Straight razors, are high maintenance. They are expensive, a hassle to keep shave ready, take forever to shave with and did I mention expensive. I can get just as good a shave, if not a better one with my Merkur 34C than I could with my straits in less the time. Now, its time to feed my SRAD.
I'm retiring from straight razor shaving
- Thread starter bnndx2
- Start date
So I'm confused.
, After describing all the benefits of str8 shaving, ( now just as a side note, I think the basic problem with you and str8s is your inability to spell str8 correctly
) any way, after all the praise for str8 shaving you now want to QUIT? I was on a similar path a few months ago. I sold all my str8s, all my strops, stones, books, pin ups (oh no, that was another hobby, sorry
) and began collecting, and using, DEs and then SE Gems. Wow Am I glad that is over, now I can concentrate on brushes for a change.
Well, hope all works out well for you in your quest for the perfect shave. We all deserve at least ONE!!!!!!
, After describing all the benefits of str8 shaving, ( now just as a side note, I think the basic problem with you and str8s is your inability to spell str8 correctly) any way, after all the praise for str8 shaving you now want to QUIT? I was on a similar path a few months ago. I sold all my str8s, all my strops, stones, books, pin ups (oh no, that was another hobby, sorry) and began collecting, and using, DEs and then SE Gems. Wow Am I glad that is over, now I can concentrate on brushes for a change.Well, hope all works out well for you in your quest for the perfect shave. We all deserve at least ONE!!!!!!
- Thread starter
- #3
yeah as a matter of fact I just sold my last two razors an hour ago on another forum and ready to focus on acquiring brushes, soaps, aftershaves and colognes!
Straight shaving isn't for everybody that is true.
But all the reasons you have given show you really haven't got a clue.
Did you join this forum to just insult the membership?
Well carry on, but you are making a complete fool of yourself.
Bummer. My experience is just the opposite except maybe some of the expense but I kept it relatively cheap.
I hope you find what you are looking for! Good luck!
- Thread starter
- #7
Straight razors are not for everyone, that's for sure.
They take some perseverance to truly master.
But they're not expensive. Probably the cheapest option in the long run. It's obvious that forums about shaving are crowded with guys who passionately gather them. But I know several people who only have one or two. They last a lifetime.
There is maintenance to be done. Whether you experience that as a hassle is entirely up to you. Some people find cooking a meal everyday to much hassle as well.
You sure can get just as close a shave with other shaving gear as well.
I know I couldn't get a more rewarding shave than by using a straight razor.
But your shaving nirvana may very well be found somewhere else. Pursuing it is always worth your effort. Anything is better than the chore shaving was for me before I discovered the virtues of a straight razor shave.
Best regards,
Bart.
They take some perseverance to truly master.
But they're not expensive. Probably the cheapest option in the long run. It's obvious that forums about shaving are crowded with guys who passionately gather them. But I know several people who only have one or two. They last a lifetime.
There is maintenance to be done. Whether you experience that as a hassle is entirely up to you. Some people find cooking a meal everyday to much hassle as well.
You sure can get just as close a shave with other shaving gear as well.
I know I couldn't get a more rewarding shave than by using a straight razor.
But your shaving nirvana may very well be found somewhere else. Pursuing it is always worth your effort. Anything is better than the chore shaving was for me before I discovered the virtues of a straight razor shave.
Best regards,
Bart.
- Thread starter
- #9
I think they are expensive in that even if you buy them before they are restored, the honing stones, strops, pastes, etc add up!
This is true. Another thing to consider is that no matter no much you practice, you may never really get the hang of honing a blade, and have to send it off a couple of times a year to be done professionally.
To get straights you really have to enjoy them and be interested in them.
If you buy new items, a decent Dovo (shaves as well as a $1000 damascus steel one) costs about $80 (cheaper if you look around). A good strop: $50
A BBWfor sharpening: $50. Some Chromium Oxide, for ease of use: $5?
Adds up to $185. If you buy used items, it will be significantly less.
These items will all last a lifetime.
