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

I am very happy i started this thread. You guy's really got me thinking, out of the box, with your answers/questions.

Here is my preliminary conclusion:

I want....
..a razor which is relatively easy to learn the fine art of straight shaving with.
..a razor which is "easy" to hone.
..a razor that can hold an edge.
..a nice looking razor.
..a razor with round point.
..a razor which has an extra or full hollow blade.
..a 6/8" blade, i have 3 5/8's and would like to try a size bigger.

I am in the process of narrowing down the field.

Thank you very much guys, believe or not, you have been helpful

hmm, after owning a bunch early on and alternationg between a 5/8 round point and a 15/16 spike point, the so called starters are just less money up front, so less money gets you into start straight razor shaving, thus the term "starter razor". The more you spend, the more features you are buying. I bought excellent SRs from SRP members and sold excellent SRs to other SRP members, and then traded a few.

Get what ever straight razor strikes your fancy, then feel free to buy more straight razors. Work with them and you have SRP classifieds if you want to downsize the number of razors you have or if you wish to buy some other razors.

For me, having a variety of SRs is fun.

Pabster

I'm in the party of no experience...but I thought I'd tip in for the purpose of describing what I'm looking for both to add to the discussion and for a chance to get more insight on maybe what I SHOULD be looking for.

I'm looking for a razor to start with; what some might call a starter razor.
1. I'm looking for a razor that's of decent quality. It doesn't need to be flashy, showy, or expensive.
2. I want a razor that's truely ready to shave (not "shave ready" but ready to shave). That means A) I buy a razor and send it to a reputable honemiester, or B) I buy my "starter razor" from a reputable person who will ship it to me honed and ready to shave. I want this b/c while I've honed knives, I've never honed razors before and that's something I want to do, but not something I want to rely on myself for just starting out. Plus, I want this razor to serve as a base line to judge my eventual honing on (for that purpose I've bought another "category" of razor--a "practice razor" we can define those in another thread)
3. I want a razor that I can round over, chip, break, ruin without it ruining my day/week/month or longer. I've got a couple family heirloom razors coming my way. They aren't starters simply because I'd hate it if I ruined my great great grandfather's razor doing something stupid simply b/c I didn't know better. That's why I wouldn't consider an expensive razor a starter either, just for how I'd feel if I broke it out of ignorance/lack of experience.

That's it for a "starter razor"--something that is truely ready for me to start with.

Then there's a list of personal preferences.
Personally,
I'm hoping to find a bigger razor. I'm 6'4" with big hands and hate fiddling with tiny instruments. I'll have an easier time controling something that fits my hands.

I'm aslo hoping to find a heavier razor. I have thick whiskers, both lots of whiskers close together, but each individual is also very thick and stiff.

To that end a wedge or a wider razor will be a good thing, I think.

Lastly, I'm looking for a starter razor that's cheap. It doesn't need to be pretty, it just needs to do a good job. It doesn't need to have fancy details or a big time name. I've got a wife and three kids--their groceries, doctor's apts, and warmth are more important than the shape of my neck (which is why I'm getting in to straights). In this regard the cheaper the better so long as it qualifies for my first three points of a "starter razor".

Might be wrong, but for someone looking for a starter razor, this is where I'm at.

Back in the days of old there was no starter razor or practice razor. Rather just one you had to learn to get along with. That is how i've always been looking my razors as well. You can make every razor from any good manufacturer a good shaver; some shave better than others but it is more about your personal opinions and shaving experience, honing skills; not the razor itself.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Actually I have never heard of a starter razor.

don't you browse the classifieds?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

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 to let you know, SRD has a few razors that are classified as "beginner razors". I just wanted to say that they do exist.

Originally Posted by Skippy

Just to let you know, SRD has a few razors that are classified as "beginner razors". I just wanted to say that they do exist.

Yes, lots of "beginner" or "starter" blades mostly based simply on price. Some vendors even have a "starter" page, or in Larry's case an entire Newbie site.

But, when the sun rises a razor will either shave well or it won't. The only real beginners tip I have heard from above is to get a round or muted point on your first razor. This makes some sense as a cheek gash is neither fun, nor would be much of an encouragement.

Originally Posted by natchez

Yes, lots of "beginner" or "starter" blades mostly based simply on price. Some vendors even have a "starter" page, or in Larry's case an entire Newbie site.

But, when the sun rises a razor will either shave well or it won't. The only real beginners tip I have heard from above is to get a round or muted point on your first razor. This makes some sense as a cheek gash is neither fun, nor would be much of an encouragement.

Oh yes, I learned that the hard way. The worst cut I ever got was when I was using a spike point. It was right by the cheekbone. The tip dug into my cheek when I was going North to south. It was not good, but I learned from it. Now when I shave by my cheekbone, I go side to side and it hasn't happened since.

Sooo...if there is a starter razor then there must be an intermediate razor and if there's that there must be an advanced razor and a luxury razor. Right?

So how do you tell them apart and how do you match them to the shaver? They all shave equally as good or should.

It's really about price and everything else about the razor except how it shaves. it's a no brainer you can get a vintage razor for $40 and it will shave just as good as a $1200 custom. It's about the scales and fine work and the maker. So in the end is the distinction between levels of razors really important? Maybe to a pure collector or collector/shaver but to a pure shaver they are meaningless.

If I might say this one thing. If you are new to straight razor and want to continue, there is only but one razor. A sharp razor. Anything else is moot.