rippsnorter
New in Town
- Messages
- 45
- Location
- Olympia, WA, USA
When I was 18 I started using a straight razor and have used one ever since. I'm 32 now by the way.
I wondered how many other guys use Straights, and if you have any pictures. Having said that I'll have to dig out pictures of mine soon I 'spose.
Right now I have 3 (4 if you count my original, horrible quality cracked 5/8) a Dovo 6/8 model 38, a lovely Le Grelot 6/8 1/2 hollow, and an unknown little 4/8 that is just too small for my tastes. I'm in the market for a nice 13/16 or full 8/8 wedge or 1/4 hollow though. I really like the big blades!
I have 2 strops, my original Illinois 827 and a gorgeous Tony Miller 3" horsehide that he claims is the last he'll ever make. It was one he had set aside to make for himself, then decided he disliked 3" strops and went to a narrower from now on.
For those wondering about the cost of straight razor shaving:
A decent razor can be found for around $40 to $50 for a beginners.
A good quality razor for someone that has been shaving a while and knows what they want is usually around $100 to $200. The top of the line ones are custom or semi-custom such as the Mastro Livi and others can run from $300 to $1,000
Strops will run around $20 or so for a beginners, to $60 to $100 for a nice one. The top of the line is a Kanayama at around $400.
A shaving mug and brush will usually be another $20 to $50. Brushes can get very expensive, up to $200 or so for some very special ones.
Shaving soap is fairly inexpensive, I use Col Conks Almond shaving soap which is usually around $3 to $5 and will last me a year per bar or so.
You will need to have the razor sharpened (don't try it on a regular knife whetstone, 12,000 grit is fairly common for finish work on a straight) which will run you around $12 about once a year-ish.
There are several reputable shops that sell an entire kit for beginners with soap, strop, razor and mug for as low as $50 up to $200, but buying it yourself and getting decent stuff for $100 is realistic.
This seems fairly expensive, until you compare it to a safety razor. A Mach III will run you around $15, but the cartridge refills will run $30 to $40 for 12 of them. The razor companies recommend a new cartridge around every 2 weeks, (although it depends on your beard and how often you shave) which would mean you're running through roughly $75 for refills a year. In just over a year you've nearly paid for a straight razor, which will only eat up around $12 a year in sharpening and will probably outlive you. There are many razors such as the Wade and Butcher that are over 150 years old and still being used!
If anyone has any questions about use, equipment, etc, feel free to ask. I'm not sure what the policy is on mentioning other forums (the rules don't mention anything that I can find) but there is one that I frequent quite a bit that has a great classified section.
I wondered how many other guys use Straights, and if you have any pictures. Having said that I'll have to dig out pictures of mine soon I 'spose.
Right now I have 3 (4 if you count my original, horrible quality cracked 5/8) a Dovo 6/8 model 38, a lovely Le Grelot 6/8 1/2 hollow, and an unknown little 4/8 that is just too small for my tastes. I'm in the market for a nice 13/16 or full 8/8 wedge or 1/4 hollow though. I really like the big blades!
I have 2 strops, my original Illinois 827 and a gorgeous Tony Miller 3" horsehide that he claims is the last he'll ever make. It was one he had set aside to make for himself, then decided he disliked 3" strops and went to a narrower from now on.
For those wondering about the cost of straight razor shaving:
A decent razor can be found for around $40 to $50 for a beginners.
A good quality razor for someone that has been shaving a while and knows what they want is usually around $100 to $200. The top of the line ones are custom or semi-custom such as the Mastro Livi and others can run from $300 to $1,000
Strops will run around $20 or so for a beginners, to $60 to $100 for a nice one. The top of the line is a Kanayama at around $400.
A shaving mug and brush will usually be another $20 to $50. Brushes can get very expensive, up to $200 or so for some very special ones.
Shaving soap is fairly inexpensive, I use Col Conks Almond shaving soap which is usually around $3 to $5 and will last me a year per bar or so.
You will need to have the razor sharpened (don't try it on a regular knife whetstone, 12,000 grit is fairly common for finish work on a straight) which will run you around $12 about once a year-ish.
There are several reputable shops that sell an entire kit for beginners with soap, strop, razor and mug for as low as $50 up to $200, but buying it yourself and getting decent stuff for $100 is realistic.
This seems fairly expensive, until you compare it to a safety razor. A Mach III will run you around $15, but the cartridge refills will run $30 to $40 for 12 of them. The razor companies recommend a new cartridge around every 2 weeks, (although it depends on your beard and how often you shave) which would mean you're running through roughly $75 for refills a year. In just over a year you've nearly paid for a straight razor, which will only eat up around $12 a year in sharpening and will probably outlive you. There are many razors such as the Wade and Butcher that are over 150 years old and still being used!
If anyone has any questions about use, equipment, etc, feel free to ask. I'm not sure what the policy is on mentioning other forums (the rules don't mention anything that I can find) but there is one that I frequent quite a bit that has a great classified section.
