Poor Man's Luxury

Yeah Stirling soap baby. Great performance value and scents. AFS and post balms are a staple for me as well.

I will add to the Goulash for the helluva it though


Razor: Razorock GC 68. $ 55.00
RazoRock BC Silvertip Plissoft Synthetic Shaving Brush
Regular price $18.99

Soap: Sir Henry AOS dupe, Sandalwood, $15.00
AFS: Sir Henry Sandalwood, $13.00

Sir Henry, like Stirling is easy to lather and is a great base. Plus, if you arenot happy with it, you can return it no charge.

Astra Superior Platinum, Greens 100 blades, $9.00

Just over a 100 bux, but I would love these shaves. Software would last for 6 months, hardware forever, and blades about 1 year. Waaaay better that the goo and carts.... Cost and performance.

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One of the things I would point out to a potential new wet shaver is that even with Tommy's kit at just under $100.00 (I used the 10% off discount coupon for new customers-and fee shipping too!) it is still less than what someone would pay for a dozen replacement cartridges, a handle, four cans of goo and some nasty, greasy A/S balm at Walgreen's. And the Walgreen's purchase has to be done year after year.

I would suggest a Maggard Razors starter kit. It's a great starting point for $45. Throw in a bottle of Pinaud or similar drugstore aftershave (Brut, Old Spice, Skin Bracer) for a few extra bucks and you'll be good to go.

I would suggest a Maggard Razors starter kit. It's a great starting point for $45. Throw in a bottle of Pinaud or similar drugstore aftershave (Brut, Old Spice, Skin Bracer) for a few extra bucks and you'll be good to go.

That's a good price, depending on what's included. I recall their tech based razor being pretty good, too.

Checking the link they only have slants now. For someone brand new to shaving, I wonder how that might impede their learning. Maybe only if they have sensitive skin?

Wow-fantastic input. Lots of great kits available for less than $100.00, some near $50.00. The Stirling sets can't be beat and the Maggard's too. As promised, here are my ideas. A few caveats fist. I am disposed against DE razors. I started many decades ago with my dad's cheap old 1950's era Shick or Gillette something TTO and uncoated Wilkinson Sword DE blades. Eveready C40 bush and Old Spice soap set that I bought from the drug store. I wince even now thinking about that set up. The blade exposure was enormous, the TTO set up did not clamp the blade well and the edge was flexing all over the place. I chopped up my face every shave, until I got a Shick injector. Since then, I haven't ever wanted to try another DE. So, after a disastrous in grown hair deviation into Gillette Trac II, Braun Electric, then I gravitated to SE disposable BIC stolen from my daughter's stash (not bad), then Valet Auto Strop, straights and One Blade. As you can see, I like thick single edge razors.

Poor Man's Luxury Kit.

Razor: One Blade Core w/Feather Blades $45.00
Brush: Semogue 1305 $20.00
Soap: Cella red $10.00
A/S : Clubman Classic Vanilla $7.00

Total: $82.00

Why the One Blade? The Core is an easy transition from cartridge razors because of the pivoting, spring loaded head. Almost zero learning curve but gives a close shave with a SR feel because of the thick blade. It also has a secret weapon in that if you buy the Feather carbon steel blades instead of the stainless, they can be stropped and sharpened on a wet stone.. Cella is a great introduction to tallow soaps (aren't many cheap tallow soaps left) is easy to lather, etc. Semogue 1305 breaks in fast for a boar brush and does every thing well. Clubman Vanilla Classic is mild, has a more modern aroma than regular Clubman, and is versatile enough to use years round. Also a gateway drug to the whole Pinaud line.

