beginner straight razor for under $50?

Unfortunately, a good, new razor will not cost less than $50.00 but frankly you would be better served by searching e-bay anyways. I did it, bought a fixer upper that needed a little elbow grease but has a good blade. Search for a German made piece and don't buy a razor with chips in it, or a frowning blade. This is my restoration I did with an e-bay blade: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1090287-Restored-and-polished-with-pix!
It works awesome, and I'm sure someone else who knows more will post here, and a used razor is what they will recommend too.
 
Take a look a whipped dog razors. He gets good reviews other places. You will be getting a used razor, but without the risk of the bay. or the outlay of the honing stones required to restore one.
 
+1 for Larry at the whipped dog. You get a shave ready vintage straight razor that ain't pretty, but it guranteed to work well. His sight unseen deals are just a grab bag of razors that are sterilized, cleaned (not restored) and honed. Its a great way to start, the extra money can be spent on a strop to maintain the straight and you just might still come in around $50.

Another option is a shavette, or disposable blade straight. These require a totally different technique than a true straight, but can be helpful in figuring out which way to contort your head and hands when first learning. They're cheap too, usually less than $10 at a beauty supply.


Unless you know what to look for on vintage straights, I would avoid the bay.

-X
 
One thing I would say for buying beginner straights. If you are looking in person, be very picky. very very very picky. anything that looks like a tiny problem on first glance, might be a really bad problem in disguise. There is no shame in tuning down something that looks worn out, or mis-treated. Also look at the range of prices in the lot, compared to the relative condition. Sometimes you'll find a seller who is selling on brand (I found a destroyed Boker on one trip for nearly a hundred, and walked away with two great unknowns for 20) other times its the scales, or the blade that will call the price. An obvious finger print of rust is not that big a deal, if you can still tell its a fingerprint. a big splotch might be worse. (a whipped dog might be pitted, and a bit rusted, but he knows when its bad, and when its cosmetic)
You want even, straight, and clean. anything else should be waving red flags, unless you feel sure that you can either fix the problem, or the blade is well worth saving, and is at a great price. With the popularity of straights climbing, finding a true bargain is getting really rare. But there can be some good values to be had.
 
I have a completely different take on this. No kidding, Ive been using a $10 timber rattler for about 5 years now. only had to use stones to fix the edge after it contacted the faucet head around year 2. I maintain it on a home-made leather strop, it shaves great. it took me a month or so to really get the hang of it, but I think if you can get it sharp, then the way you use it will make more difference in how well it works than what you are using. sure, I would love something better, but it really does work fine. also, I cut myself far less using my straight razor than I ever did with a "safety razor."
 
While I won't doubt that you have been successful, and by all means, if it works for you, great. The general consensus from those who know (not me, but the pro honers on SRP and other places) that timber rattlers are have poor tempering, and are either chippy or soft, have widely varying QC and are not worth it for a new user. So I cannot recommend someone who wants to start to start with that potential handicap.

I will agree with you that technique is huge, but again, starting with a huge handicap can really turn someone off. (again, I'm assuming you got the only good one.)
 
gadgetgeek said:
While I won't doubt that you have been successful, and by all means, if it works for you, great. The general consensus from those who know (not me, but the pro honers on SRP and other places) that timber rattlers are have poor tempering, and are either chippy or soft, have widely varying QC and are not worth it for a new user. So I cannot recommend someone who wants to start to start with that potential handicap.

I will agree with you that technique is huge, but again, starting with a huge handicap can really turn someone off. (again, I'm assuming you got the only good one.)
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well, ive oly got the one, so I cannot say if mine was a fluke, and you know how you just can tell quality when you hold it, that feeling? well, the timber rattler aint got it. my mom bought it for me as a christmas present 5 years ago when I had mentioned I thought I would rather shave this way. to be honest, it looks like a p.o.s. I am not saying it is good like a real wostenholm or whatever, but, if you just want a cheap razor to try straight razor shaving, mine works fine. and it was sharp, right out of the box. And its all Ive used since.
 
most definitely whipped dog, they are great, especially for beginners, get one of his sight unseen razors for $41, and a poor man strop kit from him and you will be set for your razor and razor care, thed just find a brush and soap that you like (whipped dog has these too).
 
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