Greetings from Oklahoma!

Hey All!

I am a newbie from Oklahoma and super excited I found SRP. I have been interested in SR shaving for a few years now, and now am ready to get started. I have been reading up a lot on the beginners guide and forum threads about basic equipment and thought I would run by everyone what options I'm considering. I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject.

I am a college student on a budget, but understand it's not worth it to cut very many corners in the long run. I have seen different equipment suggestions and am trying to mull through it all. Among those I have read about, here's what I am considering:

Dovo 5/8 half-hollow shave ready from thesuperiorshave.com $95.00
Poor Man Strop Kit from Whippeddog.com $25.00
Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury Shave Kit $25.00


My questions are: is this acceptable as a beginner's equipment lineup? Would it be possible to save money and have a comparable result with maybe a vintage SR? Or should I expect to spend more than this for a good start? I would consider Whippeddog's sight unseen but I just can't get myself to feel comfortable not being able to see it first. Also, can I get by as a beginner starting with a 2" wide strop? Any input is greatly appreciated!

For a little more money, I will suggest two improvements that will serve you MUCH better in the long run.

A Ralph Aust razor from Straight Razor Designs.
A Plain Vanilla Strop from Tony Miller at TheWellShavedGentleman. More will be available in January and they are worth the wait.

A vintage razor can serve you well as long as it is a good one and has been properly honed. Many of the vintage razors are a much better value compared to a similarly priced new one.

Hi & welcome to SRP. You will love it here & there is plenty to learn as there is a wealth of information on here! Here is the first bit of information for you to know:
Straight Razor Place - Beginners Tips: December 2014
You will want to buy you a nice straight razor to begin with whether used or new. Beware of used ones not that they are bad but know what to look for like a lot of hone wear on the spine & edge or chips in the blade. Stay away from razors with rust on the cutting edge as that will only result in it chipping more metal off as it is honed. Here is also a list of straights to stay away from:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwik...azors_to_Avoid
Here is a list of good brands of razors you will want to own plus there are more than just these out there which you will find out from other members here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwik...t_Razor_Brands
If buying a new razor, I suggest you buy one from Straight Razor Designs - Gifts for Men | Straight Razors or SRD. The owner & founder of this forum is Lynn & he is also part owner of SRD. When you buy a straight razor from him, he will personally hone that razor before you get it plus you will get a certificate for another free honing for when that razor needs it which should be a few months. There will be vendors who will sell you a straight razor that is supposed to be shave ready but really won't be. You will most importantly need to know how to strop & you can learn in the Library or here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwik...azor_stropping
You will need to strop your razor before & after you shave. If you buy one from Lynn, chances are you won’t have to strop it before you use it the first time.
You will also need a shaving brush, a shaving mug & some shaving soap. Later it will also do you good to get a second straight razor so that when you send the first one out to be honed, you will have a backup to shave with.
Here is a link to the Library where you will find stropping in there & everything else you will need to know including how to hone:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwik..._Place_Library
Here is another good link to know:
Welcome to the Workshop: How do I / Where do I / What do I / answers are here
Should you have any questions, there are a lot of knowledgable members on here that will be more than happy to help you out. If you want to find someone in your area, you can look here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwik...php/Local_Help
And if you can't find anyone near you, just ask and someone that lives in your are & hopefully they will let you know how to meet up & you can get some one on one mentoring. There is a lot to do on here, just search everywhere on the forum & in the Library. You will spend hours on here & have fun doing it, so there you go, have at it!
Good luck & have fun!
Steve

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Originally Posted by nicksok

My questions are: is this acceptable as a beginner's equipment lineup? Would it be possible to save money and have a comparable result with maybe a vintage SR? Or should I expect to spend more than this for a good start? I would consider Whippeddog's sight unseen but I just can't get myself to feel comfortable not being able to see it first. Also, can I get by as a beginner starting with a 2" wide strop? Any input is greatly appreciated!

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Sorry I don't have firsthand experience with any of those companies except Dovo
Just replying to say greetings back from Oklahoma :)

Hello, nicksok. Welcome to SRP.
I totally understand your situation and agree with the Ralf Aust recommendation. My first straight razor was an Aust and I still use it. If you decide to look into vintage be sure to check out the classifieds here at SRP. There have been many entry level-priced razors listed in the past month.

