Thread: couldn't be more confused

Ok, I really want to give it straight razors a shot but I'm pretty confused.

1. What stinkin razor to start with. Would love a vintage one because I love the mystique etc.... I see some sights offering old razors, remade and shave ready.
But what size, brand, style etc.... My price range is maybe $70.00

2. Do I need a hone and strop? I assume just strop if shave ready. Then use the strop every to re sharpen.

I know there are tons of how to videos so I really just want to get the razor and go from there. Just need a push in the right razor direction. I see tons on the classified here that look nice. I almost bough one but again they all look great to a newbie like me.

Hello and welcome! For the most part size does not mater to start for the most part it is recommended that new shaver start with a 5/8th or 6/8th blade as they fall in the middle as far as widths go.

Yes you will need a strop (I recommend not buying a expensive strop to start as typically they will get some nicks and cuts along the way as you learn to strop) and no you will not need a hone to start.

The classifieds are a good place to start to get a good razor shave ready (just make sure the seller is selling it shave ready most do but some don't) I highly recommend whippeddog.com to all new shavers as I feel you can get the most bang for your buck and excellent advice from Larry over there. All of the razors he sells are shave ready. He sells a nice entry level strop as well.

Hi, and welcome to SRP

Take a look in the classifieds, you should be able to find a decent priced shave ready razor there.

Yes, you will need a strop to keep your razor sharp use it before every shave, some also strop after the shave.
Get a cheap starter strop as you will nick it in the beginning, several of the vendors offer good starter strops.

No, you do not need hone(s), you can keep your razor going with a pasted leather or balsa strop, when you start to get control of the shaving and stropping you can get a barber hone or a finisher hone to maintain you razor(s).

For razor and strop you can also buy a starter kit from SRD.

Good luck!

Hello and welcome to SRP!

As a bare minimum you will need a razor and a strop (plus soap/cream etc, which you may already have).

In terms of razors, join the club!! We are all, to a greater or lesser degree, searching for "which razor". I've found a few over the years, but am always wondering about the next one. My best advice to you is to find a decent-looking one in the Classifieds that suits your price range. It may save you time to also make sure it is shave ready from the seller, though some don't do that - in which case you will need to send it out for honing. Again, check the Classifieds - there are many members (and perhaps some close to you) who offer honing at reasonable prices.

There are different kinds of strops: the two main ones are hanging (a piece of leather that hangs from something - traditionally what people think of when they think of a strop) and paddle (a wood or similar structure upon which leather is attached). Some beginners prefer paddle strops because they have less give in them (the rigid wooden substructure) whereas others take to the hanging strop. The choice is yours really, but I think (and I have not checked this in some time) a hanging strop will be cheaper (yet as effective when used properly).

In fact, if you wanted to you could simply buy a nice piece of leather, put two eyelets in either end, thread string or similar through - on one end the string attaches the strop to the wall/door knob/whatever; on the other end you tie the string into a loop as a makeshift handle. Viola! - a cheap hanging strop.

Other things to consider later is how to maintain an edge. But I think you should cross that bridge when you come to it, and concentrate on obtaining a decent razor and strop for the moment.

Good luck!

James.

I know that I'll gain the Righteous Wrath of the Faithful straight razorist, but for a beginner I really feel that a razor like the Feather Artist cartridge razor is the easiest and costwise the most logical choice. Once you have the skill of straight razoring down you can move on to the classics.
Going this route you don't have to worry about anything but learning shaving technique.

I'm going to go a little against conventional wisdom here. I think getting a high grit finishing hone early, is a good idea. You don't need it, but there is a good chance you'll bugger up the edge shaving or stropping. Most beginners get hones that are too low a grit for beginners and tear their edges to pieces. You wont do that as easily with a finishing stone alone. Then, technically, you're set for life.

Originally Posted by thunder92

Ok, I really want to give it straight razors a shot but I'm pretty confused.

1. What stinkin razor to start with. Would love a vintage one because I love the mystique etc.... I see some sights offering old razors, remade and shave ready.
But what size, brand, style etc.... My price range is maybe $70.00


2. Do I need a hone and strop? I assume just strop if shave ready. Then use the strop every to re sharpen.

I know there are tons of how to videos so I really just want to get the razor and go from there. Just need a push in the right razor direction. I see tons on the classified here that look nice. I almost bough one but again they all look great to a newbie like me.

Stop!!!!


Go buy a strop, buy a nice linen and leather component strop, and take your damn time learning so you don't cut it up, honest it really is possible to learn to strop without wrecking the strop...

PM me and I will send you a really nice razor, that is clean shiny steel, and damn well shave ready, one of the Senior Members here sent it to me when I worked on one of his other razors and said "Glen if you get the time fix it up, hone it up, and give it away" I had the time

g


Edit: It is a 5/8 Joseph Elliot's Best Silver Steel 1/2 Hollow that I restored and then honed on my Coticule it has no rust, patina, or pitting and some plain white scales that were on my bench that day that I cleaned up and they fit...



If you want it will take all of about 15 seconds for me to Neuter that point a touch for a beginner

Welcome to SRP and if you should decide that Straight razor shaving is not your thing, please just send it back to me, and I will fix it up again and PIF it to another new guy...

thanks for the offer gssixgun, can't wait to try it out. Thanks again!

gsixgun, you are a Gentleman's gentleman. My hat's off to you, Sir!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...

Hi Glenn,
I'm really really new to shaving, and I don't know what sort of razor to buy, can you please tell me what to do/buy?
Oh, I'm also really really new to driving 1960's black Mercs and I'm a bit confused about big screen TVs. I have NO idea what three storey house to buy and Armani suits confuse the hell out of me, there are WAY topo many Swiss watches to choose from also...


Just joking, I've been blown away by the willingness to help others on this forum lately, no WONDER I keep hanging out here! :-)

+1 to getting the hone early, and +1 to getting a decent strop. I have a Dovo linen/leather, and while I have nicked it (three times, the last two times were after a year!!) it's certainly not ruined!!