Thread: Could use some help with first time setup

So i have two razors going to get done up for me soon, Probably just after the toronto meet up, ill need some maintenance stuff as i have nothing,

but there is a tonne of options between the leathers, the fabrics the sprays and pastes man its to much to go through and driving me batty

i could use a hand on a nice, but nothing to expensive set up needed, I am a beginner with the stropping but i can be patient so i would like it to not be too expensive, but not anything totally cheap either

can you get completely set up for this stuff for 100 bucks or less ? If i checked out SRD what should i be looking for for my initial set up and everything i need

anywhere else i should loook,... or should i just hop on Whipped dogs poor mans deal ?

anyone want to help spend some of my money ?

There are a lot of good options out there. SRD has very nice strops, but they are pricey (with good reason). You might want to get something of a beater for your first as, no matter how careful you are, you'll still probably nick it or slice it. There wil be no shortage of advice at the meeting, so don't be shy with questions. I'll bring some of my strops so you can check them out.

sweet, since ill probably turn my guys over to Maxi there maybe i should wait till then before i buy anything, still nice to look at some options too lol

The reason there are so many options:

. . . There are a lot of different things that work.

$100 is about as low as you can expect to go for a complete kit.

Larry at whippeddog.com will sell you a honed straight razor, Poor Man's strop kit (with pasted strop), brush, and soap for less than that.

If you look through the "classifieds" here, you'll find occasional razors in the $40 range. Add a strop (e.g. Larry's, or one from Star Shaving) and brush, and shipping costs, and you'll be close to $100.

HOWEVER, if you do things that way:

. . . You'll have a trustworthy razor, and what you need to keep
. . . it sharp, and shave with it.

It's people who scrape the bottom of the barrel (with cheap new razors and poor-quality strops) who regret their initial purchases.

Charles

PS -- If you go to a meet, there may be opportunities to buy stuff at reduced prices. The ideal seller is somebody who says:

. . . "My wife says I can't bring any of this stuff home."

pps -- Kits from SRD are nice (and new), but pricier.

PPPS -- You can spend a whole lot of money on soaps, pre-shaves, balms, after-shaves, and so on. All you need to start with is some shaving soap, and you can buy Proraso (a "known-good" brand) for around $10 per tub (or tube).

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

The reason there are so many options:

. . . There are a lot of different things that work.

$100 is about as low as you can expect to go for a complete kit.

Larry at whippeddog.com will sell you a honed straight razor, Poor Man's strop kit (with pasted strop), brush, and soap for less than that.

If you look through the "classifieds" here, you'll find occasional razors in the $40 range. Add a strop (e.g. Larry's, or one from Star Shaving) and brush, and shipping costs, and you'll be close to $100.

HOWEVER, if you do things that way:

. . . You'll have a trustworthy razor, and what you need to keep
. . . it sharp, and shave with it.

It's people who scrape the bottom of the barrel (with cheap new razors and poor-quality strops) who regret their initial purchases.

Charles

PS -- If you go to a meet, there may be opportunities to buy stuff at reduced prices. The ideal seller is somebody who says:

. . . "My wife says I can't bring any of this stuff home."

pps -- Kits from SRD are nice (and new), but pricier.

PPPS -- You can spend a whole lot of money on soaps, pre-shaves, balms, after-shaves, and so on. All you need to start with is some shaving soap, and you can buy Proraso (a "known-good" brand) for around $10 per tub (or tube).

LOL Im new to straights, but not new to wetshaving, i have brushes soaps and creams galour, and i have a couple of straights too, it was just the strops pastes and such i was refering to here, ill keep looking around and feeding my curiousity, but i will certainly hold off till after the meet so i can feel some things out get some great advice and help a member whose wife wont let him bring anything home with him, you know so he doesnt get into any sort of trouble,

im a nice guy that way

I'd advise going to a 3 inch wide strop from the start. You are less likely to hack it to pieces because you dont have to concentrate on doing x strokes AND stropping AND doing the finger flip at the end of the stroke. If you can remove one variable in the equation it makes learning much easier.

If you want to save some money at first I would go buy a 3inch wide 50 inch length piece of leather from Tandy leather. Cut it in half and you have one hanging strop length you can rig up and then chop the other piece in two. Mount them both on two pieces of 12 inch 2x4 and you now have two board strops to practice on. You can use one for chro paste later on for maintaining your razors.

34 dollars

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/e.../4523-190.aspx

Thanks scookum ill add that place to my favourites look around,... so does one need a fabric side or peice as well ? see wool and felts out there two i was thinking you needed one leather and one fabric,.. but this obviously isnt the case is there a major preference on this ?

Originally Posted by Scookum

I'd advise going to a 3 inch wide strop from the start. You are less likely to hack it to pieces because you dont have to concentrate on doing x strokes AND stropping AND doing the finger flip at the end of the stroke. If you can remove one variable in the equation it makes learning much easier.

If you want to save some money at first I would go buy a 3inch wide 50 inch length piece of leather from Tandy leather. Cut it in half and you have one hanging strop length you can rig up and then chop the other piece in two. Mount them both on two pieces of 12 inch 2x4 and you now have two board strops to practice on. You can use one for chro paste later on for maintaining your razors.

34 dollars

Tandy Leather Factory - Natural Cowhide Leather Strips

I also suggest just getting a strop for the first little while before trying pastes and such. Just the basics. Take it slowly, because this can get crazy pretty quickly.

Noted !, thanks for the warning lmao

Yes do note that I said pastes "later on" lol

As far as fabric goes, its been traditionally used. I wouldnt worry about it right now. Once when you know you can strop safely without undue harm to yourself or your strop then worry about felt, linen etc as a second strop. I'm sure somebody somewhere in the past got by just fine with a hunk of leather.