Thread: general

want to know starting out should one lay out the $ for a nice double duck or j a hinkles in perfect condition or spend a little less

Neither. Instead, you should read this document which is part of our beginners guide: Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki. You will also find the rest of the guide helpful, as well as the FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

Regards,
Robin

Hello, Phatboy:

BeBerlin offers sound advice. If I were starting out, I would follow the links he has provided.

Regards,
Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, Phatboy:

BeBerlin offers sound advice. If I were starting out, I would follow the links he has provided.

Regards,
Obie

Welcome, I'd follow the above advice too. Good luck.

Welcome. I agree with the other gentlemen, Robins advice is the way forward.

Good luck!

I started with a straight about a month ago. and for me as a n00b, i find trawling through the wiki and past posts, a little tiresome, and confusing. So i shal share my experience and thoughts.

I went for a brand new Dovo "best quality" razor, a Dovo Strop, kent brush and Mitchels wool fat soap.

The razor I bought from a reputabe supplyer, and so I knew it would come shave ready, I chose a brand new one over a nice vintage one as

1) Being new to this i wanted something that was in perfect working order, and I believe that a brand new razor offers this.

2) Again being new I did not want to "screw up" a vintage razor by dropping it/smahing it on a tap, or just not being able to strop it.

The strop again I bought because I thought it would be a good tool to work with, There is no point trying to learn a skill on a sub standard piece of equipment.
And stropping is quite a difficult skill to learn in my experience.

the rest of the stuff i bought because it seemed to offer good value for money.

I would do the same again.

Hope that helped.

I certainly agree with Robin and Obie's suggestion as the knowledge offered will help you in making a better decision with any related purchase.

Additionally, though you can find vintage blades in wonderful shape, as the fellow above mentioned, with the purchase of a new razor from a reliable vendor, you will know that you have a new razor, in perfect working order and truly, shave ready.

Purchasing vintage blades for most of us, involves buying from someone over the internet, Ebay or individuals. In my own experience in that regard, (I started buying razors long before I started shaving with them), I can assure you that often that razor looks a lot better in the picture than it does when it arrives...what is stated to be a patina or surface stain can be much more...loose scales, warped scales, heavy hone-wear, a razor that isn"t perfectly flat are all a realities. Now, if 20 razors catch my eye, I might actually enter a bid on 1 of them after careful consideration and questions posed to the seller. There are nice blades around, but, many more substandard ones.

Good Luck