Poor Man's Budget Kit:

Razor: Pearl "The Sleek" SE with stand $17.00
File:: Home Depot $5.00
Brush and creme: Omega 10066 kit: $20.00
Lather bowl: steal from kitchen $0.00
A/S: Pino Silvestre $17.00

Total: $59.00


Why the Home Depot file? You need it to fix the Pearl SE razor before you can use it! Also, the Pearl takes half DE blades so it opens up the new shaver to that whole world at half the cost. Once fixed, it is a very mild razor. The Omega creme and boar brush set are a good value, and once the brush breaks in it has a very nice face feel. The Omega creme is eucalyptus with a little bit of menthol, not a lot, and is soothing. Pino Silvestre can be used year round, and gives the new wet shaver a connection with European Style at a bargain price.

Well, that's all I got!

(I would have posted photo's but I don't know how to make them thumbnail sized)

Just going mostly all Razorock:

Mission or Mentor Razor: $21.99
Classic Shaving Soap: $5.99
RR Splash: $12.99
Plissoft Synth Brush: $12.99
Derby Premium Blades: .99¢

Total: $54.95

Or if you upgrade the above to a Game Changer 0.68-P for $33 more:

Total: $87.95

Luckily, I think there are many ways to go here for for a great shave on a budget for a beginner to get started. And with the RR razors, you get the 316L handle and some handle options. Options are good.

I would suggest a Maggard Razors starter kit. It's a great starting point for $45. Throw in a bottle of Pinaud or similar drugstore aftershave (Brut, Old Spice, Skin Bracer) for a few extra bucks and you'll be good to go.

That's a good price, depending on what's included. I recall their tech based razor being pretty good, too.

Checking the link they only have slants now. For someone brand new to shaving, I wonder how that might impede their learning. Maybe only if they have sensitive skin?

The Maggard (M for mild) head is a tech-based design that is actually more efficient than the original techs.  Love that head.  

Still big on the ,76 (or .68) GC, Proraso White or Blue, a synthetic brush, a cheap bowl.  

Stirling soap (especially sheep if you can stand the scent) phenomenal value.  

Splash - thayers witch hazel.

Balm Nivea Sensitive.  

Other than that I like the Merkur 23c razor which is 35 bucks new on eBay.  I used one yesterday and it still outshines my Overlander and Bison experiences.

Wow-fantastic input. Lots of great kits available for less than $100.00, some near $50.00. The Stirling sets can't be beat and the Maggard's too. As promised, here are my ideas. A few caveats fist. I am disposed against DE razors. I started many decades ago with my dad's cheap old 1950's era Shick or Gillette something TTO and uncoated Wilkinson Sword DE blades. Eveready C40 bush and Old Spice soap set that I bought from the drug store. I wince even now thinking about that set up. The blade exposure was enormous, the TTO set up did not clamp the blade well and the edge was flexing all over the place. I chopped up my face every shave, until I got a Shick injector. Since then, I haven't ever wanted to try another DE. So, after a disastrous in grown hair deviation into Gillette Trac II, Braun Electric, then I gravitated to SE disposable BIC stolen from my daughter's stash (not bad), then Valet Auto Strop, straights and One Blade. As you can see, I like thick single edge razors.

Poor Man's Luxury Kit.

Razor: One Blade Core w/Feather Blades $45.00
Brush: Semogue 1305 $20.00
Soap: Cella red $10.00
A/S : Clubman Classic Vanilla $7.00

Total: $82.00

Why the One Blade? The Core is an easy transition from cartridge razors because of the pivoting, spring loaded head. Almost zero learning curve but gives a close shave with a SR feel because of the thick blade. It also has a secret weapon in that if you buy the Feather carbon steel blades instead of the stainless, they can be stropped and sharpened on a wet stone.. Cella is a great introduction to tallow soaps (aren't many cheap tallow soaps left) is easy to lather, etc. Semogue 1305 breaks in fast for a boar brush and does every thing well. Clubman Vanilla Classic is mild, has a more modern aroma than regular Clubman, and is versatile enough to use years round. Also a gateway drug to the whole Pinaud line.

