So the Army has me going away for about 4 months (not Afghanistan, going to Texas - which might be worse). I'd like to carry 2-3 straights, DE, shavette, bowl, soaps, brush, strop,etc. with me. Is there a type of case out there that would work for hauling all this around? I've found cases for straight razors or DEs alone, but nothing that looks like it would works as an "all in one" carrying case.
Major, nothing comes to mind as far as commercially available. I'm thinking the Dopp kit type and that's just a small bag really. Older and antique wise there have been cases around for our type of shaving, but those are rare to find and probably expensive. What does come to mind is one, haunt Goodwill and thrift shops, you never know what you might find that can be adapted to your use. Secondly, find a cigar store near you and see what cigar boxes they might have empty and willing to give (tell them you are being re assigned and get them to do the right thing for a military member). I would think you would need a couple of cigar boxes, one fairly flat and another tallish and squarish for things like bowl, soaps, brushes, etc. For a bowl, go to a dollar store and see if they have some plastic salsa bowls. Small, but you can build a lather in one, I do. And cheap, got mine 2 for a dollar. As is a lot in this 'hobby' of ours, inventiveness is needed because the commercial world thinks we're nuts!.
Maybe one of those larger tackle-boxes with all the slots, some are adjustable. Something like that might work.
Here is a thread started recently by Obie about his travel kit.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...avel-gear.html
A similar roll-up pack I bought that is currently in the mail
https://www.frostriver.com/shop/roll-up-dopp-kit/
A thread with some neat box ideas
http://straightrazorpalace.com/misce...aving-box.html
Hmm, well I had a larger Dopp kit at one time like below that was great. Leather with reinforced top and bottom. No internal compartments, but everything packed very well. I am wishing I had not sold it. See below.
Attachment 174044Attachment 174045
I might look at something like the ones being sold here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1936354...w_type=gallery
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1051545...w_type=gallery
Let us know how it goes and good luck in Texas!
Major,
Here is what I take on extended travel. The wet pack is modeled after the roll wet packs of British officers during WWI. The barber hone and the strop go in my suitcase separately. Everything else fits in the wet pack, and also goes in the suitcase. Since I face lather, I don't need a lather bowl.
Attachment 174049
Obie, Do you do anything special with the barber hone, like padding, before you put it in the suitcase?
Great suggestions so far, appreciate!
Leatherstockings, yes, I have a little cloth wallet my wife made for it. Nothing fancy.
For a stone case, Lowepro makes neoprene cases for electronics. I have a nice one for my exernal laptop hard drive. Wally Mart carries Lowepro at good prices.
Or maybe a cell phone case, try a thriftstore, seen new leather ones for dollar or two.
That is really good idea.
One more addition which might interest the OP due to his location. I have been fascinated by George Washington's traveling case case for awhile and would like to make something similar one day. Here is a link to pictures of the case on the Mount Vernon website.
eMuseum
Sometimes you will see old shaving kits pop up on fleabay and so, they made them sturdy back in the day. Wooden boxes, with a mirror, and a drawer for soaps, knives, soap and a brush, or what you want really. Stole this pick online, just to illustrate what I am talking about.
Attachment 174160
MajorEthanolic, Did you find a travel case that fits your needs?
When we moved, I used one of these Pelican cases that I happened to have: Pelican Case 1450 With Foam - BLACK from Pelican-Case.com
@Leatherstockiings... actually, I picked up a Feather SS. I'm thinking when I head out for 4 months I might just oil up my straights to leave at home and take the SS with some blades to go.
Ian, if you are planning on contacting Ken or Tom while in Texas take at least one straight with you for honing lessons. You won't regret it.
@razorfeld... yes, you are correct. I will take my things along in my trunk, but I won't be in a situation where I can hang strops in the bathroom and really won't have time for the daily stropping to use a straight daily. Would love to learn honing while out there, but I'll be taking my Feather and DE with me for daily shaving as training means 4AM up and 10PM down. Not much time for experimenting during the week. But yes, would love to take a few razors out to learn honing.
