Wanting to make the plunge

[hmbbone]

I have a little play money right now and want to take the plunge into straights. I want to make sure I get everything I need to start off. I already have brushes, soaps, creams, etc so I'm just looking for what I need for the straight. Is the best way to start out looking for a razor on the B/S/T and getting a filly strop from RupRazor?
How long would this keep me for (assuming AD's don't kick in)? I'm assuming I should eventually upgrade to a nicer strop once I figure out how to strop and stop nicking it up. I'm also sure I will end up with more than one razor. Is there anything I'm missing that I should look for now? Thanks for the help.

 

[Wid]

I started out with a talk from Larry@Whippeddog.com. I ended up buying a str8 and poormans strop from him. He is a wealth of knowledge and a great guy to deal with.

 

[LarryAndro]

There are a lot of guys here that can help you. I suspect Ruprazor.com has the best, most often purchased entry strop. I sell a strop combined with balsa wood and abrasives. There are other good vendors to be found in the Buy/Sell/Trade section. Enjoy your search.

The previous post is appreciated, (Wid), but confusing. My email is [email protected], and my website is www.WhippedDog.com. It makes it sounds as if my email is [email protected]. Just saving frustration...

 

[OiRogers]

The Filly strop is a great place to start... good price and it'll last as long as you don't cut it to pieces. I've used one for a few months now and it does as good a job as a much higher dollar strop. Great place to learn the ropes.
Upgrade later to something nicer with a cloth stop if you want, but you'll do plenty well to start with a Filly.

I'd suggest a vintage razor from the forum here to begin with... look for "shave ready" from a known maker and put to shave ready by someone who knows what they're doing. A good starting razor should be pretty inexpensive... water staining and minor pitting shouldn't concern you. Aim for performance over looks on your starting razor. My first was a Torrey that is stained all over, my ugliest razor by far... to this day, it gives the best shave of any in my stable.

Edit to add:... looking at the whipped dog strop.... looks nice for the price. May have to grab one of those up to see how it compares to the Filly. Also... I've never had a Balsa strop before.... Dang AD.

 

[DogHair]

OiRogers pretty much covered it. Everyone has an opinion on a first razor. I'd go with something simple. Like maybe a 5/8-6/8 hollow or 1/4 grind. Round points are a little more forgiving but not necessary. Don't spend a lot there's plenty of time for that later.

 

[LarryAndro]

Whoever you buy your straight razor from, if it is not a round tip, ask them to blunt the tip. It only takes a few seconds, isn't visible, and certainly makes the tip less dangerous.

If you have sideburns or borders that need to be trimmed precisely, the above might not be a good suggestion. Otherwise, blunting is a good idea for newbies in my opinion.

 

[pelicano]

I'm one of the monsters created by Larry.
Great guy to deal with. Good place to start.

 

[gull]

Whoever you buy your straight razor from, if it is not a round tip, ask them to blunt the tip. It only takes a few seconds, isn't visible, and certainly makes the tip less dangerous.

If you have sideburns or borders that need to be trimmed precisely, the above might not be a good suggestion. Otherwise, blunting is a good idea for newbies in my opinion.

Blunting the tip eh? I should have asked you to do that for my razor

Supposing I want to try blunting it myself, what should I look out for? I'm thinking all I need to do is hit the tip with a rock?

 

[Wid]

The previous post is appreciated, (Wid), but confusing. My email is [email protected], and my website is www.WhippedDog.com. It makes it sounds as if my email is [email protected]. Just saving frustration...

I guess I should have put talk to Larry at WhippedDog.com. What I wrote means the same thing but sorry if I confused anyone.

 

[Wid]

Blunting the tip eh? I should have asked you to do that for my razor

Supposing I want to try blunting it myself, what should I look out for? I'm thinking all I need to do is hit the tip with a rock?

I used my wifes emery board to blunt the tip on one of my razors. All I did was to take the very tip of the razor and scratched it on the emery board a few times. Worked real good.

