Thread: Why is it called a "starter razor"???

Joed,

You are correct, others not so much. Now how do you ignore a thread?

Originally Posted by Joed

A note on honing, it's not as easy as it looks. If I were you I would learn to hone on a less expensive razor pf good quality. When yo get a bunch of them under you belt and shaving as you expect then start on the newer/more expensive razors. Just some words of advice. Good luck.

I totally agree. Honing is not an exact science. Learning to hone with a relatively inexpensive razor is the way to go.

I'll chip in with dos centavos at this point...

To me, a starter razor, is one that will allow the newbie to sample and gain experience in the vagaries of straight-razor shaving, so that he may decide whether he wishes to pursue the process further.

The starter razor must be reasonably priced, shave ready - the latter point implies "in good condition". It doesn't have to be new, it doesn't have to be shiny...as long as that blade is keen and ready.

IMHO, vendors like Whipped Dog are invaluable in this regard as it means the beginner isn't out of pocket by huge amounts of $$ if he decides that straight shaving is not for him.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Lucky for you those are all starter razors.

I needed that!!

Originally Posted by Joed

A note on honing, it's not as easy as it looks. If I were you I would learn to hone on a less expensive razor pf good quality. When yo get a bunch of them under you belt and shaving as you expect then start on the newer/more expensive razors. Just some words of advice. Good luck.

I have 3 razors to practice on.
I "only" want to maintain the razor in the beginning, that's why i want to buy a straight from Lynn on SRD.com Proffesionelly honed and ready for shaving.

Originally Posted by AdrianJ3

I'll chip in with dos centavos at this point...

To me, a starter razor, is one that will allow the newbie to sample and gain experience in the vagaries of straight-razor shaving, so that he may decide whether he wishes to pursue the process further.

The starter razor must be reasonably priced, shave ready - the latter point implies "in good condition". It doesn't have to be new, it doesn't have to be shiny...as long as that blade is keen and ready.

IMHO, vendors like Whipped Dog are invaluable in this regard as it means the beginner isn't out of pocket by huge amounts of $$ if he decides that straight shaving is not for him.

Quite true.

First thing I notice, there are two distinct camps on this thread

• Camp A: Those who've used straight razors for no more than 2-3 months and don't have more than 5 razors
• Camp B: Those who've used straight razors for at least several years, and own and have honed hundreds of razors of all varieties

There's nothing wrong with that, everybody can have an opinion and the more the merrier, just noticing the difference. After all opinions are usually based on experience and tend to change (e.g. people who couldn't shave with anything but wedge grind and used to buy wedges razors from me a year later are sending me PMs that they never use wedges anymore and ask if I have any extra full hollow razor I'd be considering selling)


The main thing I can add is another data point that I fall in Camp B both as experience and opinion.

How much the razor cost doesn't mean anything - some people want and do spend $1000 and more on their first razor, on their second, third, etc. If the razor is good and well honed it's a perfectly good option. Others spend $30 or $10 or $0 on their first razor and if it's good and well honed razor, it's another perfectly good option. And there are many that do something in between.

Most of the swedish razors are 5/8 and less in size, so it appears quite a lot of people have started and ended with small razors. Then there are all the sheffield razors from the 1850s that are around 7/8 and more, fairly heavy and wedge grind, so tons of people started and ended with such razors.

I personally have to be more careful with round point instead of with a square point, and that has been the case for me from day 1 of straight shaving.

Some people do far better than hollow grind than with wedges, and others are the exact opposite. My personal least favorite grind is half hollow, the one right in the middle.


So at the end of the day there are tons of ways to skin that cat, the only thing I'd say is a must is a well honed and stropped edge.
Extra careful honing seems something that would be done by a person who I wouldn't trust with my razors. I have issues trusting my face to somebody who is able hone in a not-extra-careful way as well.

Originally Posted by Danskeren

Any comments?

The last one is out of stock and doesn't include the 'Professionally Honed" that the others do.

Gugi!

You saved the day!! Yes, it's getting harder to delineate the different camps around here.

I'm also finding problem with the logic. In asking about a "starter razor" there are a lot of comments about qualities you don't want in a razor.

I think everyone is describing qualities that they recommend not exist in your first razor, an idea that I can almost agree with . . . on the other hand I find few razors that are somehow easier to learn on.

I'm going to really be on the look out for goldwash now though . . .

You know, what I really need to ask is,

"What razor are you talking about that is described as a 'starter razor'" ?

Just like cars Impala or Caprice or for you younger folks Toyota or Lexus its the same for just about anything you get into as a hobbie.