I've always been a wet shaver though I only switched to DE last year, now with the last year of nearly perfect shaves behind me I can't help being compelled to try a straight. So the last week I've been reading more and more, but the more I read the more I'm unsure what to start with. Please help me choose a straight or two to get started with and all the requisite goodies that I need.
Newb seeks zen shave.
- Thread starter harleyrkc
- Start date
Whipped dog, bst, & hobbyist area are all fine places to find a shave ready straight. You will also need a stop. As for the rest of the goodies, if you decide you want to hone your own straights, you will open the pandora's box of natural stones vs. synthetic hones vs. lapping film, et al. Good luck with it. It is a great hobby.
~~~first place to start is with a budget, or is it open ended?
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
- Thread starter
- #4
Can't I base my budget on need? Im willing go as far as I need to for something good that doesn't necessarily have to win any beauty pagents.
looks like we ferretted that out=
I dunno...usually when someone asks the questions you are asking, they have a budget to stay inside of. Me, when I bought my first straight razor (I went directly to a shop (stockist) that specializes in straight razors. I thought I was going to get out for a few hundred, and that was what the straight cost (almost) 
I also left with a quality strop and a coticule and slurry stone
Most of the guys here recommend larry (whipped dog). Not sure what his sight unseen straight pkg goes for anymore but you can google him and find that out. he'll send a sharp blade, a strip of leather, pasted balsa to pick the edge up after you roll it on the strop
if you're counting pennies, it's a good way to go
I guess there's not much sense in suggesting what size of blade for you to go with. I'll shave with anything 9/16 and up. I've never shaved with a 4/8 and am niot planning on it, but that said, I believe I bought 4/8 ERN a while ago so I take that back
If you have large hands, a larger blade will feel more comfortable in them. I would call a large blade 6/8 and up. As the blade width grows so does the width of the shank so naturally if you have large hands, a larger razor will be easier to grasp. If you're slight of stature, perhaps you would feel more comfortable with a 5/8
A popular sized vintage blade was the 11/16, right smack dab in between 5/8 and 6/8. I think Thiers Issard is making a 1/2 hollow grind in that size
Speaking of grind...most literature on the subject, or so it seems, suggests a n00b would do better with a half hollow vs. going with a full hollow grind. 6 to 1, half dozen to another...if you boiught two blades at once first time around, buy one of each, but then they'd go better sorting out what you prefer if they are both the same size blade, say like two 6/8 razors vs. one is 6/8, the other is 5/8
And then there's is the 1/4 grind...harder to find in vintage but they're out there. Hart builds 1/4 grind blades, starting at $280 http://www.hartsteel.com/catalog/item/7762903/8897363.htm maybe others here know of lessor priced new 1/4 grind blades, yet that is a good excuse to go vintage for a 1/4 grind straight razor. You could find some for around $100, maybe less ( I found one for $12 or $20 recently...vintage, from the wild)
Anyways, my advice for you would be to buy two blades...one in full hollow and the other in half hollow. that way you would have an instant rotation and two grinds to play with. I think it's safe to say most everyone here has shaved with both so if you only start with one...sooner or later you'll try the other
If you don't go with whipped dog and his refurbished vintage starter razor and new strop, an you go out and buy the blades ala carte...you're going to need to come up with a strop. you could buy larry's strop if you want to spend little or, if you want to stay with an economy strop...many here go with star shaving dot com. I've yet to use any of theirs but I've only heard wonderful things and nothing bad, so take a look at what they offer
I've purchased more than a few new blades and other straight razor goodies (coticules, leather strops, etc.) from jarrod at thesuperiorshavedotcom...he'll send shave ready razors and pronto to boot, if you're the impatient sort. I'm only two hours away from his door. I've ordered early Monday morning and found it in my rural mailbox Tuesday noon
Getting back to your main question...what do you need to start...a razor and a strop mainly. Eventually you'll want something to pick the edge up. speaking strictly for myself....when I went for my first straight...I already researched how I wanted to learn to hone and maintain a razor's edge and I went with Belgian coticule, so I bought a stone with my first blade and have never looked back, but again, I did my homework so I knew going in what I wanted for honing and edge maint. you may not have figured that out yet from the sounds of things...and not to worry...you can make a decision whenever you want. There's a lot of guys that just go with a razor abnd strop and somehow they don';t roll the edge on the strop and they're able to keep their first blade going from months w/o any edge touch ups
