Straight shave on the Cheap!!!

[GsSixgun]

This morning I tried an experiment at the Gym, I took my shaving kit with me.. usually I'll shave before going to workout but I had put together a traveling shave kit last week, and decided to try it out. Now what I put together was all bought at Wal-Mart and cost less than $20 including the case

Shave Case = $7.96
Burma-Shave brush = $3.64
Williams shave puck = $.97
Edge Shave Creme = $3.97
Wash cloth = $1.94
Tuperware bowl = $.57
Total kit = $19.05 ok ok plus tax hehehe

Straight Razor I could afford to lose and replace easy enough Kamisori Paladin #306 $24.95 off e-bay
Ogalalla Bay Rum AS $5.95
Total if lost $50

I figured that this was an inexpensive kit that I could easily afford to replace if by chance it was lost or stolen, (with me, probably left in the locker room)
I mixed up a superlather with the Williams and the Edge creme, in the tuperware, lathered up and then took out the Kamisori, at which time I noticed that I had an audience as I shaved (God I wish I could have brought a strop with me:biggrin: ) I now sit at work with a nice close shave and a huge smile at watching the amazed looks of the guys that watched an old fashioned shave this morning.

Anyway yes you can get a great shave on the cheap too!!!!

Anybody else put together a cheap kit, I would love too hear any ideas??????

Glen

[Steerpike]

I used to shave with only the following:

Antique shop razor: £5.00 (ish)
Palmolive shave stick: 80p
Boar brush: maybe £3.50? Not sure- it was what my mum got me when I first needed to shave!
Strop: random offcut of leather from another project.

Absolutely NO reason why straight shaving need be expensive, is there?

[BOGARTUS]

Me too:

K Mart belt strop 7.00

Ebay Torrey razor
rescaled and restored 10.00

Ivory soap cut down
to fit in an old Talyor
of Bond tub .50

K Mart brush 4.00

total 21.50

[Thebigspendur]

Yes you can certainly get away with straight shaving quite cheaply the same way you can drive around in a Yugo however few would want to do that. I think once you sample whats available out there most would never use canned stuff for straight shaving or Williams soap. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying to go out and spend $20 for a puck of soap or hundreds for a razor but for a moderate amount of cash you can realize big improvements over what a real budget setup can do for you.

[izlat]

I love some of the expensive stuff myself :biggrin: Nothing like a custom RW, with Acqua di Parma cream, Plisson HMW, Russian shell, Trumper's CSF, etc.

However, I agree that one can get an OUTSTANDING shave on the cheap. Some of my very good shavers have cost less than $10 on ebay, Honeybee has an amazing soap (Chamomile Shea) for $3 or so, strops can be had for $20, and the Burma boar ($5) is terrific. JASON AS 6-in-1 is also great.

Cheers
Ivo

[GsSixgun]

(Yes you can certainly get away with straight shaving quite cheaply the same way you can drive around in a Yugo however few would want to do that. I think once you sample whats available out there most would never use canned stuff for straight shaving or Williams soap. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying to go out and spend $20 for a puck of soap or hundreds for a razor but for a moderate amount of cash you can realize big improvements over what a real budget setup can do for you. )


Yes shaving at home and relaxing with the great scents and products available is the true essence of "Classic Shaving" but I would never risk bringing my DD, Dovo, etc: and my real soaps and cremes to the gym where inevitably I being the 'putz' that I can be, forget the whole kit sitting there on the counter :wink2: What kind of surprised me was the fact that a good smooth shave could be had for such a low price... And yes I would be the first to admit that it isn't anywhere the real experience of shaving at home in the comfort of your own "Shave Den" but it was fun watching peoples faces in the mirrior when that straight opened up :biggrin:

Having fun again shaving
Glen

[Desiderius]

I used to shave with only the following:

Strop: random offcut of leather from another project.

Absolutely NO reason why straight shaving need be expensive, is there?

Did this work well for you ?
Cause those strops are really expensive in Belgium. I've got a Dovo now, but I would like to have a wide one. And I was thinking about going to a shoemaker to buy a piece of leather, so I'll have a wider one.

[BOGARTUS]

Me too:

K Mart belt strop 7.00

Ebay Torrey razor
rescaled and restored 10.00

Ivory soap cut down
to fit in an old Talyor
of Bond tub .50

K Mart brush 4.00

total 21.50

This array is what I use camping or out n about. What I do at home is quite different!!!

[ucliker]

This is a great post! Its funny so many of us get caught up in buying expensive everything in search of that perfect shave, Maybe everyone should try building a cheap kit:001_tongu

[GsSixgun]

This is a great post! Its funny so many of us get caught up in buying expensive everything in search of that perfect shave, Maybe everyone should try building a cheap kit:001_tongu

:biggrin1: This was exactly what I was thinking when I wrote it, yes we all love the top of the line stuff, but somtimes it is impractical either because we are away from home or perhaps the cost involved is beyond someones budget so I was thinking that if we knocked around some ideas that would be "On the Cheap" it wouldn't be a bad thing!!!!

Glen

[jacqueeagonsr]

Did this work well for you ?
Cause those strops are really expensive in Belgium. I've got a Dovo now, but I would like to have a wide one. And I was thinking about going to a shoemaker to buy a piece of leather, so I'll have a wider one.

You can do better than a shoemaker. Try Tandy LeatherFactory. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/
They have stores all over the country. I am (hobby) a blacksmith (knives, etc) and leathersmith (sheaths, etc) and find them quite helpful for folks that need leather in small quantities. They have belt blanks up to 3" wide and about 54" long that will make 3 or 4 strops for about $20. Share with a friend.

[firebox]

A good idea and a lot of good comments. I would hate to lose my 'travel kit' which is:

Revisor 6/8
Vulfix turnback brush
C&E Sienna
Limes skin food
alum
witchhazel

More than $20 but I get the same shave as if I'm at home. Just another comfort to take on the road. I guess I drive a Chevy on the road and a Bimmer at home.

[ouch]

You guys almost have enough money left over to buy one of my custom design, hand made brush holders to add to your kit.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=202756&postcount=5

[Thomas]

I haven't shaved away from the house since picking up the straight, but I do have an inexpensive set-up between these:

Wapienica 5/8
WARS shaving cream
C&E best

In particular, I'm pleasantly surprised by the cream. It's great stuff, regardless of the price - which I'm glad to say is very reasonable.