Thread: Straight razor vs Mach 3 or disposable

Ok I'm a big believer in the straight razor since I switched . Here comes my questions, how is one razor better than three being passed over your face? I love the whole art behind the straight, It allows me time for myself to relax and shave. Straights require maintence and costs, cost of the razor strop hones and time to learn the skill of doing these things. You can just throw out a disposable or change the head on a Mach three. So what's are argument my friends how do we justify the benefits and costs of the straight razor Art how do we preserve this art..???

Oh boy, here's a big can of worms that's just been opened.....

I think it's safe to say that those of us who stick with this art and have been doing it for years have several reasons to use a SR. Nostalgia and enjoyment are certainly factors. Probably the biggest factor is that a straight, when used properly, delivers the best, smoothest and most irritation-free shaves out of all the alternatives. Cartridges used to irritate the hell out of my face, that's a distant memory to me now.

The ONLY advantage I could imagine using a cartridge or disposable would be the time factor. But there are many of us who have the whole ritual down to the 5-10 min mark, so that's kind of a non-issue.

As for the cost of SR shaving, well that's another story. Yes, most of us get carried away but that's the hobby aspect taking hold. The reality of course is that with a minimalist setup the cost really isn't that much, considering you would need only to buy shaving soap periodically. Speaking for myself, if I stopped buying shaving gear altogether starting today I wouldn't have to spend any more money for many, many years to come. Decades, perhaps . OTOH, with cart shaving you are constantly buying blades at ridiculously bloated prices. My beard would chew a Mock 3 blade in under 5 shaves, so you could imagine the cost of blades alone.

If you take the stance more blades equal a better shave then you have sold your soul to the corporations. Where do you draw the line? Three blades, five, ten maybe twenty? Whatever Madison Avenue commands you to use?

Most here use a straight because it gives them a better shave than the alternatives and if you don't get carried away is cheaper than the alternatives. Also the fact it's something folks here enjoy doing as compared to a multi blade chore. I guess those are the main reason though there are many others. As far as disposables go, to me, if you want to use a straight you get a straight. Many do use them and like them however most eventually use a straight.

The first thing you do is not drive your friends away by being a born again straight razor artist who incessantly tries to convert them to SR shavers. If they want to try it they will. Ask yourself if when you are out in public has anyone ever said something like, "Wow what a nice close shave, what do you use?". Chances are not many if ever. The best you can do to preserve the art is to continue using straights. That is the long and short of it from my POV.

Bob

I think thebigspendur has an excellent point with the approach to societal trends and razors. I remember an episode of MADtv as a kid where they had the Mach 33 "the closest shave a man can get", it made fun of the vids they used in the commericals and did a mock vid where the blades took it to the bone.

Granted, it was in comic jest, but where does it end? Now they are at 5, but why 5 when I get a smoother shave with one. Pass for pass. Realize that one swipe of a Mach 3 should be equalivent to 3 passes of a straight, but we all know this isn't the case. For myself one WTG is smoother with the straight than one with a disposable/cartridge. If you are looking at money, and only money I would say that it is still cheaper to shave with a straight. When I started I did the math and I was spending $230 a year on cartridge shaving and products. You can get many a starter kit for that, and I did. I haven't bought another cartridge since. Now if you troll eBay everyday and buy every "deal" out there, then you are going to be out some cash. And some of those soaps, brushes, stands, ect are pretty pricey too. You have to figure out what matters for you I guess. I personally keep my eyes on my wallet or the most part and splurge when I find a deal or something unique that I would like to try.


... I hoped some of that helped

JackofDiamonds

I think the saving aspect is important. And you will ultimately save money-lots of it if you look at some of the math by sticking with a straight razor. I also think the distinct lack of stuff like used carts and shave cream cans going into landfills is an important consideration.

All I know is that with the multi-bladed cartridges is my neck is a hassle. One of the blades would clear a hill or valley and then the blades would swivel and some of the blades left would nick the begesus out of the skin. I find I have more control with one blade. I don't have to worry what the rest of the blades are gonna try and carve and irritate.

I've saved so much money shaving with straights that I'm getting ready to buy another 9/8 Wade and Butcher. I did have to get a second job, sold my car, my washer and dryer and quit sending my clothes out for dry cleaning. I just spray my clothes with a little Febreze, and I'm good to go. As long as it doesn't rain on the way to work, I look just fine when I get there.

Originally Posted by ace

I've saved so much money shaving with straights that I'm getting ready to buy another 9/8 Wade and Butcher. I did have to get a second job, sold my car, my washer and dryer and quit sending my clothes out for dry cleaning. I just spray my clothes with a little Febreze, and I'm good to go. As long as it doesn't rain on the way to work, I look just fine when I get there.

Sometimes sacrifices must be made. Just think of how much money you are now saving on gasoline, water, and electric.

The old curmudgeon speaks!
I guess that for me straight razor shaving is much like being able to disjoint and waggle my thumbs. Awesome to folks that can't, or don't!
That said, I enjoy the time that I focus on what I am doing. That may be the only few minutes of the day which I am "Right Here and Now!" Fortunately, I am retired and, so, am able to give the hobby artisanal part of straight shaving and razor restoring more attention than I would were I holding down a 50 hour week such as I used to. I still find Schick, Gem and Gillette type blade shaves nice and close. The blades are now about $1 each at retail. Up 20 times since I were young

On a cost basis, I believe that the onset of cartridge madness has put us behind in shave quality. Being an old fogy, I started and continued with injector razors for lo those many years. The original cartridges and the Schick and Gillette Techmatic band razors were in some ways a really good thing and at that time and the cost per shave was close to equal the regular individual blades which lasted about a week to two.

But, a new cartridge in usual retail buying mode is now about $4 and more in specialty shops. One cartridge gives a week's shave~ Back when, a pack of blades was $0.25 to $0.50 and contained 5-10 blades. That meant about 5 to 10 weeks of shaving! I made ~$100 a week then. Now have about double that as a geezer. So for me the cost of a week's cartridge shave has gone 40 or greater times more while my income has gone double. I don't see many common folks making $4000 a week!

As always, there are folks that find a cartridge shave makes their day and repels the 5 o'clock shadow for them. Who am I to tell them they are wrong.
Then again, I have had some old buddies ask "Who polished your face?" A couple now straight razor shave! And some still electric and cartridge shave!
YMMV
~Richard