I think I rolled my edge right from the get. stropping (learning how) was difficult for me and I butchered my first two strops. Fixed em too!, and I still use my first strop...it's perfectly serviceable. In fact, I use it daily
Okay, I probably told you more than you wanted to hear=...others may have better and different ideas
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
I dunno...usually when someone asks the questions you are asking, they have a budget to stay inside of. Me, when I bought my first straight razor (I went directly to a shop (stockist) that specializes in straight razors. I thought I was going to get out for a few hundred, and that was what the straight cost (almost) I also left with a quality strop and a coticule and slurry stoneMost of the guys here recommend larry (whipped dog). Not sure what his sight unseen straight pkg goes for anymore but you can google him and find that out. he'll send a sharp blade, a strip of leather, pasted balsa to pick the edge up after you roll it on the strop
if you're counting pennies, it's a good way to go
I guess there's not much sense in suggesting what size of blade for you to go with. I'll shave with anything 9/16 and up. I've never shaved with a 4/8 and am niot planning on it, but that said, I believe I bought 4/8 ERN a while ago so I take that back
If you have large hands, a larger blade will feel more comfortable in them. I would call a large blade 6/8 and up. As the blade width grows so does the width of the shank so naturally if you have large hands, a larger razor will be easier to grasp. If you're slight of stature, perhaps you would feel more comfortable with a 5/8
A popular sized vintage blade was the 11/16, right smack dab in between 5/8 and 6/8. I think Thiers Issard is making a 1/2 hollow grind in that size
Speaking of grind...most literature on the subject, or so it seems, suggests a n00b would do better with a half hollow vs. going with a full hollow grind. 6 to 1, half dozen to another...if you boiught two blades at once first time around, buy one of each, but then they'd go better sorting out what you prefer if they are both the same size blade, say like two 6/8 razors vs. one is 6/8, the other is 5/8
And then there's is the 1/4 grind...harder to find in vintage but they're out there. Hart builds 1/4 grind blades, starting at $280 http://www.hartsteel.com/catalog/item/7762903/8897363.htm maybe others here know of lessor priced new 1/4 grind blades, yet that is a good excuse to go vintage for a 1/4 grind straight razor. You could find some for around $100, maybe less ( I found one for $12 or $20 recently...vintage, from the wild)
Anyways, my advice for you would be to buy two blades...one in full hollow and the other in half hollow. that way you would have an instant rotation and two grinds to play with. I think it's safe to say most everyone here has shaved with both so if you only start with one...sooner or later you'll try the other
If you don't go with whipped dog and his refurbished vintage starter razor and new strop, an you go out and buy the blades ala carte...you're going to need to come up with a strop. you could buy larry's strop if you want to spend little or, if you want to stay with an economy strop...many here go with star shaving dot com. I've yet to use any of theirs but I've only heard wonderful things and nothing bad, so take a look at what they offer
I've purchased more than a few new blades and other straight razor goodies (coticules, leather strops, etc.) from jarrod at thesuperiorshavedotcom...he'll send shave ready razors and pronto to boot, if you're the impatient sort. I'm only two hours away from his door. I've ordered early Monday morning and found it in my rural mailbox Tuesday noon
Getting back to your main question...what do you need to start...a razor and a strop mainly. Eventually you'll want something to pick the edge up. speaking strictly for myself....when I went for my first straight...I already researched how I wanted to learn to hone and maintain a razor's edge and I went with Belgian coticule, so I bought a stone with my first blade and have never looked back, but again, I did my homework so I knew going in what I wanted for honing and edge maint. you may not have figured that out yet from the sounds of things...and not to worry...you can make a decision whenever you want. There's a lot of guys that just go with a razor abnd strop and somehow they don';t roll the edge on the strop and they're able to keep their first blade going from months w/o any edge touch ups
I think I rolled my edge right from the get. stropping (learning how) was difficult for me and I butchered my first two strops. Fixed em too!, and I still use my first strop...it's perfectly serviceable. In fact, I use it daily
Okay, I probably told you more than you wanted to hear=
...others may have better and different ideasBest,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
look around the BST for a razor you like the look of
Find a vintage 6/8 Round point. The brand really doesn't matter as long as nits not from Pakistan. You can also visit Larry Andros website Whippeddog.com for a good deal on a weathered but inexpensive starter set including strop and minor sharpening needs.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks for the replies. It sounds like a whippeddog would be a great starter and maybe later this year I'll think about spending some real cash on something nice if I stick with it.
