Thread: Noob, purchasing my first razor

i bought anythony millers kit on ebay last night, i figured gettin some feedback on both ends while buying his product would be nice. i got the #2 kit so i'll be good for awhile i hope.


i just couldn't wait, i went big and i'm not going home.
i figure it'll all be well worth it

i also bought a vintage straight on ebay called "SHUMATE PEACEMAKER" looks like a really nice blade and i could practice with it.

You may wish to order a hanging strop as well.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

You may wish to order a hanging strop as well.

explain why i should consider this, and why not just use the paddle strop ?

Fewer strokes for the same effect, easier to handle, less likely to roll the edge and you can buy a beginner's model for $30 or so with no extra shipping charges. Yes you can get by with a paddle, but a hanger is a big comfort thing and I'd probably find it too much of a hassle if I had to use a paddle every single day.

Eventually you'll get a hanging strop, but I think you'll be alright for now. You invested in some good equipment; give yourself some time with it to learn/master it. Ilija's comments are obviously from experience, so if you can swing it -- adding a strop is a good idea.

i called tony this afternoon and told him to put one of those in the mix for me. very nice guy.

Yep, Tony is the man. You will come to respect him highly as he is the stropmeister. I will probably never buy any other strops but his, at least not for my main stropping needs. Not saying there aren't other fine strops out there, but I am one of those loyal customer types. He has some killer stuff and the fact that he hand makes them is a big deal for me as my father is also a craftsman.

His high quality kits make it easier for noobs like us to break into the world of Straight Razor Shaving. Plus, if it weren't for his little blurb about SRP that he included in his instructions, I wouldn't even be here. Can you guys imagine what it would have been like if I had never come along?

Matt