No,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:beer2:
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No,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:beer2:
I own all three of your purchases
The 3" SRD latigo is my "heavy" draw strop. I use it when I want to tune up a blade a little bit. Well made and gets the job done.
The Parker Silvertip is a good brush. Loads a lot of soap. The brush performs well.
The R. Aust is fantastic. Honed by Lynn, the first shave was perfect. Will use it again this coming Sunday.
The answer to your question is no.
Razors perform differently. Some hone to a finer edge. Some give a more comfortable shave.
Brushes perform differently.
Strops perform differently.
How you use them is the key. Each person has his/her system. YMMV is the key.
Generally, you get what you pay for.
Amen.... why didn't you just buy the kit from srd...whole kit....RA roundpoint Latigo 3" strop razor oil and sock for less than 160.? ?
You can get by and enjoy which ever pieces you choose. You need a shave ready razor and a strop. Brushes are a preference thing. Some like $10 boars. I like a large silvertip.
They do vary. Brushes, strops, razors, soaps, the lot. What you have listed will serve you fine.
But I also want something to last me many many years and the Spanish point looked like a great match, (check out my other threads)Quote:
Originally Posted by JTmke
First straight avoid a spike point just fyi
All women have ears (well most any way). And they all cost a HUGE LOAD of money.. They better improve life for that price!!
They're all the same aren't they??
:banghead:
You're questions couldn't be so far from true. Of course, there is a point of diminishing returns, but not all strops and brushes are created equal and more many can buy you a better experience.
I've seen some strops that couldn't line the bottom of your shoe, let alone maintain a razor. Brushes.. well I am one who prefers a $15 boar over a high priced badger. On the other hand, I prefer oil tanned Horween leather over steer hide. This hobby is like many others.. buy cheap and you'll likely buy twice.
If your just starting out,buy what you can afford,down the road you may find the sport is not for you.
I moderatly decent strop and brush will serve you well for a long time.
I have a 7/8 Aust Spanish point. It is an amazing shaver. You will enjoy it for many years.Quote:
Originally Posted by noy99
OP,
Your choices of strop razor and brush are all acceptable. You will have a much better start than I did. No all strops are not the same. The cheapo strops you can get off of ebay for like 10 bucks or so usually have serious issues and are really just strop shaped pieces of leather that have wrinkles and other issues that can affect your shave. Now getting a cordovan strop or some crazy $400 dollar strop sure would be nice and have a different feel but I am not one to spend $400 on a strop so I wouldn't know. $400 is 20-30 razors I could have bought instead and I don't think there would be that much of a difference in performance of that and what you are buying except for the luxury of it.
Brushes are not all the same either. There is a huge difference in performance and feel on the face of a boar or horse hair or badger or silver tip badger. They all perform differently (not in a negative way though IMO, just different) and they all feel very different. Boar is a firm brush and is great for loading up hard soaps. They have a lot of back bone.
Regular badger has less back bone and firmness but not totally lacking in it either. It is somewhat scratchy which still makes it a good candidate for loading up triple milled soaps and other hard soaps while easily creating loads of nice meringue like lather.
Silvertip on the other hand tends to have less backbone or firmness and is very soft. Feels luxurious on the face when lathering and is great for face lathering IMO. Also it can still be used for harder soaps but works better when gripping the bristles firmly to give it some backbone and help it load up faster with soap. They hold a lot of water and quickly lather up plus did I mention they feel amazing on the face.
This is just my opinion and experiences and yours and others may vary. I have never used a horse hair brush so I couldn't speak on those.
If I was a new straight shaver and decided to get a spanish point razor, I'd save a few bucks on the strop and invest heavily in styptic pencils and butterfly bandages. But... I am a slow learner. :)
The short answer is "no".
The longer answer is that you enjoy the journey, and you continue to use a SR, you will wind up buying several (at least) more brushes, strops AND razors, and your preferences will change/evolve.
All quality strops do the same thing equally well however all strops are not the same. Brushes are a different story. Some perform differently than others. Some better some worse some just differently.
