For the moment newspaper will do as a strop until he can get a cheap one.
Getting into straight razor shaving
- Thread starter Hawkeye_90
- Start date
There is a barely used Dovo on BST right now for $55 shipped. That will almost certainly need to be honed, but I'll bet Darth Scandalous could help you out there.
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
Although I am no fan of Razor Emporium, they have some Classics on Clearance ⅝ straight razors for USD 30 to 50 but their charges for restoration (grinding, polishing and honeing) can push their prices up to well outside of your budget.
To stay within budget, I suggest that you look at a new Chinese SR on AliExpress, particularly a Gold Dollar 208 or P81, or a Titan ACRM-2 T.H.60 including a cloth strop (my first SR and still used). All of these are about USD 20 or less including shipping. They will need professional honing to shave-ready once received for about USD 20 to 30 plus shipping.
Another option is to find a suitable used SR on the BST forum on B&B. This may take time and you will need to move quickly on the budget ones. They are readily snapped up very soon after they are listed.
Here is a new suitable beginner's strop for under USD 15 including shipping. I still use one of these:
You may also find other suitable second-hand strops on eBay for a bit more.
To stay within budget, I suggest that you look at a new Chinese SR on AliExpress, particularly a Gold Dollar 208 or P81, or a Titan ACRM-2 T.H.60 including a cloth strop (my first SR and still used). All of these are about USD 20 or less including shipping. They will need professional honing to shave-ready once received for about USD 20 to 30 plus shipping.
Another option is to find a suitable used SR on the BST forum on B&B. This may take time and you will need to move quickly on the budget ones. They are readily snapped up very soon after they are listed.
Here is a new suitable beginner's strop for under USD 15 including shipping. I still use one of these:
You may also find other suitable second-hand strops on eBay for a bit more.
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Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
About 20 minutes ago I checked my mail and there was my recently ordered Dovo Bismarck. $139.95. Manicure Sets | Shaving Kits | Straight Razors | Excalibur Cutlery & Gifts - https://www.excaliburcutlery.com. I might get a couple more. Anyway the coffin still had the factory seal intact, so you would need to get it honed but that price is significantly below normal retail.
Manaslu Japanese Straight Razor Shave Ready | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/282778659907?hash=item41d6ebec43:g:REEAAOSwBkRaOWv5 just one example of what ebay seller april7th1989 sells. Most of his razors are not shave ready but if he lists one as shave ready, you can rest assured that it will shave if you do your part. Another ebay seller that I know only by reputation but is well regarded is johnloc1 and he sells shave ready razors for the most part. If either one lists a razor as shave ready, it most likely is. There are a few others, too, just can't think of them right off. @Johnloc1 is a member here, too, as is Glen at Home - GemStar Customs - https://gemstarcustoms.com/ who does honing for a very reasonable price if the razor does not need major work, a little more if it does. Member @Doc226 is very popular here for honing, too.
Any member of this or any other straight razor forum with more than a couple thousand posts who says he can hone, probably can hone, and likewise if he says a razor he is selling is shave ready, it probably is. Reputations are on the line, and are worth a lot more than a few dollars for honing a razor. Joe the knife sharpener guy who says sure, he can sharpen your razor cause he can sharpen ANYTHING, probably can't. Nobody who does not shave with a straight razor can be expected to know how to hone one. Outsiders to the community are pretty bad risks. So go with a forum member or with a vendor or honer recommended by multiple members and you will do fine, and this includes buying vintage razors.
Manaslu Japanese Straight Razor Shave Ready | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/282778659907?hash=item41d6ebec43:g:REEAAOSwBkRaOWv5 just one example of what ebay seller april7th1989 sells. Most of his razors are not shave ready but if he lists one as shave ready, you can rest assured that it will shave if you do your part. Another ebay seller that I know only by reputation but is well regarded is johnloc1 and he sells shave ready razors for the most part. If either one lists a razor as shave ready, it most likely is. There are a few others, too, just can't think of them right off. @Johnloc1 is a member here, too, as is Glen at Home - GemStar Customs - https://gemstarcustoms.com/ who does honing for a very reasonable price if the razor does not need major work, a little more if it does. Member @Doc226 is very popular here for honing, too.
Any member of this or any other straight razor forum with more than a couple thousand posts who says he can hone, probably can hone, and likewise if he says a razor he is selling is shave ready, it probably is. Reputations are on the line, and are worth a lot more than a few dollars for honing a razor. Joe the knife sharpener guy who says sure, he can sharpen your razor cause he can sharpen ANYTHING, probably can't. Nobody who does not shave with a straight razor can be expected to know how to hone one. Outsiders to the community are pretty bad risks. So go with a forum member or with a vendor or honer recommended by multiple members and you will do fine, and this includes buying vintage razors.
