Upgrading My Equipment a Little

[coonskinner]

I have been at this wet shaving business for maybe a couple of months.

I started out with a 1948 Super Speed and the cheap VDH Walmart kit, including their little board brush and deluxe soap.

I got to reading here and bought a puck of Tabac...big difference.

A little more time rocked on, and I happened to luck into a Gillette Old Type Open Comb in the wild for a ten spot. I liked it better than the Super Speed.

Then I got to reading about Stirling Soaps and ordered some of them. So far so good.

Now I have a Merkur 37C Slant and an Omega Pro 49 brush coming in today or tomorrow.

Is this going to be a stopping point for a while?

Is this some kind of normal progression?

 

[BigJim]

I can't really answer either question. All I can say is.. Good for you!!
I am considering trying Tabac also.

 

[weizemanner]

Your razors seem to be getting more and more aggressive... Yeah, usually people consider the more aggressive razors for advanced users so it is a pretty normal progression.

One thing I do hear about the slant razors is that they need a really sharp blade to work their best. You don't say what blades you are using...

As for a stopping point: Some of us have a trac2 , some have hundreds of razors in search of their best shave. If you are getting good shaves with the EQ you have, then you don't need to change anything. Which doesn't mean that you can't continue to buy more stuff, it's fun to try new things. You have a mild razor, an open comb, and a slant, all highly regarded brands/models and a decent brush and one of the most highly recommended soaps. Other than possibly changing your blades, I don't see how much more you can really change up your shave EQ-wise... Until the straight razor bug sets in.

 

[dushea]

Is this going to be a stopping point for a while?

Is this some kind of normal progression?

That's completely up to you. Curiosity got the best of me after awhile though.

 

[Jarick]

It's pretty common I think. You start with cheap gear and then upgrade and buy new things. Depending on your personality, you'll either continue to acquire more and more stuff until it becomes a collection, or else you'll get rid of the stuff you don't like and find what you do and stick with that.

That's what I've been doing since the summer. Gone through half a dozen razors, a dozen brushes, a dozen soaps. I'm pretty close to figuring it out though.

It's expensive, but luckily we have the BST which makes it easier to get rid of excess stuff if that's your bag.

 

[Mr_Smartepants]

Is this going to be a stopping point for a while?

The only stopping point is when you run out of money, interest, or life (not that order).

 

[Ron Scott]

Now I have a Merkur 37C Slant and an Omega Pro 49 brush coming in today or tomorrow.

Is this going to be a stopping point for a while?

Is this some kind of normal progression?

if your goal is great shaves you're done. Buying lots of equipment is another thing altogether and has nothing to do with great shaves. My advice is not to get involved in the equipment chase...it's a waste of time and money...

 

[Shutterbug57]

It all depends on what you want. If you are looking for that personal ideal set-up, then you will go through some equipment.

Razors - I have bought 12 different kinds of DE and have 6 in my rotation. I will probably add 2 more to the rotation, but I am pretty sure at this point that they will be keepers. Of the 6 in my rotation, most of the work goes to 3 of them - Merkur 38HD C, Gillette Senator & Gillette New Short Comb with Common Bar Handle. The New Long Comb and TTO OC Aristocrat are the two additions I will make at some point. All of the razors in my rotation give great BBS shaves. I have sold most of what is not in the rotation. If you buy vintage, and do so judiciously, you won't lose money.

Blades - I got lucky here and bought a 100 pack of Personna Lab Blues from the start. I like them and while I have tried a few others, unless they change the blade, it will be my main blade going forward.

Creams/Soaps - I tried 22 different creams and soaps to arrive at my preference. I use Mike's for 3 seasons and Vostok in the summer. Many of the 22 were samples (thankfully) and several others got PIFFED.

Brushes - I tried 4 and have 3 that I currently use. Of those 2 get most of the use - 1 for travel and 1 for home.

If you are looking to collect, then, that is a horse of a different color and where you stop is anybody's guess.