I don't know what a lifetime of disposable blades will cost, but I bet it's much more, depending on life expectancy and the blades of preference.
Are you truly retiring because of the cost? I would think you probably wouldn't have gotten into it if that were the issue. I think that's what set off my old friend English: the fact that now that you've given up, it's a bit blunt to come up with all these "contra" points.
Best regards,
Bart.
A BBWfor sharpening: $50. Some Chromium Oxide, for ease of use: $5?
Adds up to $185. If you buy used items, it will be significantly less.
These items will all last a lifetime.
I don't know what a lifetime of disposable blades will cost, but I bet it's much more, depending on life expectancy and the blades of preference.
Are you truly retiring because of the cost? I would think you probably wouldn't have gotten into it if that were the issue. I think that's what set off my old friend English: the fact that now that you've given up, it's a bit blunt to come up with all these "contra" points.
Best regards,
Bart.
Well, if it isn't working for you no point in forcing it. Hope you enjoy your DE shaves and continue to post.
- Thread starter
- #14
Well I acquired like 5 or 6 straights and had only 1 shave ready (shaved with it like 5 or so times before it got dull). The others needed to be restored and with the costs of that considered with the cost of getting them honed professionally, then buying my own stones and such and it just didn't seem to be worth it. Now my interest lies in the various soaps, aftershaves and creams and brushes and such.
I did the exact same thing a couple of months ago, sold all my SR supplies and bought an electric razor. The shaves weren't all that bad with the electric, but I missed the whole ritual involved with using a SR so I bought everything again and could not be happier! If anyone is looking for a top of the line Braun electric, just me a PM 
I gave up on straight some years back, too. I keep a handful of razors around and like them, but the labor involved in sharpening and the amount of time it takes to shave is just too much for me. You do get nice shaves and the razors are beautiful, but DE gives an excellent shave for about $15-$20 a year. It's marginally more expensive than a straight, but is one of my lowest expenses each year.
I understand your point. But I still believe it's based on a common misuderstanding.
Let 's talk about hones: a few years ago, when I started straight razor shaving, I joined a shaving forum (StraightRazorPlace). At that time, almost everyone over there recommended a double-sided Norton 4k/8K for sharpening and maintaining the edge of a razor. All you would ever need. And it's true. But today, a lot of guys on that forum seem to believe that you need at least 4 hones to sharpen a razor 1K, 4K, 8K and 12 or 16K. And a lapping plate to keep them all flat. It works. But it's not needed. I'm not long enough around on B&B to know what the general consensus is on this forum. Personally I believe that everyone has the right to buy all these hones. And then a top shelf Japanese finisher. And all sorts of strops. Diamond pastes. You name it. Of course we need to tell the wife no can do without all that (expensive) stuff. We might even need to tell that to ourselves as well, to justify the spending. But when it starts to discourage other people, who are just starting out, I'm inclined to tell the truth. All that stuff is not needed. The Norton will do. Really.
I have a suggestion for you. Maybe you should consider getting a Shavette somewhere in the future, if you ever feel attracted to the challenge of using an open razor again. They really don't cost much, and take half a DE blade. No sharpening required and they do offer those variable shaving angles that makes shaving with a straight razor such a unique experience. Just a humble suggestion.
Don't spend it all on creams and brushes
Bart.
Antique Hoosier
“Aircooled”
You gotta find what works for you and enjoy it. My experience with straights have been quite the opposite of your experience. And this is coming from a guy who NEVER imagined using them.
English is an old fart, like me. I started shaving with a straight 30 years ago and mastering this difficult art is one of my proudest accomplishments as well as a daily source of pleasure. Sure, it's not for everyone and, yes, go ahead and give it up if you want to. But you didn't need to announce it. After all, what exactly is it that you are announcing? Exactly what English said: that you didn't take the time to master a difficult skill that you don't understand, that you rushed off and spent more money than you needed to (all I had for 29 years was a Dovo razor, an Illinois strop and a razor hone) and that you like to insult people. How are old you? My bet is that you are young enough not to know better.
Similar threads