 

[OiRogers]

Whoever you buy your straight razor from, if it is not a round tip, ask them to blunt the tip. It only takes a few seconds, isn't visible, and certainly makes the tip less dangerous.

If you have sideburns or borders that need to be trimmed precisely, the above might not be a good suggestion. Otherwise, blunting is a good idea for newbies in my opinion.

I'm going to have to politely disagree with blunting the tip, seems counter productive in the long run... my first was a Spike and I still prefer spikes. I've cut myself with the belly of the blade more than once... never once have I been bit by the dangerous tip of a spike.
In standard razor use, we use the belly more than the heel or toe... that tip only really comes close around your earlobes... use appropriate attention there and all is good.

I'd say... if a spike point intimidates... don't buy it. Let me buy it.

 

[RF1963]

Is the best way to start out looking for a razor on the B/S/T and getting a filly strop from RupRazor?
How long would this keep me for.

That's as good a start as any. It's an inexpensive entry to the art. If you enjoy straight shaving you will trade up. If you don't you can on-sell.

The learning curve for straights can be steep and discouraging. Expect your first shaves to be worse than you get with your DE. Inspired by Defend Tacoma I shaved for a month only using a straight. At the end of the month I found my technique was in place, I was getting better shaves than with my DE and I'm now a straight shaver. You need to give yourself time and don't be discouraged at first.

Keep us informed of your progress

Roy

 

[ouch]

A cheap but competent strop will last a long, long time unless you really rip it to shreds. If you also have a cloth component, you can keep a razor sharp for quite some time before it needs rehoning.


The trouble is, you also need to shave well and strop well to keep from dulling your edge. Like the man who lost his glasses and can't look for them until he finds them, the only way to learn to shave and strop is by doing it, so it's not inconceivable that you may lose your way.

Eventually, you'll have to learn how to hone for yourself.

 

[Luc]

Strop + shave ready straight is what you need to get started. I'd say, don't buy a looker, buy something cheap and it should give you an idea...

 

[BlackAngus]

+1 on Larry...I got my first straight from him. Quality guy, great service, great blade. You won't be disappointed. And if you look at some videos and read the advice here, you'll be on the road to getting great shaves.

 

[Gustav]

Since I live in Germany, I settled for Dovo's linen/leather combo-strop for 40€. It does the job well and if I buy a better one later on it will still be used for travel purposes.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

...... Don't spend a lot there's plenty of time for that later.

I think this pretty much sums it up as far as your first str8 and strop combo.

Go cheap, but go with someone respected on the board. Larry is great, there are others out there as well. If you buy off the B/S/T you'll want to ensure you're a honed (hopefully unused or used only a few times) str8.

Bottom line...for your first few shaves, you are going to nick the strop and likely dull the blade a bit...comes with the territory. Some guys do this worse than others but it will likely happen to you too. So you dont want to get something really nice if you know this in advance.

Good luck and be sure to post results!

 

[Wid]

Make sure you buy from a reputable person, one who you know their honing skills are known to be good. I bought a razor (off a different forum) that was suppose to be honed and shave ready (it wasn't shave ready) and it is now being honed by someone I know and trust.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Make sure you buy from a reputable person, one who you know their honing skills are known to be good. I bought a razor (off a different forum) that was suppose to be honed and shave ready (it wasn't shave ready) and it is now being honed by someone I know and trust.

Rick hit the nail on the "thread" here...

I have bought allegedly "honed" razors a few times now...been burned...and then had them sent out for re-hone by someone I trust.

Your challenge is you dont know anyone yet who gets an edge you like. So, my best suggestion is to ask around for a couple of reputable, recent honemeisters whose skills are still being offered.

Good luck!

 

[Bay Rum]

I started out with a talk from Larry@Whippeddog.com. I ended up buying a str8 and poormans strop from him. He is a wealth of knowledge and a great guy to deal with.

I second that Larry can get you going for a modest sum. Once you see you like it you can go crazy on razors.