My approach was to assume that in year 1 I would spend a fair amount on all the accoutrements of shaving to find what I liked. Then in future years, it will be soaps (bought in lots of 5 to save on shipping), blades (bought by the 100 pack), the occasional brush to replace a worn out item and maybe replates on some razors.

 

[LaTuFu]

After "discovering" a razor and blade combination that seems to work well for me, I didn't think I would bother buying much more gear.

Until I was in an antique shop the other day and stumbled across a batch of SE/DE vintage razors, now suddenly I have more than I know what to do with.

 

[coonskinner]

I have tried Derbys, Wilkinson Swords, Feathers, Astras and Gillette 7 O Clock yellows.

I have settled pretty much on the Astras. Although the Gillette Yellows are a toss up.

 

[coonskinner]

I'm not really looking to collect, although I can see that soaps are fun to experiment with.

I doubt if I keep on getting more razors. I just wanted to try a few different kinds of razors to see what worked best.

As for the "more aggressive" progression, I haven't even nicked myself in quite a while.

But I have a dense and curly red beard that grows every which way, along with fair, sensitive skin.

Shaving has always irritated my neck, but that has improved since I started wet shaving. I am hoping the slant and real light pressure will yield even less irritation.

If the old Open Comb is better, I will stick with it.

I already collect guns, knives, and horse tack.

I don't need another affliction.

 

[martym]

When I started I bought many different razors, blades, soaps, croaps, and creams. After about a year and change I discovered what works for me.

Merkur 37c Slant
Astra SP
Whipped Dog 22mm/45mm loft-Custom firehouse
Stirling Soap-- any of them
Organic, raw, unrefined shea butter
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream

I have given away many starter sets to friends, family, co-workers and a few guys here.
BUT:

If the above were the only products I had, I would have great shaves for the remainder of my life.
Looks like you saved yourself a mess of money and time and found your perfect setup.
Congrats!

 

[Jarick]

I have tried Derbys, Wilkinson Swords, Feathers, Astras and Gillette 7 O Clock yellows.

I have settled pretty much on the Astras. Although the Gillette Yellows are a toss up.

That's pretty much my experience. Astras seem to work well in everything.

I'm not really looking to collect, although I can see that soaps are fun to experiment with.

I already collect guns, knives, and horse tack.

I don't need another affliction.

Well, probably best to quit the forum

My experience has been that when I pick up a hobby, the more I read and think about it, and the more time I spend on web forums, the more money I spend on that hobby. When I stop visiting the sites and reading about it, the money goes elsewhere. I'm not sure if it's a psychological thing or not, but at least for me, it's hard to read about 5,000 different things and not want to try them.

I've been doing the trial and error thing myself. Ideally I'd have a couple razors, a few brushes, and then experiment with soaps. Still nailing those down. But it's hard when there's so many options. I know more now than I did a few months ago at least.

 

[Daytodaze]

My progression was similar to yours. I got an AOS kit as a gift, and after about 6 months started converting to DE safety razors. I stuck to the lower end at first, assuming I didn't like the shaves, and now everything is slowly getting swapped out for better stuff.

I don't plan on shaving becoming the same caliber hobby as guitars and guns, but who knows.

 

[CUSE69]

I am eager to try additional razors and brushes but so far I have restrained myself as I work to hone my technique and blade choice. I don't want to investigate new hardware while I am dealing with angles, pressure, stroke, and lather/prep. Also, my family always complains they don't know what they can buy me for a gift. Since the holidays are coming I have a G12 scuttle, various creams/soaps and a vintage adjustable on my list. I might add a brush and some AS also.

I believe it's pretty normal to get excited about all the possibilities in hardware and software as part of the mystique of wet shaving and the fun of a new hobby.

 

[k200817]

Is this going to be a stopping point for a while?

Is this some kind of normal progression?

Nope. Just roll with it and enjoy the ride.

 

[Chadao]

It has been written: "...It's turtles all the way down."

 

[coonskinner]

The mailman brought me the Merkur 37C today.

It's loaded up with an Astra SP, ready to go.