hello, i'm new to the whole straight razor thing

[Brien Zee]

i've been wetshaving using a gillette sensor for a few months now. but i was looking into seeing how shaving with a straight razor would work out.
i've been looking on ebay for a razor, and thought i'd come here for advice.
i keep seeing Zeepk brand razor, was wondering if anyone knew the quality of this brand?
or if anyone could suggest a good brand of blades of stropes..

i also noticed that they sell vintage boxes for holding 7 razors, one for each day of the week. and i was wondering what the practicality of that is? is it so you just have to strope your blades once a week, is this a common thing?

thanks for your help in advance, i figure i should have read more on here before asking questions like this, since i can probably find these answers relatively quick. but i wont have time to look through the forum till tomorrow, and i figured this would be a good way to introduce myself anyways.

[rtaylor61]

First, Zeepk = JUNK! These razors will hone up and within one pass, be dull. Joel has started a thread about providing razors for new guys. You may want to check it. Also, check on ebay for a seller named Altima55, who sells shave ready razors. You may find a bargain there.

Randy

[TimmyBoston]

Also check out www.straightrazorplace.com. It's a forum dedicated to straight razor shaving. There are numerous experts there and honemeisters who can help you on your way. There are also a few B&Ber's you may see over there, myself included.

[LX_Emergency]

If you're in europe give me a PM and I'll help you find some places to get decent things for a decent price. If in the states others are better authorities than me.

[sphughes]

I would suggest Tony Miller, http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.com/ ,as well as John Crowley, http://www.shavingshop.com/ .

Both of these fine people will set you up. John sells outstanding new razors at all price points (as well as sweet restorations he has done ~$30-$60) and Tony will sell you a set up featuring what you need. You should make sure to get a good strop (from Tony) and strop the razor prior to each shave. It is strongly suggested to keep more than one SE in your rotation to allow the blades to rest 24-36 hours between shaves.

Another option for you to consider is this......As previously noted, Joel has generously offered to help anyone try worshiping at the altar of the straight edge by facilitating the acquisition of the razor for them. I can't recommend strongly enough to consider this option. Prices on eBay have been inflated beyond reason by the sudden interest in SE razors and there are many POS razors selling for far more than they are worth. These are frequently purchased by people that don't know what they should be looking for. Joel has the knowledge to filter out the chaff and also I believe he has offered to make the razor shave ready with a cleaning and honing. Hmmmmmmm, maybe I should let him pick my next one too.....

Please feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

-Scott-

[Brien Zee]

thanks for you help guys. just off the top of your head..
what would you think the price for a beginner setup would cost?
razor, strop, plus whatever else is nessesary?

[AandW]

thanks for you help guys. just off the top of your head..
what would you think the price for a beginner setup would cost?
razor, strop, plus whatever else is nessesary?

I will echo what Scott mentioned. Visit Tony Miller's site, The Well Shaved Gentlemen. He has a great beginner's set that includes all that you will ever need(as a beginner), at one low price and in one shipment. Tony is more than willing to help.

BTW, Welcome!

[JohnP]

First, Zeepk = JUNK! These razors will hone up and within one pass, be dull. Joel has started a thread about providing razors for new guys. You may want to check it. Also, check on ebay for a seller named Altima55, who sells shave ready razors. You may find a bargain there.

Randy

Concur, also concur with all the recommendations for Tony Miller's site. FWIW Altima55 is (or was) a respected member at Straightrazorplace as well. You'll do great with any of these gentlemen.
The zeepk will hurt you, and will not shave you with any representation of what you can typically expect with a straight. Use it to practice honing (but not shaving!-it will hurt you) or scraping bubble gum...
Get one that's ready to go, like one of Tony's, etc. that is shave ready...then (helped me) get a Radio Shack pocket microscope, look at the edge....and try to make a cheap Ebay razor look the same way using your razor hones.
I improved by leaps and bounds, and ultimately you will notice a certain "feel" on the hones as well that tells you you are close.
Good luck.
John P.

[jscott]

a shave ready razor - 35-50 try Joe Chandler's Store http://shop.writerferret.com/

strop - 25-30 try Tony Miller http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.com/

lastly you will need to maintain the edge of your razor as it will become dull and start to "pull" after a month+ of use(faster then that to start as you won't know how to strop or shave and will end up dulling it learning). to do this you will either want to buy hones or a pasted paddle (tony miller) or send it out to someone to do. if you simply want to maintain an edge and don't want to learn honing then a pasted paddle is probably the cheapest route and will maintain the edge for many many months.. although once/twice a year you will need to send it out to get honed to reset the bevel. if you decide straight shaving is for you and you decide to continue straight shaving, it becomes economical to purchase hones and learn to do it yourself.

Straight shaving has alot of start up costs. you have to buy all your major equipment at the beginning. however from that point forward there are no more costs only simple additions and addictions which form from the love of shaving. :)

hope that helps
~J

ps. wait and extra couple weeks or a month and spend the extra couple $$ and buy good stuff to start. if you don't like it u can sell it on here or over at SRP if you have a good product. give yourself a chance to enjoy it, don't expect a perfect shave the first time or even first week.

[eanne06]

Tony Miller does not appear to be offering beginner sets, or leather strops anymore. Does anyone know of the next best place to pick up a good beginner set or basic strop?

[Gustav]

Tony Miller does not appear to be offering beginner sets, or leather strops anymore. Does anyone know of the next best place to pick up a good beginner set or basic strop?

Try this place which is run by a very knowledgeable and decent fellow: http://whippeddog.com/

[Shangas]

i also noticed that they sell vintage boxes for holding 7 razors, one for each day of the week. and i was wondering what the practicality of that is? is it so you just have to strope your blades once a week, is this a common thing?

Nobody's answered this question, so I'll have a crack at it.

You're quite right, back in the old days, you could buy a set of straight-razors. Seven razors, one blade for each day of the week.

The reason for this was to prevent excessive use of any one blade. By using each blade only one day a week, you reduced the need to strop the blades as frequently as you might, if you had only one razor. Using each blade only once a week also meant that you didn't have to hone them as frequently. I suspect there were other reasons, but I forget what they are.

[Luc]

Tony Miller does not appear to be offering beginner sets, or leather strops anymore. Does anyone know of the next best place to pick up a good beginner set or basic strop?

Welcome to B&B!

There are a few vendors on this forum that sell strops...

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Supporting_Vendors

[Ru4scuba?]

Welcome to the world of str8 shaving dude...best of luck!

[OldeSchool]

Wow this post came back from the depths of 2006!

For anyone NEW reading this... check out Whipped Dog as mentioned before. Caution about eBay purchases unless you know the vendor and know what you are buying.

[Ru4scuba?]

:blush:

Guess I should check the dates more often! :lol:

[johnmrson]

Ruprazor do a filly strop for just over $20 which is a great beginers strop. Also try whippeddog (Larry) for a good beginners shave ready straight.

Welcome to the world of straights. You should be able to get a shave ready straight for $30-$50 and a strop for $25.

[Ru4scuba?]

Ruprazor do a filly strop for just over $20 which is a great beginers strop. Also try whippeddog (Larry) for a good beginners shave ready straight.

Welcome to the world of straights. You should be able to get a shave ready straight for $30-$50 and a strop for $25.

Ok...now I dont feel so bad :lol: