplify it and break us down into 2 main groups; the Shavers and the Hobbyists.

It's true, even as a Shaver most of us go way overboard with the upfront costs and perhaps some collecting, too. However, this is usually tempered after a couple years or so when the urge to try everything has died down and the purchases taper off. Then perhaps you can enjoy what you have instead of always looking for the next best thing. Perhaps :)

But if you're a Hobbyist you're always chasing perfection, so as for saving money you're pretty much screwed! :roflmao

One time I read a post by Alan that he buys one razor each year. And I bet a lot of people with fancy eschers and japanese hones would dream to be able to produce the edges that he produces with a norton 4000/8000.

So, apparently it can be done, and I suspect the problem is that most of us have too much disposable income and too little self-control, patience, and persistence.

i think ive done quite well i have 2 razors both of wich were gifts from my great grandmother. i have 1 strop a brush and mug (also a gift) and i bought a barber hone for 10 $ so im doing well i think..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gugi

most of us have too much disposable income

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typical commie bast- er wait... hey gugi I have some razors for sale :)