Welcome to SRP!

I'm already learning something new! I hadn't looked into Ralf Aust before. Looks like a great deal. Also, the plain vanilla strop by TM looks great. Thanks for those suggestions Utopian! Also, thanks for all the great info and links, engine46. Lots of great info I look forward to diving into. Haglahoo, nice to meet another Okie! Thanks for adding leatherstockiings. I was hoping someone else would share thoughts on Ralf Aust for confirmation.

Next Questions: Think there will be much of a learning curve going full-hollow vs half? I like the Ralf Aust 5/8 full black at SRD as long as it won't be too much to pick up at first. Also, the poor man strop kit at whippeddog would have come with a balsa strop. Would I need to get something comparable in addition to the plain vanilla TM strop? I know I will be needing to get a hone at some point, so would I just need the hone and not worry about a balsa?

Thanks a lot! I'm grateful for the warm welcome and responses!

Hi,
I know the VDH soap is fine as i have used that, the rest i cant comment on, i would say that as far as i know the VDH soap costs about $2 from what my US friends have told me, i would think about a semogue or omega boar brush ( plenty for less than $20 on ebay) i bought an omega 10098 with a tube of omega cream for $24 australian, the brush smells something chronic at first but that passes and is a good brush, i also have a semogue 1305, which is also very good and was about $15, of the two i prefer the omega.

For a razor, the classifieds have quite a few for considerably less than $95, in fact there is one shave ready razor for less than $30 shipped. i cant speak for them from experience but sellers here are part of a very small community so bad reviews would travel fast.

I have both a 2 and 3" strop, now i am used to the 2" i get on with it fine, but i still think a 3" is nice.
If you save some money on the razor you could put the extra cash towards a nicer strop, if you get something that has replacable leather, if you do damage the original, replacement leather will cost about the same as a cheap strop, you will also have the option of trying out different leathers.

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Originally Posted by nicksok

I'm already learning something new! I hadn't looked into Ralf Aust before. Looks like a great deal. Also, the plain vanilla strop by TM looks great. Thanks for those suggestions Utopian! Also, thanks for all the great info and links, engine46. Lots of great info I look forward to diving into. Haglahoo, nice to meet another Okie! Thanks for adding leatherstockiings. I was hoping someone else would share thoughts on Ralf Aust for confirmation.

Next Questions: Think there will be much of a learning curve going full-hollow vs half? I like the Ralf Aust 5/8 full black at SRD as long as it won't be too much to pick up at first. Also, the poor man strop kit at whippeddog would have come with a balsa strop. Would I need to get something comparable in addition to the plain vanilla TM strop? I know I will be needing to get a hone at some point, so would I just need the hone and not worry about a balsa?

Thanks a lot! I'm grateful for the warm welcome and responses!

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Dont stress about the balsa strop, you can just buy a piece of balsa later if you decide to go down that route, though foamcore board works just as well as a substrate for pastes. relistically you will probably send your razor out for rehones/ refreshes the first few times anyway so you have a good few months before you really need to worry about it.

Excellent info, edhewitt. Thanks. Looks like I probably won't mess with a balsa for now.

Where are you from in OK?

On a strop, look up Ken Rup at www.ruprazor.com , his filly strop is a great starter strop that won't break the bank. I still have mine that I started out with, but it's my pasted strop. I will be honest, I have seen that strop from a vendor you mention and think we can find you something better.

I started with the Dovo and VDH kit you are looking at. While I quickly moved on to better soaps and brushes they are not at all bad. There was just too much else to try. Taylor of Bond Street creams are nice and comparatively inexpensive to most better creams.

I have and use regularly a Dovo from the superior shave. They come with a nice edge and he will hone it for free when you need with a relatively short turn around. I also have razors from SRD including an Aust and you cannot go wrong there either.

Another workable strop would be big daddy strop from star. 3 inch english bridle at a good price.

Looks like you are off to a good start. Welcome to SRP

Welcome from another Okie!! :)

Like Scott said, It'll help if you can narrow down that location a little. I think we might have you surrounded!! :hmmm:

Enjoy the forum and holler if we can help.

