Straight Forum Lurker

[zpb101]

I've been DE shaving for awhile now and I'm being lured toward trying the straight razor shaving. (Is there some further level of shaving I'm eventually going to be drawn to and I can just skip right to? - axe shaving, just hold a feather between my fingers?)

So, I took a leap of faith and jumped in feet first to DE shaving so, I have a decent lather/brush setup.

I have gleaned a bit of information from the forums on starter straights. I think I should get a 5/8. I need something shave ready.

Looking at a lot of beautiful blades and feeling straight AD... However, I just can't get myself to throw down a lot of cash before I can try it out and see if it's for me. I see straights on the BST but have no idea what a good starter blade would be. So,

1. Can anyone recommend an available (like on the BST or other) 5/8 shave ready straight for ~$30-$40? I guess I'd like to at least keep it under $50. Or, if you have a blade that fits the description....

2. What do I need to keep a shave ready straight shave ready for enough time for me to get a few good shaves in and see if I'm feeling it?


Thanks.

[mdunn]

1. just keep a look out on the BST, something will pop up. Its generally recommended that a newbie get a round point, just because its easier to stick yourself with a spike

2. a strop. if you keep it up then you get into the whole pasted strop/hone thing (which doesnt have to be expensive at all!). But you def need a strop.

good luck!

[leighton]

Just find one that is listed as shave ready. Might not be honemeister ready, but it should be good. I've got some razors that have been restored for around $60, waiting for my digital camera to arrive before I list them. Might let this W&B go for $50 b/c I can't get some damn stains out. : \

edit: got some new razors in, have a no name brand that I just honed up and polished. Not very pretty, but its sharp with horn scales. This one is definitely worth less than $50, let me know if your interested. Otherwise I'm just going to stick it up on BST once I get my camera in. (next week monday :|).

[Thebigspendur]

First of all if you think you will do a few shaves and see if you like it I can almost guarantee you will not. You have to understand straight shaving is a skill and there are actually several skills you need to learn to become competent and there is also a learning curve which can be steep. Its something you just have to be determined to learn and it can take many months to do it. I'm not trying to discourage you, just to make you aware.

Just check the forum here and at SRP and get a kit for beginners with a shave ready blade and a strop. You will at some point need to have the razor touched up either by sending it out or using a hone or a pasted strop.

[zpb101]

First of all if you think you will do a few shaves and see if you like it I can almost guarantee you will not.

I was trying to express a lack of monetary committment and not time/skill. I just meant I'm looking for a blade I can use for awhile without doing much maintenance. I'm not naive enough to think I'll master a straight in a few shaves but, hopefully will have an idea if I want to invest more cash into it.

[mkevenson]

If you like razors and are adventurous, and if you want to shave the old way, you will be hooked. First one razor, then a strop, then 2 razors,then 3 then some stones . Although I think the strop should come first, after all you will need it either before or after the first shave. It can be fun and challenging and refreshing and curiously frustrating, shaving with a str8 , that is.:w00t: