Thread: Help, please

Originally Posted by LarryP

Hi, Paulson;

I'm a new guy to SRP and straight razor shaving, but I can echo what the more experienced guys here have said: Basics are necessary, but spending a ton of cash isn't. I bought my starter gear at knifecenter.com and got a good deal on my brush, soap & strop. I paid $19.95 for a Col. Conk pure badger brush, $4 for a puck of Col. Conk lime glycerin soap, and $28 for an Illinois strop. Keep in mind that the initial outlay of cash will be a savings in the long run, since you'll not be spending that same money on the M3 & canned goo garbage. I use a cool old mug for my soap, so no $ there.

Welcome and have fun!

Larry

This is good advice, you can always upgrade later.

Originally Posted by thepaulson

Hi All,
I've been looking at this site for an hour and a half and my head is still spinning. In short, I want to not buy any more razor blades (mach 3). I want to keep my purchase to a bare minimum, both in terms of stuff to store (small bathroom) and cost (I'm a graduate student). Can I get by with just a pre-honed razor and a strop? Do I really need the soap, brush, mug, etc? Can anyone recommend any good deals?

I'm a beginner too had a similar thought process but consider this:
1. Straight razor has more clutter than Mach 3.
2. Straight razor cost more than Mach 3. M3 cartridges $2 or $24/year (if you use one per month). A hone will cost you $20 and if you do 2 a year... You could do your own hone but the stone is $90, more clutter, and another skill to master.

I'd recommend doing it for the fun/adventure/challenge/nostalgia, a close shave, the environment, even the relaxation of stropping, but not to save time/money. Its also more prep and shave time. Once you get hooked you'll be looking to acquire more straight razors. So I'd think of it as a useful hobby.

If you want to save money on the equipment:
1. Tweezerman Men's Shaving Brush $13.50
2. Rup Filly Strop $20 (shipping included)
3. Col soap $4
4. coffee mug (free)

that's only $37.50

You can go to walmat, walgreens, cvs etc and get a boar brush soap and mug for less than 10$. That leaves a razor from the classifieds, 50$ and the filly strop @20$. Thats a total of 80$ and the only ongoing expense would be the usage of soap.

Originally Posted by LarryP

Hi, Paulson;

Keep in mind that the initial outlay of cash will be a savings in the long run, since you'll not be spending that same money on the M3 & canned goo garbage.

Larry

I have burned that business case I made to my wife so badly, it will be my great grandkids earning the break-even point.

Originally Posted by Alembic

I have burned that business case I made to my wife so badly, it will be my great grandkids earning the break-even point.

C'mon, Alembic... it's a great cover! However, with six razors already in my collection (two of them getting sent to gssixgun for custom scales & restoration) there isn't a lot of what I'd call "savings" going on with the shaving in my house! Good thing my fiancee is just as excited about my straight shaving as I am!

Cheers,

Larry

I second the Tweezerman Badger brush for 13.50. Also the Taylor of Old Bond Lavender cream is great. It seems like it will last a long time. You barely need any. That's what I got and it's working well so far. Haven't even gotten the straight razor back from honing yet, but the shaves are already far superior. And not too much of a cost.