Thread: $$ Cost of Startup $$

I would like to ask this as a question, but use it as an invitation for some older members to let us know how much you have invested in Straight Razor Shaving, and how much you invested before your first shave?

I thought I could find a cheap ebay razor, sharpen it and start using a straight razor for under $20 within a week. After finding this forum, I will probably avoid a lot of mistakes, but have invested much more than originally considered.

I purchased an $18 razor on ebay and will spend $30-70 more by a honemeister here to hone and possibly re-scale. I then purchased a shave ready beauty in BST for $100 and plan to get started with that. I am going to get all other accessories from vendors here in the forum which should run another $175. This will total (roughly) $300-$400 before my first shave!!! I would never have planned to spend this much, but now I am afraid to use a cheap razor, blow my money on a useless brush or strop, and would only save $50-100 buying lower quality products than what was recommended by members here. I know this is a long message so...

How much spent before first shave?
How much invested total to support our hobby?

Thanks for your participation and advice!!!

I've spent the same amount as you and I've yet to have my first shave. I know it sucks when your budget jumps a couple hundred dollars, but keep in mind that the things you get for the money will last a really long time and you could likely recoup a good amount of what you spent initially should you decide to switch back to disposables. It's like a lot of hobbies that have a high start-up cost, but you get tools that will last for years. Anyway, we're all in the same boat.

Peace

I got a kit with a Bismark that was not shave ready, a brush of some sort that was stolen so i don't remember what it was, some tabac, a brush stand, and a dovo russian strop. All told that was around $250 I think. I cut the heck out of myself and messed my face up cause I didn't know it wasn't really shave sharp.

That is why I make the newby kits for people. I must admit that I am slow since everyone seem to want my top end razors that take lots of work and my job has not been forgiving timewise lately (at least if I want to be employed at the end of the month) but for those who are patient it gets newbs a cheaper way to get started than making mistakes and gert them stuff from the local vendors like Jim at Vintage Blades, Tony Miller, Mama Bear and Colleen from The Gentleman's Quarter for all the rest of the stuff. That way they get a

OK lets go way back to 1981 I bought a new straight for $52 an Illinois #827 strop for $15 and a white "something I can't remember" stone for $100 so back then it was $167 to start....
I still use the strop and the stone the razor was dropped and chipped sometime in the mid 1990's and I didn't return to straights until last year...
Now my collection and amenities ,,,,well I don't want to discuss that.... RAD, HAD, SCAD, SSAD, and ASAD set in don't ask what they all mean it will cost ya $$$$$
Welcome aboard the straight train may yer ride be smooth and long

You guys sure are quick to reply. I read my post and just want to make clear, that I am in no way complaining and hope that I do not discourage any newbies. I am glad that I found this forum to make good decisions and to acquire higher quality equipment. I can't imagin how things might have gone with trial and error with a straight razor. I still look forward to my first shave and really wanted to invite some veterans to reminisce and share with us newbs.

When I started I bought a TI Silver Steel and a Dovo Strop and some cheapo soap and a basic best badger brush. probably about $200 for everything and looking back the TI was a mistake. I should have bought a used razor for about $40 or so.

Well, I admit that I am sick.

So far, I have bought about 32 razors; one from classicshaving, mostly ebay, and about 5 from a flea market. Only 4 of these are usable right now, but I have plans....

I also bought Trafalgar travel badger brush, Dr. Harris soap, Taylor of Old Brad Street after shave gel, strop, 4000/8000 Norton, Belgian Coticule, MAAS polish, different grade rogues, restoration CD, Dremel polish supplies, lots of sand paper, storage boxes, and other odds and ends. Most of this is not necessary for just shaving and maintaining, but as I said, I am sick.

I started about 3 weeks ago. Here's what happened, in order:

$25 - Pure Badger Brush, ebay
$2 - wide mug, WallyWorld
$21 - new Wapi razor, ebay
$102 - Norton 4k/8k + Norton Lapping Stone + Col. Conk soap, Vintage Blades
$20 - cheap strop (but it works), ebay
$10 - C.O. Bigalow cream, Bath and Body Works
$63 - Spyderco UF, WoodCraft
----------------
$243


So for a very basic self-sufficient setup, it seems about $200-250 will be a good ballpark estimate. Granted, I could have made it a hair under $200 if I would have chosen a chinese 12k and picked up a boar brush, but the spyderco and badger brush are two things I decided I wanted.

Now, the next step (a nice Tosuke razor, TM strop, Georgetown Scutte someday) will almost double my investment. Which sucks because I am a college student. But hey, people spend their money different ways. I spent a grand total of $10 on gas in the whole past 3 months, so I like to use that to justify the shaving expenses

I spent about $170 for a kit from Jim at Vintage Blades and then invested in several razors from ebay and antique stores. This brought me up to about $230. If you neglect to count the hones I already own (vintage combo belgian, multiple barber hones, several DMT's, and pasted strops) that were already in use on woodworking tools, I feel like I got out very light for a whole bunch of really sharp blades and the best shaves I've ever had.

My first shave (and so many subsequent) was $40 out of pocket (double that if you count the other razor that I bought from altima55 and dropped while marveling at). That's the cost of the razor bought from a honemeister. The strop was made for me by a generous member (I think I'm keeping it forever) and the nice super badger brush was donated by another generous member (it is already passed on to somebody else).
I've spent a lot more since.
400 seems a little excessive to start on and one of the best ways to get an inferior starter razor is to buy it on ebay.