What to save up for first?

[athair]

Imagine your ability to spend money on gear is very limited, and you've only ever owned or used one DE; a Gillette Tech. Given your real life experience with razors which would you save up for first? Feel encouraged to comment if your choice isn't one of the options. I've been on this forum long enough to know I have no idea what I'm missing.

 

[alex2363]

One adjustable razor can give you a choice of 9 razors in one ( 9 settings )

 

[Mick]

Save?!?!?!?! what is this save you talk about?!?!?!?!

SPEND!!!!!!

 

[athair]

Nothing to spend until something is saved. Believe me, I'd spend now if I could.

 

[rotto66]

I agree there is no need to save. Go for the vintage adjustable, if you go for a slim you can get a great razor for very little money. I picked up my first one a few weeks ago from a local antique shop for $10.00.

 

[athair]

I've been looking when I can. No luck yet.

 

[Chadao]

Save?!?!?!?! what is this save you talk about?!?!?!?!

SPEND!!!!!!

+1

 

[Jeff_H]

I agree with keeping an eye on the BST area here for a slim adjustable. That way you're sure to get a good working razor from a reputable source at a fair to below market value price. You'll usually get a few freebie's in the package too, it just seems to be the tradition around here. In fact, I was just posting in a thread about the Slim and mentioned that I'd been keeping my eye out for one for sale, and a very kind member sent me a PM and said he had one he'd sell if I was interested.

Such a great group of people here. Anyhow, that's my $.02

 

[John Von Wuggz]

Futur

 

[athair]

So far it seems the consensus is vintage adjustable. Which has the advantage of being pretty inexpensive with decent results if done through the BST here. Well I'm not going to take the poll down after less than an hour or anything, but at least that won't take me too long to get the money in the budget. Thank you all for the quick response. I would still really like to hear from anyone that has a differing opinion. I find it a little hard to believe that anything asked of this large a group has such a consistent response but if that's the case I think it'll be advice worth following.

 

[rxonmymind]

Something else to consider that wasn't brought up. A Schick razor. A very nice shave can be had with them. Read through this thread
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/323369-THE-Injector-Razor-Thread

They are inexpensive to get and provide a shave on par with what your looking for. A slim, well I might be able to help you on that

 

[Joezamboni]

I'm going to agree with everyone who says vintage adjustable, especially a slim. There are plenty out there in various states of condition, they're easy to clean up and if you feel like it great candidates for a replate (I own a replate, great investment).

I also own a fatboy, flair tip, tech, long comb new, and merkur closed and open comb razors . The slim has its functional upsides as well as being a great bang for the buck investment. I haven't felt compelled to try modern adjustables because of how large and unwieldy they seem.

In the end, it's my long comb new and the slim that I stick to the most depending on the blade and if I just want a good shave or a really good shave.

 

[bhorsoft]

I would have said modern adjustable - either Progress, Mergress, or Futur, but if cost is a factor, you are better to go with a vintage adjustable - say a slim or black beauty. Since I have both, I do find the vintage adjustables are milder than the modern ones, A slim cranked all the way up is about 50% or so on my Futur.

 

[BowTieGuy]

While a vintage adjustable is wonderful, if you're prowling out in the antique marts and such, they may be hard to find, depending on where you are - and for every "I found one last week for $2" you'll see many more priced at crazy prices, if you see them at all. While you're looking, I would suggest scooping up anything you find that's at $10 or under - superspeeds, NEWs, old types, all the lovely Single Edge Gems and Ever-Readys. The NEW, especially, is a favorite of many, and seems to be undervalued out in the antique malls. Good luck with your search - and enjoy whatever it is you decide on.

 

[mistercitizen]

Vintage adjustable I say. Fatboy, Slim or Super Adjustable (short or long handle.... short handle is my favorite BTW).

Ben

 

[LAM&P]

Look for a Fatboy in good condition...awesome piece of gear. Also own an Adjustable Mekur though I haven't used it since the Fatboy purchace.

 

[joost]

While a vintage adjustable is wonderful, if you're prowling out in the antique marts and such, they may be hard to find, depending on where you are - and for every "I found one last week for $2" you'll see many more priced at crazy prices, if you see them at all. While you're looking, I would suggest scooping up anything you find that's at $10 or under - superspeeds, NEWs, old types, all the lovely Single Edge Gems and Ever-Readys. The NEW, especially, is a favorite of many, and seems to be undervalued out in the antique malls. Good luck with your search - and enjoy whatever it is you decide on.

Agreed. If money is tight right now I would say just be opportunistic. You could make a short list of vintage(the best value is still in vintage razors) razors and keep in mind the prices you are willing to spend for each type.

Good luck with the search.

 

[athair]

I think I'm still so new to shaving with a DE that I don't, yet, feel the pressure to try something that different. I'm sure it'll happen eventually though. Thanks for the link.

 

[athair]

Well vintage adjustable is ahead by a wide margin. It seems to be pretty heavily influenced by budget, which in my case applies, but I'm now wondering how different the results would be without that constraint. I guess I have a poll topic for sometime in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[brewer]

just look around junk stores, garage sales, flea markets etc... for vintage models usually they can be had for a few bucks