You know it's like taking a trip from point A to B. You can do it in a Yugo or a Chevy or a BMW or a Mercedes Benz or a Rolls Royce. They all get you to where you want to go safely.
Couldn't have said it better myself excellent analogyQuote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
This is what I own. It is amazing.Quote:
Originally Posted by JTmke
Strops are definitely NOT all the same,,, some are sliced and diced......
Your money so spend it the way you want.
Then spend more while learning your way to shaving nirvana.
I said this once already.
Buy what you want, learn what you don't know, and have a bunch of stuff you don't like but looks cool!
You're not buying shaving equipment, you're paying for an education.
It's not the smooth face that's cool, it's how we make it happen.
Welcome to the class!
Well if you want to start off with sinking a load of money into this for starters, I agree with the idea of getting one of the SRD sets.
As many have mentioned, strops are all different. Some are a heavy draw (like the SRD Latigo), some are a very fast draw (Bison MAde Horween leather). I'd stay away from any expensive strop to start off with as you will damage it while learning proper technique. You just will. Something with a heavy draw will slow you down a bit and you will more easily hear it when you are doing things right.
As far as brushes, no they are not at all the same. If they were, no one would be buying $200 brushes we'd all own 3 different $10 brushes. They vary from very scrubby to pillowy soft and everything in between.
Good luck on your journey and just take your time. Don't give up after a few poor shaves. It takes time but in the end it's well worth it as there is nothing more satisfying than a clean, smooth "proper" shave. And good heavens stay away from anything with a spiky toe (tip) for a while. Nicely rounded will help you make a successful transition.
Doug, I looked into the Bison Made Horween strop after we discussed it last night... Interesting piece. I'm not a fan of handles and it doesn't look like they make barbers ends, and I love my scrupleworks, but I am always interested in seeing what else is available.Quote:
Originally Posted by wingdo
Nothing is ever the same. They may look the same, and perform the same task, but rarely perform the same. Some folks feel they have to start with everything new, nothing wrong with that. Some start with vintage thinking to save a few bucks, or just because they love the history behind something old. I fall into the latter category, hence my Othello, Torrey, and W.H. Morley and Sons Clover.
Then the strops and brushes. The most expensive aren't always the best, IMO. The best brush I have is also the cheapest. It started rather stiff, but a little hot water and some of my wife's hair conditioner has produced a great lather producer. My expensive brush turned out to be a marshmallow. I started with an Illinois 835 strop and quickly nicked it up. Could never produce a good edge with it, but time and practice will tell. The strop that works very well for me is the one I got from gssixgun, a member and vendor here. The leather is mounted to a nice piece of Oak, and if you follow his instructions, works exceedingly well at producing a very clean, smooth edge. It's one of those things where starting at the beginning and a little trial and error, pays dividends with less money spent and more experience gained.
Good Luck and good shaving.
No they are not the same.
No you don't have to spend more.
YOU will have to learn to shave before you know whether or not the equipment choices are good for you . And then you will only know if you try something else. Yes then it will start to cost more :<0)
No strop or brush is ever the same. They all do the job some better than others i started with a shavette i bought in a pharmacy in the middle east as well my first brush. I wanted to see if i would even like the ritual that i now go through in the morning. A friend turned me onto s/r shaving but like i said i spent 3 dollars on a shavette after 2 months of that i bought a real s/r from SRD a Ralf Aust 5/8 round point. I now have two strops from SRD and four straights all from different makers now my wife questions my sanity. Now you have to try different creams and soaps which one will you like the most who knows. Hope this helps and maybe i did not ramble too much. Have a good time with your new hobby.
When starting out, it is good to get a good quality straight razor to start off with. A beginners strop and a decent brush. Everything costs money and a lot of these straight razor companies know that a beginner who is serious about this art form will be upgrading their equipment. Most offer a starter set. The reason they offer a starter set is that they know a person starting out doesn't need to spending a ton of money on something they might be "iffy" about keeping up. Better to walk away from a few dollars then a lot of dollars. They know a novice straight razor shaving will have problems at first. Not stropping correctly, maybe not keeping the blade oiled or dried after shaving. Always good to ask questions...... And as time goes by and a person gets better and more knowledgeable, they will invest in better equipment and other goodies.