Best Regards,

Howard :)

An easy and effective substitute for balsa is the interior surface of a cereal box. Hang it like a regular strop or glue it to a flat board. You also make an effective hanging paste strop with strips of newspaper.

I am from Edmond, OK. It does look like I'm surrounded! Lots of great info. I will definitely be looking into the soaps and strops mentioned. Not sure I'd feel confident with a cereal box and newspaper just yet, but will look forward to giving it a go at some point!

I see people posting about meetings. Do these ever happen in central OK?

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Originally Posted by nicksok

I see people posting about meetings. Do these ever happen in central OK?

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Not recently. One kind of started a couple of years ago, but the originator had to bow out and it never happened.

I'm about 40-45 miles south of Edmond on I-35. After Christmas you're more than welcome to come down. I can give you some hands on of most all the options before you buy. Razors, strops, stones and all the ancillary equipment.

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Originally Posted by SirStropalot

Not recently. One kind of started a couple of years ago, but the originator had to bow out and it never happened.

I'm about 40-45 miles south of Edmond on I-35. After Christmas you're more than welcome to come down. I can give you some hands on of most all the options before you buy. Razors, strops, stones and all the ancillary equipment.

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nicksok, you would be crazy not to take Howard up on his offer.

JMO but I would take a long look at the classifieds. Lots of great razors that will be shave ready.

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

nicksok, you would be crazy not to take Howard up on his offer.

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+1 - you will learn more in a few hours with Howard than you will spending many weeks on your own.
Not to mention saving you from some strop and face cuts.. (Most, not all)

Smooth shaving...

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Originally Posted by MJC

+1 - you will learn more in a few hours with Howard than you will spending many weeks on your own.
Not to mention saving you from some strop and face cuts.. (Most, not all)

Smooth shaving...

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I agree with mJC & Shooter! There's nothing like one on one training or with others there as well!

Hi and welcome. As Ed said balsa or the foam core board are easily available and the powders can be gotten directly from Kremer Germany. I have both the Chromium and the iron oxide and it cost 15 shipped to Australia for a couple lifetime's supply of both. In the end a finishing hone is better anyway so maybe save for one in the future. The Ralf Aust is a great razor and many hear have one or more and are generally well thought of. Buying from SRD means that you also get your first rehone free. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Thanks everyone! sirstropalot, thank you for the offer! I would really appreciate your time. Please let me know after Christmas a time that will work for you. After looking back over the budget, and realizing I should look into a more quality strop than I first thought and possibly a better brush/soap setup, I am going to go with something from the classifieds for the SR to save a little money in order to upgrade the other items. I will be looking to upgrade to an Aust at a later time. I am excited to get started!

Why don't you hold off on the razor and put the money towards your strop, etc.

I've got a black scale 5/8 round point Aust that doesn't get used. Give it a good home and it's yours. :)

My daughter and family are coming down from Kansas right after Christmas for maybe a day. Not sure which day yet, so I'll PM you when I have the details. Look forward to it.

Regards,

Howard :)

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Originally Posted by SirStropalot

Why don't you hold off on the razor and put the money towards your strop, etc.

I've got a black scale 5/8 round point Aust that doesn't get used. Give it a good home and it's yours. :)

My daughter and family are coming down from Kansas right after Christmas for maybe a day. Not sure which day yet, so I'll PM you when I have the details. Look forward to it.

Regards,

Howard :)

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Absolutely! Thank you so much. I am blown away by the generosity. I look forward to hearing from you.

Not a problem. One of these days you can help out another member. :D

I'll get with you soon and we'll work out a day that works for both of us.

I will trump this even more...you so see Howard and I will give you a shave ready razor...but it will be delivered to Howard's house. That way you can spend your $ on a proper strop, brush, and soap. Agree to these terms and I will pick a razor, ensure it's shave ready or hone it & ship it out. It's a bit of paying it forward & ensuring you get off on the right foot.

Merry Christmas!

Edit: Crap, I didn't read ahead and see that the offer was already made to you. Howard, you rock!:rock:

Scott, Thank you for the great thought of offering! I am super excited to know I will get started off properly thanks to SRP members!

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

Edit: Crap, I didn't read ahead and see that the offer was already made to you.

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Scott, I've seen you give a razor so many times I actually looked to be sure you hadn't already done it! :D Ditto Back Attcha on The Rock!! :tu