Welcome and congrats on your decision to get a straight.
I would take @Darth Scandalous up on his offer.
I would take @Darth Scandalous up on his offer.
Firstly take @Darth Scandalous offer.
Secondly I'll throw a little abstract perspective in here:
What do you like the look of?
SR's almost have a relationship with their owners, so first impressions count. Do you like a narrow or wide blade? Curved or straight? (Straight might be easier for self honing).
I heard a comment on YouTube somewhere which said 'just pick the one you love'. I think this is not a bad way to approach a SR.
Although I'd suggest staying away from a Spanish point at the beginning
Secondly I'll throw a little abstract perspective in here:
What do you like the look of?
SR's almost have a relationship with their owners, so first impressions count. Do you like a narrow or wide blade? Curved or straight? (Straight might be easier for self honing).
I heard a comment on YouTube somewhere which said 'just pick the one you love'. I think this is not a bad way to approach a SR.
Although I'd suggest staying away from a Spanish point at the beginning
The mm dimensions are wrong.
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
- Thread starter
- #30
Hey thanks guys!!! This is awesome info! I really appreciate all of you responses each one has been really helpful especially darth and rbscebu!
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
I'm not the guy who is confused by a 7/32" socket or 16" center studs. And I know that 7.62mm is .308" cal, and 5.56mm is .223 cal and that 9mm is a LOT less than .45". We Americans manage to keep our sanity in a crazy confused world just fine.That was just to confuse @Slash McCoy.
I have some vintage straights I'll let go to a newbie for cheap. Or a Gold Dollar I'll give to you. Just pay shipping. All shave ready. PM if interested. Admins, if this is post is frowned upon, feel free to delete.
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
Hey OP, a free SHAVE READY Gold Dollar is a practical first razor. It will get your foot in the door and your hand in the game, Hopefully by the time it is dull, you will have first of all learned enough to maybe start learning to hone your own razor, and second found yourself a second razor. Then switch to the second one and try your hand at refreshing the edge of the first one. In fact, you might want to get one of @relli1130 's vintage razors, too, so you start with two razors, which I highly recommend. Shave with just one or the other until it won't shave, then switch and try to refresh the edge of the dull one. It is a tried and true strategy. Refreshing a formerly shave ready edge is much simpler than honing from scratch. One stone, or better yet one lapping film, and you are back in the game. Once you prove yourself capable of doing that, you can up your game with a pasted balsa setup and get a better than professional edge. Newbie Honing Compendium | Badger & Blade . That's a lot of reading. May as well get started.
Now you just need a strop. You might see if @Tony Miller has any newbie strops in stock. He is our go-to strop guy here. Larry at www.whippeddog.com sells a couple of models, one basic and one verrrrry basic. An "Illinois" brand strop is okay, and cheap. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a first strop, which you will very likely destroy while learning to use it, but you don't want pure garbage, either. You can of course make your own strop. McMaster-Carr - https://www.mcmaster.com/leather/ is a good place to order. You want veg tanned leather, preferably. 3" wide. The ideal width is around 2-3/4" but you can cut 3" down if you like. You want at least 36" long so you have enough for the end bolsters that fold over the D rings, and an inch for overlap, where you sew or attach with Chicago screws. D rings can be harder to source cheaply, but you can get nice ones from a tack and saddle shop. If you already have a brush, mug or bowl, and soap or cream, you will be ready to rock.
And so it begins, we've all been there
Alternatively he could start with the pasted balsas and maintain his shave ready razor indefinitely while he goes down the RAD hole to explore other options.
- Thread starter
- #36
Table Strop | WhippedDog
The Table Strop is made from English Bridle Leather. It is 3" x 8" and is perfect for beginners and travelers. Many vintage travel strops and honing plates are the same size.
www.whippeddog.com
Is this a good strop? I am thinking of getting the kit.
Personally I've never had good results with razors and paddle strops, but don't let that stop you.Table Strop | WhippedDog
The Table Strop is made from English Bridle Leather. It is 3" x 8" and is perfect for beginners and travelers. Many vintage travel strops and honing plates are the same size.
Is this a good strop? I am thinking of getting the kit.
For the price I think that it's a good deal and you will then have tried a paddle type strop and be able to make your own assessment. Just know that a hanging strop is in your future if you stick with straights if for nothing else to compare the two styles.
I know that I'm not fond of paddle strops for razors...because I've tried them. You should too!
That means that you don't have any bad habits to conquer, your journey should be smooth.
This is EXACTLY what the gentleman that owned the skool where I took Cosmetology classes told me. I was complaining about how FAST the girls in the class could do things. He reminded me that they were girls (I had actually noticed that, which may have been why my times were so slow. I MAY have been looking at a few of them) and that they had been doing their own hair for years, and I wouldn't have to "unlearn" any bad habits!