For me, I hate to shave, it is just something I have to do to get out the door.
So if I can shave with a vintage piece of art, Strop, Brush and Razor, infused with a lovely sent and slick, thick lather, it at least makes a chore enjoyable at the start of the day.
No, they are not all alike, any more than an Ekorne’s recliner is the same as an overturned 5 gallon bucket.
Do they do the same thing, kind of… but not really?
It does seem lately there are a number of new shavers looking to do so out of economy, and it can be done on the cheap. I expect in many parts of the world, much of the low cost/quality shaving products are used daily with acceptable results.
And that is the key word… different for each of us, you can lather with a one dollar paint brush, use canned or bar soap and strop your $20 razor on your belt or jeans and get acceptable results… for you.
Buy the best you can afford and learn to use them to their maximum potential.
If you learn to shave with a Spike or Spanish Point… you will learn to shave with a light hand... Pain is an excellent and expeditious teacher.
Ralph Aust makes excellent razors, although I would of preferred to see you purchasing the the round point for a first blade but most spike or spanish points are muted by the manufacturer. Hopefully you wont stab the tragus of you ear when performing that first cheek pass so take care. The latigo strop I think is great choice really good strop for the money that provides a lot of feedback and as others have already said, good draw to help keep your motion in control. Pure badger brush are also a nice brush that wont break the bank and has a good amount of backbone and wont get too floppy on you.This brush not as soft as the silver tips but a good performing brush that certainly will give you everything you need. Now soap is certainly a subjective thing but i'm going to recommend a nice soft Italian soap like Razorock XXX which is easy to lather not pretentious and works just great. That's my 2 cents I hope you enjoy the journey as much as all of us here.
I'd like to pop in Barrister & Mann Latha as a first soap. It is very reasonable at $10 for four ounces and it a top notch performer. I will rate it above RR and it is also made here in the US.
Just for the record: Ralf Aust Spanish point razors (as well as his square point ones) come with a muted tip.Quote:
Originally Posted by Euclid440
Tragus... had to look that one up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorfaust
Learn something new every day.
After using straight razors for over 35 years, I can say that razors, brushes, and strops do in fact differ (a lot) in looks, performance, and quality of build; for the most part, you get what you pay for. However that being said, the cost of many such items is NOT a definitive indicator of overall quality. My favorite brush of the entire stable is a $20 Omega boar. I prefer it to brushes which cost me over 4x that amount.
Same with razors. My Ralf Aust blades I prefer to some others I own which were much more expensive. Not to say the other more spendy razors are sub standard (were that the case, they would not remain in the quiver).
I only have two strops, a Herold Russian oil tanned and a Tony Miller Steerhide. Truth be told, I don't see much difference in the two other than Mr. Miller's craftsmanship is simply outstanding as opposed to my Russian which is not a completely hand made product. Both are nice strops though.
Same with soaps/creams. Cella, TOBS, and AoS will always remain among my all-time favorites cost notwithstanding.
...all in what YOU like is really what it boils down to.
I agree. Prticularly with the brush. I am using on OLD omega, 25+ years old, and it works fine for me, I mean, probablyQuote:
Originally Posted by JTmke
if you compare it with many other, it would not match them, but what it needs to do? get the soap on my face, that's it.
I would rather invest those money in a trope or a razor or, I suspect many people underestimate this, in a set of good hones.
SR shaving for only 3 months, and I am loving it, I love the ritual, the "slowlyness" and the result.
And then it is very manly:rofl2:
god help to not fall in that spiral! I just wanted to shave in a nice, healthy, eco-friendly and old fashioned way! and I am building my second strop already! Troubles ahead...Quote:
Originally Posted by kkwk
Different length, width, draw, material, etc. It all makes a difference, and certain strops work better with certain razors.
Just remember used properly most of what you are buying will last a life time. It's not very expensive when you put it like that.