Thread: The straight razor vs the Red Tip

After a couple of months of enjoying the 20-minute ritual of stropping and careful, focused shaving with a vintage straight razor, I shaved with my 1950s Gillette Red Tip. It took a total of about 7 minutes to get a perfectly good one-pass shave. If time and convenience were my main criteria, the Red Tip would win hands down. Still, I prefer the 20-minute old school ritual. Good ting I’m retired.

The last time I shaved with a de I was underwhelmed even though I used to use one exclusively. For me i can plow thru a great shave in about 5 minutes with a straight stropping included. I do shave after a shower so the boar gets to soak while I'm in there. I have not used a de in years now. Not saying what anyone else should use or do now.

Originally Posted by Bill31521

The last time I shaved with a de I was underwhelmed even though I used to use one exclusively. For me i can plow thru a great shave in about 5 minutes with a straight stropping included. I do shave after a shower so the boar gets to soak while I'm in there. I have not used a de in years now. Not saying what anyone else should use or do now.

It takes me five minutes just to strop.

Ive been working my way through all my Schick injector razors for the last two months and it will be another 2 months before i get through them all. I enjoy SE and DE and Injectors but will always fall back on my Straights as my main go to razor. I dont worry about the time much as i dont find a lot of difference in time of the shave no mater what razor im using. A few years ago it did take a lot more time.

The difference I see here is the maintenance of the blade.

Lathering should take the same time.

Arguably the width of the straight should take less time.

Throw the DE away no time but your cost.

Strop and oil your straight 30 -45 seconds.

touch up hone for your straight or a few if you have them in rotation.

My conclusion is that it probably takes me on an average of 1 minute a day more to shave with a straight.

My thoughts havent gone as far as figuring the price of DE bladesto hones or strops so it might be higher there.

It's pretty close all around. You have an initial cost with a straight in hones and strops but if you do your homework you only NEED a few not a whole platoon worth and if you figure that over decades it's pennies a day. The cost of top class new DE's is about what you would pay for new quality straights. Of course you could buy used on both fronts but with a straight then you be talking about more hones and other items and skills and all that. You don't have any of that with a used DE. Blades, even if you buy Feather are not that expensive. With either you can go crazy and it can become a hobby but that is more so with a straight.

The brushes and soaps of course are the same. Time with a straight or a DE? It depends on the straight. With some it takes about the same and with some it takes a little longer.

So, the real answer is it depends. If youare just a "shaver" it's about equal all around. But, if you become a hobbyist straight can get way more expensive.

Of course that's my opinion.

Cost wise between my hones strops and straights I figure I be saving lots of money. Them 10 cent blades add up. So I will have to live to 122 to break even. After that it's all gravy!

...not a whole platoon worth.

Dammit! Thats where I went wrong.

What's a good Gillette DE to start with gents? I've had quite a few pass through me now but I like my straights so I've just sold then on before trying. I've had a mint gold tone LD butterfly DE and a near mint British rocket. I'm thinking I should of gave the rocket a run out by all the good comments I've read since moving it on. Had lots and lots of the 3 piece razors also.

Originally Posted by Cutlersdream

What's a good Gillette DE to start with gents?

The Gillette Slim Adjustable is a pretty good place to start. You can dial it up to the aggressive side or turn it down to mild as. They are often a bit cheaper than Fat Boys and lighter in the hand: so what's not to like?