Minimum Equipment required to get started

[alimac23]

Hi Guys,

I've recently made the switch to DE shaving from a Schick Hydro and i'm loving the results and the new found interest in shaving.

I'm thinking about getting a straight razor but wanted to know what the minimum amount of equipment i could buy to get into this would be.

I obviously need a razor so recommendations on a good beginners one would be appreciated.

I realise i need a strop to keep the edge sharp but do i need anything else like stones to resharpen the edge when it gets dull? How long with daily stropping will a razor last before it needs to be re-sharpened on stone / by a professional?

 

[mdunn]

A straight and a strop!

Check out the 'what you need and why' link in my sig

 

[alimac23]

A straight and a strop!

Check out the 'what you need and why' link in my sig

Thanks that's a great help!

 

[ACorazza]

I would recommend a set up from whippeddog.com Many here, including myself started off this way and I have nothing but good to say about Larry's service. Larry (the owner of whippeddog) makes it very easy and affordable to get into straights.

 

[Firewalker]

Broken record here, Whippeddog sight unseen razor, the two strop package comes with balsa and the stuff needed to refresh it. DONE!!!!

 

[alimac23]

Thanks so much guys for the recommendations, i'll checkout whippeddog now.

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

Broken record here, Whippeddog sight unseen razor, the two strop package comes with balsa and the stuff needed to refresh it. DONE!!!!

+1,000. I may be getting more strop kits as gifts for my brothers and my dad for Father's Day.

 

[O.G.]

In addition you will need the following if you do not have them on hand:

A puck or tub or shaving cream or soap not that can stuff, you want something that you have to add warm water to to make a real lather,
A shaving brush of your choice (boar, badger, synthetic, hybrid,...)
A strop, if your new a cheap one, save the expensive one for after you tear up the first one, you will!;
A truly shave ready straight razor from whomever, whippeddog sounds awesome,
After shave (splash and/or balm)
patience alot of patience

optional but recommended: Alum block and/or styptic pencil

Also did I mention patience.

 

[Tierdaen]

I can get by without a special tub or brush, or even specialized shave soap. Also can generally survive without a strop for quite a while since hand-stropping works reasonably well, and I never use aftershave.

In other words, all I really need are a sharp razor, some kind of soap or cream, and facial hair. Other stuff can be nice, but no problem starting or even sticking with the basics.

 

[Mick]

A straight razor and a page out of your newspaper

 

[Sergio70]

Feather straight razor, no sharping, no stropping, easy to sell if you dont like it.

 

[Firewalker]

Feather straight razor, no sharping, no stropping, easy to sell if you dont like it.

I prefer to side with the purists on this one, that's a shavette, not a straight razor.

 

[Krodor]

A chopstick, one of your DE blades, a little dab of superglue....maybe hold off on that for now.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

+1 on whippeddog it's a great kit.

 

[Sergio70]

I prefer to side with the purists on this one, that's a shavette, not a straight razor.

I dont agree but i respect your opinion. A Shavette is a comercial name held by Dovo for its replaceable blade straights. IMHO

 

[alimac23]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys.

I already have a ton of creams and soaps as well as brushes, styptic pencils etc as I've just recently got into DE shaving.

How long would it be between each professional hone / resharpen of the razor, provided that I strop correctly each day?

 

[mdunn]

~6 months before a touch up (you can do that yourself, its different to a full hone-job) if its your solo razor

 

[daverojo77]

A straight and a strop!

Check out the 'what you need and why' link in my sig

First off! great Avitar.

Really great thread it helped me understand the whole honing thing vs paste.

 

[daverojo77]

+1 on whippeddog it's a great kit.

I just ordered 2 razors and a double strop from him cant wait.
alimac23 let us know how you make out! Good luck!!!

[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

 

[Kentos]

You could also post a WTB for a straight from someone local to you. There are quite a few veteran shavers here from Down Under.