Thread: One Big or Lots of Littles

Originally Posted by Fbones24

This is exactly where I am at. Since my very first razor purchase (A Dovo "Best Quality") all of my purchases have been off of the classifieds here and all but one have been $100 or less. I am very happy with the razors I own, but I am now starting to think that since this is my passion, it is time to drop some $$ on a Wacker, Livi, TI, etc.

I'm torn on this, but I think while a $40 razor can definitely shave as well as a $240 razor, there is something to be said for craftsmanship and high quality.

As one esteemed and unnamed member told me: 'If you buy one, you'll buy more'. He was right. It was killing me to watch a 3-pin bone spanish point go on this board, but I'd just taken delivery of #2 & 3. The only reason I use anything else is that being a noob, I feel I should get the skill down so that everything I can do on the 1/4 hollow & wedge, I can do on the hollow. So I got a hollow wacker.

I think the best is to wait patiently until you find something you really like for a great price, and make sure you'll have the money for it when it comes along.

Holli raises a great point when he mentions that "you have the money for it when it comes along."

Don't get me wrong....I like being a consumer. Spending money on stuff I really like feels good, BUT....only to the extent that it's already in the bank.

There is a Wacker on shavingshop.com that I've been drooling over for months. I really want that "something big". But I need to delay my gratification. Until then, I'll enjoy everything about my "lots of smalls".

I will have my cake and eat it too....it just sometimes takes me a little longer to get the cake in the first place!

M

I have found that all the razors I have had work for their intended purpose.. but I also found that if it sat for more than a month without being used I would end up selling it. So I now have a single straight razor that I use and have told my wife if she wants to get me a nice present I would love a high end artisan razor. All the purchases I make now I refurbish and if I end up going back to my original one then I will either sell the or give away the one I refurbished to get others into this great hobby.

For me the answer is: "it depends". If I were interested in collecting straight razors, then the more, the better. Since I am interested in razors as shaving tools, I do not buy a lot of them. I am very fond of Filarmonica razors because my first razor was a filly and I like the way they shave. I buy more fillies when I can find them in the condition I like at a reasonable price. I have small herd of them but I would say that I am a RAD sufferer. At some point, budget permitting, I would buy some custom razors too. I definitely fit in the middle category (a few mid priced but excellent razors).

Since you have over 50 razors, you already have an idea of what grinds, sizes, brands, etc. work best for you. I have found that they all work as long as the steel is good and they take a good edge. The possibilities are unlimited and you make the final decision.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by Alembic

Ok, so I'm sitting here thinking about all of the razors I have purchased, and I have spent a lot of money on razors that I have paid around $50.00 a piece for. I have some very fine vintage steel to show for it, and about 54 razors.

But it got me to thinking. Should I have just bought one or two really nice razors - like say a Livi? I would have spent about the same amount.

I did the same thing with pipes. I have 9 or 10 good medium priced pipes, and I could be smoking a Dunhill for the amount I spent on mediums.

So, what say all of you? Lots of littles or one big purchase?

(Or both)