Poor Man's Budget Kit:

Razor: Pearl "The Sleek" SE with stand $17.00
File:: Home Depot $5.00
Brush and creme: Omega 10066 kit: $20.00
Lather bowl: steal from kitchen $0.00
A/S: Pino Silvestre $17.00

Total: $59.00


Why the Home Depot file? You need it to fix the Pearl SE razor before you can use it! Also, the Pearl takes half DE blades so it opens up the new shaver to that whole world at half the cost. Once fixed, it is a very mild razor. The Omega creme and boar brush set are a good value, and once the brush breaks in it has a very nice face feel. The Omega creme is eucalyptus with a little bit of menthol, not a lot, and is soothing. Pino Silvestre can be used year round, and gives the new wet shaver a connection with European Style at a bargain price.

Well, that's all I got!

(I would have posted photo's but I don't know how to make them thumbnail sized)

Good post - i learned something regarding those feather blades. Very inerstin'...... I keep my pocket knives and kitchen blades razor sharp. Love to break out the whetstones.makes me think that would be fruitful.

Cella is GREAT. Lovely affordable tallow. I have 2 kilos

The only caveat on that for the newbie is the potential to have skin reaction do to the almond in the product. And some find the scent off-putting. I certainly don't.

Too bad Tabac has removed Tallow -, but the scent is love or hate. Seems to be no middle ground.

I need to try the Pinaud you mentioned.

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Shout out to Dave in KY .  I watched your YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xupiqhpA8) in the SOTD thread about this razor.  Seems like there was no blade slipping?  Hmmm......  Must be a QC issue and not a design issue ?    Anyway, a few questions for you if you would be so kind as to entertain them:

1)  Can you comment on the shaving angle?  I found it to be very shallow, like an injector.

2)  What about range of shaving angles?  I found it to be very limited, and if that was your experience how much of a negative do you think that is?

3)  I think I heard you say that it was a mild shave.  Do you think using different blades could make it more aggressive? 

Thanks so much for the video and your participation here.

Tedolph

1) I commented in the video it was a different angle but easy to find.
2) Very limited angle. Harder on my arthritic hands but not a big deal.
3) Mild but efficient enough to get the job done and bbs. I don't think there is enough angle adjustability to help change it much. It's just a smooth shaver.

I would suggest a Maggard Razors starter kit. It's a great starting point for $45. Throw in a bottle of Pinaud or similar drugstore aftershave (Brut, Old Spice, Skin Bracer) for a few extra bucks and you'll be good to go.

That's a good price, depending on what's included. I recall their tech based razor being pretty good, too.

Checking the link they only have slants now. For someone brand new to shaving, I wonder how that might impede their learning. Maybe only if they have sensitive skin?

The Maggard (M for mild) head is a tech-based design that is actually more efficient than the original techs.  Love that head.  

Still big on the ,76 (or .68) GC, Proraso White or Blue, a synthetic brush, a cheap bowl.  

Stirling soap (especially sheep if you can stand the scent) phenomenal value.  

Splash - thayers witch hazel.

Balm Nivea Sensitive.  

Other than that I like the Merkur 23c razor which is 35 bucks new on eBay.  I used one yesterday and it still outshines my Overlander and Bison experiences.

100+ on The Gamechanger option. A stainless razor with performance - very affordable.

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Fantastic input. It seems that we are converging on a consensus: DE razor, maybe in a kit from Maggard's, Sterling or Razorock. Pick a soap and brush (synthetic or boar) from the kit. No consensus on aftershave, but alcohol based rather than a balm. No consensus on blades. Some surprises for me are no one suggested the Wieshi DE (sold under various house brands). It is a TTO so easy to load, but is it bad? No SE razors. Also, not too many recommendations for old drug store brand aftershaves, e.g. Pinaud, Aqua Velva, British Sterling, etc. Also no recommendations for use of a pre-shave. I approve of that!


Also surprised that many of you not only assembled a kt for less than $100.00, most were closer to $50.00!