It depends what you are looking for. Any vintage razor should be fine. Whipped dog is sight unseen about $28. for razor only but its shave ready. Learn the technique and the strop. I shave every day and only used my de or shavette about once a month. So I learned faster that way IMO. Nice doesn't mean it shaves unless you get one from a reputable source that is shave ready. Honing takes a bit of time to learn but if you spend enough time on it, any hones made for razors are capable of putting a superb edge on. Theres a learning curve that you have to deal with. As long as you are willing to get past that you will be fine. Good luck.
I just started myself. I got a sight unseen razor and poor mans strop kit from whipped dog. Then I traded one of my Gillette slims for a nice Bengal straight through the bst forum. I rolled the edge on my whipped dog razor so was happy to have that Bengal in hand to keep shaving with. Hillbilly re honed my whipped dog razor - a Torrey, for free.... What a nice gesture, and loaned me a super good shaving gold dollar razor to try out as well. There is a lot of help here for new shavers on this forum. Really great people.
Id suggest the whipped dog route and then add a couple more inexpensive razors in different grinds and sizes before you spend any big money. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
Id suggest the whipped dog route and then add a couple more inexpensive razors in different grinds and sizes before you spend any big money. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
Whipped Dog is a great starting place, a lot of us started there. You can also check the BST, Hobbyiest or vendor forums. The "zen" part will take a while though.
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
Since you have not yet developed any preferences, a sight unseen whipped dog razor is a perfectly adequate first razor and you can probably resell it for what you will have paid for it. Vintage razors don't depreciate appreciably. Maybe splurge and get two of them. It is good to have at least two razors, and when they are so cheap, why not? If one goes dull, you still got the other one to shave with while you try to bring back the edge or send it out for honing. Maybe ask Larry to send you a couple of different styles of razor, so you can start figuring out just what sort of razor you will like best.
The Poor Man Strop Kit is a good low budget option but if you are not absolutely strapped for cash, here is what I would do. Order a Big Daddy strop from www.starshaving.com. It may take a little while to get it as this is basically a one man shop and he has other concerns so sometimes it takes a few days for him to process an order. The wait is worth it. Email him first if this is a major concern for you. The Big Daddy is HYOOOOOOGE and has removable hardware so you can swap ends, or even replace the leather altogether, and he sells precut leather pieces too. But don't strop on it right away. For the first week or two, strop on newspaper and make your mistakes on a throwaway strop rather than slicing up your Big Daddy. The BD strop is cheap but not like expendable cheap. Here's how to strop on newspaper. Fold a whole sheet lengthwise until it is 2-1/2" to 3" wide. Pass one end over a towel bar and pinch both ends together, and pull tight. Wa la. Instant strop. In the beginning, a newbie typically causes a lot of damage to his strop. Once you have a handle on stropping, then start using the BD.
The poor man kit comes with a pasted balsa and this is a great tool for edge maintenance. But the whole idea behind the PMSK is to put out an all inclusive package at rock bottom price and obviously some small performance hit has to come with that approach. It is great for a tight budget but I got a feeling you will want a step up. So, for you, the Big Daddy, initially, instead of as a future upgrade. And a bigger balsa, pasted with diamond, instead of the red and green. The balsa should be 3" wide and 12" long or a bit more. You can get it like 3/4" or 1" thick and lap it down flat on a sheet of sandpaper on a very flat surface, or get a thin sheet and glue it to a piece of heavy glass or a polished marble edge tile from Home Depot. Flatness is important. Often a thick block will warp with age or humidity. A thin sheet glued to glass or marble won't have that issue at all. The drawback to glueing is you then only have one side to use unless you glue balsa to both sides. Anyway, get diamond paste from www.tedpella.com or any other vendor you find. Get .5u or MAYBE as a newbie get .1u, for the coarse side. For the fine side, go with .1u or MAYBE .25u. After each shave, strop about 4 dozen laps on the fine side. That's it. If the razor after a while still seems to be getting dull, then that wasn't enough laps. Fix it with a few dozen on the coarse side, then the normal laps on the fine side. Thereafter, use more laps and just the fine side.
