Thread: How expensive would it be for a starter

Hi, I just got recently interested with straight shave, never done it before so far I'm kinda not satisfied with my electric shaver and my mach 3 and I think that's the reason why I'm willing to try straight edge...then I get to this forum, read the wiki then discover another term like shavette, after some research I guess I'm a bit afraid with the fact that it's super sharp or sometimes the sharpness of each blade in one package is quite inconsistence...but getting to straight razor shave directly could cost quite a plenty for my pocket

what might be a minimum budget for a starter kit or a first blade? I saw in the classified about $40 genco and $65 DD which is quite appealing should I take it?

cheers.

Originally Posted by jankrix

Hi, I just got recently interested with straight shave, never done it before so far I'm kinda not satisfied with my electric shaver and my mach 3 and I think that's the reason why I'm willing to try straight edge...then I get to this forum, read the wiki then discover another term like shavette, after some research I guess I'm a bit afraid with the fact that it's super sharp or sometimes the sharpness of each blade in one package is quite inconsistence...but getting to straight razor shave directly could cost quite a plenty for my pocket

what might be a minimum budget for a starter kit or a first blade? I saw in the classified about $40 genco and $65 DD which is quite appealing should I take it?

cheers.

I'd definitely suggest using our classifieds for a starter blade, as there are usually affordable razors listed there. If you're starting out then make sure that the listing is marked as "shave ready" -- if it isn't then you'll want to have it honed before using.

There's also a great wiki article on budget shopping:
Buying a beginner's set on a budget - Straight Razor Place Wiki

ahh! I forgot to read that there's bunch to read at the wiki and it's quite worth it hehehe, thanks for the quick reply, gotta read that one

Hi jankrix,

You don't say what your budget is, but I'm guessing you want to start for the least investment possible.

I will say that this is a hobby where each piece of the equipment you buy incrementaly improves either the shave, or the process of shaving. Read the Wiki's here

Category:Basic Equipment - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Get real familiar with what the equipment does and follow the recommendations.

I spent about $200.00 to get started, but you can get going for less. Both Straight Razor Designs and Vintage Blades LLC have lots of kits from just razors and stropps to full sets with mug, brush and soap. The range here is from about $120 to $200 for really good equipment. We say starter, but it really isn't. This is good quality and shave ready. It would take you through your first year or longer. But above all - buy a shave ready razor. Do NOT fight trying to guess if that razor is ready when you get going. You can buy cheaper razors, but they probably will not be shave ready.

I hope that helps. Plenty of other members here will be adding their experience to your post - we will get you going.

David.

There are a host of excellent vendors here on SRP as well, who sell beginners kits with all the stuff you need to get going. Have a look in the Vendors Corner for some good links!

Vendors Corner - Straight Razor Place Forums

+1 on the Wiki as well, its full of great advice!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Alembic

Hi jankrix,

You don't say what your budget is, but I'm guessing you want to start for the least investment possible.

I will say that this is a hobby where each piece of the equipment you buy incrementaly improves either the shave, or the process of shaving. Read the Wiki's here

Category:Basic Equipment - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Get real familiar with what the equipment does and follow the recommendations.

I spent about $200.00 to get started, but you can get going for less. Both Straight Razor Designs and Vintage Blades LLC have lots of kits from just razors and stropps to full sets with mug, brush and soap. The range here is from about $120 to $200 for really good equipment. We say starter, but it really isn't. This is good quality and shave ready. It would take you through your first year or longer. But above all - buy a shave ready razor. Do NOT fight trying to guess if that razor is ready when you get going. You can buy cheaper razors, but they probably will not be shave ready.

I hope that helps. Plenty of other members here will be adding their experience to your post - we will get you going.

David.

thanks david I didn't say my budget just because I didn't have plan to buy it all at one time, I plan to buy bits by bits (again budget is very limited ) so I can plan how much I should spend. I'm looking at the classified section now

Originally Posted by Stubear

There are a host of excellent vendors here on SRP as well, who sell beginners kits with all the stuff you need to get going. Have a look in the Vendors Corner for some good links!

Vendors Corner - Straight Razor Place Forums

+1 on the Wiki as well, its full of great advice!

Good luck and keep us posted!

been looking and thinking getting one of those gold razor at ruprazor.com and spend almost 2 days reading those 45 long pages about gold razor hahaha, but then I decided not to go through, maybe in the future but not as my first blade...the wiki is amazing probably the best FAQ around.

IMO the most important thing is a decent shave ready razor, you can start with a makeshift strop (leather belt or old denim) and you can get an inexpensive brush at most pharmacies, you can use a mug from your kitchen and Williams soap is less than $2 but you will not want to get a crappy razor or your shaves will be poor and uncomfortable. Once you see how much you love straight razor shaving you can then upgrade all your other gear.

You could definitely get yourself rolling for under $100.

A nice vintage razor (shave ready) doesn't need to cost more than $30 or $40 bucks. RupRazor makes a beginner's strop for $20 - no frills, but good leather.

You can pick up a brush at Walgreen for $8 or so, and decent shaving cream or soap for under $10.

So, that's $70. Maybe even a bit less if you keep a look-out.

And the only part of that you'll need to replace anytime in the relatively near future is the soap or cream when you use it up. A soap is probably better value for money if you get a big puck. Mama Bear sells pretty generous amounts of great soap at a great price, and it lasts forever.

As far as the razors you saw, YES the SRP Classifieds is a great place for a beginner to look! Stay away from eBay. It will eat your soul.

Good luck!

EDIT: About the Gold Dollar - they can shave. I have one I just tried out, and it shaves just as nice as my Soligen. Admittedly, I'm a newb, and maybe a pro would disagree, but the point is I can get good shaves from it.

Gold Dollars are made of decent steel, it's just that they sometimes have manufacturing flaws. RupRazor goes through their Gold Dollars, and if there's something minorly wrong, they fix it, and hone it properly. If there's something majorly wrong, they don't sell it.

My personal opinion is that it isn't really fair to write off the Gold Dollars entirely like that. They're great starter razors, as long as you buy them from a good vendor. They're cheap and they shave fine.

Originally Posted by livingontheedge

IMO the most important thing is a decent shave ready razor, you can start with a makeshift strop (leather belt or old denim) and you can get an inexpensive brush at most pharmacies, you can use a mug from your kitchen and Williams soap is less than $2 but you will not want to get a crappy razor or your shaves will be poor and uncomfortable. Once you see how much you love straight razor shaving you can then upgrade all your other gear.

+ 1, to what livingontheedge said. Welcome to SRP.