Newbie to straights where to get one and what kind

[daverojo77]

There is Whipped Dog where you can get a sight unseen for cheep. Also there is Vintage razors where you can get vintage and new I guess that sight confuses me.

I also went to the Thiers-Issard's site and they have a kit with strop and all. (Obviously I need a strop).

Hollow grind, thick grind?

Where do I start???????

I have a medium beard, sensitive skin and I shave with a ej89 feathers right now.

 

[gash]

Go with Whipped Dog's sight unseen razor and the poor man's strop kit. Those will let you learn the techniques so you can figure out what kind of razor and strop you'd like to try next.

 

[dpetrzelka]

Go with Whipped Dog's sight unseen razor and the poor man's strop kit. Those will let you learn the techniques so you can figure out what kind of razor and strop you'd like to try next.

+1

This is the route I just took and you'll know you are starting with good enough stuff to get a great shave. It will take a bit, you'll knick the strop, etc. but you'll be able to learn a lot without sinking too much into it.

 

[Kailand09]

I was fortunate enough to start with my grandfather's razors from when he was a barber, so cannot say out of personal experience. That said, I am going to also agree with the guys above me, and say that I haven't ever heard a single bad experience with whipped dog. I would go that route.

Star shaving supplied some budgetary strops and brushes, if you are looking for those supplies as well. I had a great experience with them, and the 3" strop they sell is probably the best deal you can find on a wider strop.

 

[shakin_jake]

There is Whipped Dog where you can get a sight unseen for cheep. Also there is Vintage razors where you can get vintage and new I guess that sight confuses me.

~~~lots of guys here started with larry's razors. I went with a new razor myself, but I have made several purchases from larry buying razor rolls. good person to do business with...highly recommended

I haven't looked at the other site you mentioned. At least I can't recall it. now about shaving with new vs. vintage blades. you'll likely hear more praise given to the blades of yore, back when they were the tools used to shave with. many believe the older blades were made better than what is churned out today, but you'll have to find out for yourself imo. could be you might prefer the newer razors. I have a few newer german blades (one French blade too)...I like em quite a bit...but I also like the vintage blades too

I also went to the Thiers-Issard's site and they have a kit with strop and all. (Obviously I need a strop).

Hollow grind, thick grind?

Where do I start???????

~~~I'd say this, if you can, buy at least two razors to start with, so you have an instant rotation, & if one gets bagged, you have the other to fall back on, but more inmportantly, buy two different grinds, say one will be half hollow and the other full hollow. that will give you a basis for comparison. myself, I prefer the fuller hollows but I still shave with half hollows. it's fun to go to the stiffer (1/2) blades every now and then, & that said, I have at least one 1/4 hollow...a larger blade which is nice for 3 day growth...kinds whacks it off rather well but I find shaving daily I like and prefer the full hollow blades. you could be totally different though, in that you may have other preferences, which is why I suggested for you to try two different grinds

in regards to strops...most of us hack up our 1st strop. they can be repaired and will work as new. so much to choose from. lately, I recommend 3' width strops. I used to be quite enamored w/2.5 inch strops. now?, I don't use them, preferring to go with the wider width strops...strictly personal preference. I say buy what you can afford, but prudence would suggest for you to go chintz first time around. my first strop is my daily goto strop...a 3" English Bridle Walkin' Horse. lotsa divots in that one, all fixed, sanded, oiled, loved, used more than any of my others, and I have some nicer strops (shell)...I prefer and like the feel of good top grain leather

I have a medium beard, sensitive skin and I shave with a ej89 feathers right now.

~~~here's the deal with straight razors....you can have the same blade, then finish it on three different hones and have three different edges. be prepared to try many razors, if you're like most of us. sell some if you can't afford to keep em all=

and here's a plug for our bst forum...once you get into this hobby (shaving with a straight razor), there will be many good deals on used razors that come up from time to time. best to have cash in hand so as to be ready to buy when a deal you can't refuse comes around. nice razors too, from $20- to $200, or more. although I've ben shaving with straights for a few years now, I still get giddy finding something from the wild for less than $25 (to my door), clean it up, hone it, shave with it. some of them are downright jewels, but there are also some real dogs out there too. caveat emptor. for the most part, if you buy something from a member here, ask questions (if it hasn't sold) like how did it shave for them, why are you selling it...what are the bad points, if there are any. I would expect total honesty

the main thing is, you need to buy and use some razors to get some experience with them. after a bit you'll find out what you do and don't like, care for. really though, about the only thing I don't care for in a straight razor, is a square point that hasn't been muted, and that's easily taken care of (drag tip on glass). Putting chutzpah aside, round toe blades are safer to use, so you might start there for your first few, regardless of grind



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[daverojo77]

Thanks guys, Jake I like the advice of going with 2 right off the bat. I'll check out whipped dog I have bought from Larry before I'm just freaking out about sight "unseen" am I going to get a razor with a chip on the blade?

 

[Firewalker]

Thanks guys, Jake I like the advice of going with 2 right off the bat. I'll check out whipped dog I have bought from Larry before I'm just freaking out about sight "unseen" am I going to get a razor with a chip on the blade?

From Larry? No way. They may be ugly (mine was) or very nice but they all have a great edge and shave well, no material defects on the blade. Better yet, if you don't like the one he sent you, just email Larry and he will send you a different one. This is not about bling, its about shaving hair off your face, the bling comes later after you chip your first edge, drop your first straight on a tile floor etc.

If you get the sight-unseen razors, you can always sell them on the BST and get your money back.

 

[Doc226]

From Larry? No way. They may be ugly (mine was) or very nice but they all have a great edge and shave well, no material defects on the blade. Better yet, if you don't like the one he sent you, just email Larry and he will send you a different one. This is not about bling, its about shaving hair off your face, the bling comes later after you chip your first edge, drop your first straight on a tile floor etc.

If you get the sight-unseen razors, you can always sell them on the BST and get your money back.

Agree.

You can also exchange the razor for the price of honing one if I remember correctly

 

[Seraphim]

Buy local:


B&B B/S/T

Hobbyist/Vendor Classifieds

Whipped Dog is almost universally praised as well.