Larry sells very cheap badger brushes, by the way. Very good value for the money. Consider one of his silvertips. They are quite decent brushes, from a functionality standpoint.
When you are ready to try your hand at honing, see http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/283576-Lapping-film-try-it?highlight=lapping+film+try+it. In that thread several newbies are walked through their first experiences honing, with lapping film.
The Poor Man Strop Kit is a good low budget option but if you are not absolutely strapped for cash, here is what I would do. Order a Big Daddy strop from www.starshaving.com. It may take a little while to get it as this is basically a one man shop and he has other concerns so sometimes it takes a few days for him to process an order. The wait is worth it. Email him first if this is a major concern for you. The Big Daddy is HYOOOOOOGE and has removable hardware so you can swap ends, or even replace the leather altogether, and he sells precut leather pieces too. But don't strop on it right away. For the first week or two, strop on newspaper and make your mistakes on a throwaway strop rather than slicing up your Big Daddy. The BD strop is cheap but not like expendable cheap. Here's how to strop on newspaper. Fold a whole sheet lengthwise until it is 2-1/2" to 3" wide. Pass one end over a towel bar and pinch both ends together, and pull tight. Wa la. Instant strop. In the beginning, a newbie typically causes a lot of damage to his strop. Once you have a handle on stropping, then start using the BD.
The poor man kit comes with a pasted balsa and this is a great tool for edge maintenance. But the whole idea behind the PMSK is to put out an all inclusive package at rock bottom price and obviously some small performance hit has to come with that approach. It is great for a tight budget but I got a feeling you will want a step up. So, for you, the Big Daddy, initially, instead of as a future upgrade. And a bigger balsa, pasted with diamond, instead of the red and green. The balsa should be 3" wide and 12" long or a bit more. You can get it like 3/4" or 1" thick and lap it down flat on a sheet of sandpaper on a very flat surface, or get a thin sheet and glue it to a piece of heavy glass or a polished marble edge tile from Home Depot. Flatness is important. Often a thick block will warp with age or humidity. A thin sheet glued to glass or marble won't have that issue at all. The drawback to glueing is you then only have one side to use unless you glue balsa to both sides. Anyway, get diamond paste from www.tedpella.com or any other vendor you find. Get .5u or MAYBE as a newbie get .1u, for the coarse side. For the fine side, go with .1u or MAYBE .25u. After each shave, strop about 4 dozen laps on the fine side. That's it. If the razor after a while still seems to be getting dull, then that wasn't enough laps. Fix it with a few dozen on the coarse side, then the normal laps on the fine side. Thereafter, use more laps and just the fine side.
Larry sells very cheap badger brushes, by the way. Very good value for the money. Consider one of his silvertips. They are quite decent brushes, from a functionality standpoint.
When you are ready to try your hand at honing, see http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/283576-Lapping-film-try-it?highlight=lapping+film+try+it. In that thread several newbies are walked through their first experiences honing, with lapping film.
Welcome to the zen of blood-loss.
- Thread starter
- #15
I ordered two straights and poor mans strop from Larry this afternoon. Now I can't wait to try this. I might have to go turn another brush handle or two on the lathe just to keep my mind off it until the package arrives, which is an excuse to order more knots too.
To me The Zen is the act rather than the result. Thus the razor really doesn't matter as much as the quality of the edge on said razor.
Have fun!
Have fun!
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
To do is to shave. To shave is to be. Something like that.
As others have said, do not get too hung up on what you get as a first razor, so long as it is shave ready. I learned most of my basic technique on a razor which I have not used much since. Once you have learned the basics, you will gradually develop a feel for what kind of razor you like best. I am close to 500 shaves and I can still not make up my mind if I prefer the big and heavy 6/8 and above type razors which can be incredibly smooth but also a bit cumbersome or the 4/8 small and light ones which are so much more nimble to move about your face. If I were you, I would go for a whipped dog setup and take the plunge.
Absolutely this
- Thread starter
- #20
Just my luck, I found my package had arrived about two hours after I had shaved.
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