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Hello I just joined and I was needing some help. I have never shaved with a straight razor and was wanting to buy a starters set. Can anyone suggest any? I saw some at classic shaving .com, the well shaved gentleman.com and vintage blades.
Please help!:shrug:
Tony's starter sets at TheWellShavedGentleman.com are supposed to be phenomenal. I was going to get one for several reasons: I am developing a case of RAD (that's Razor Acquisition Disorder); having the pasted paddle is appealing; Having a second hanging strop is also appealing; One can never have enough mugs; I could always give away the boar brush if I never used it; now that I am planning on living alone until I get married in just over a year, I have space to put all of this. There are other authorities on the list, so maybe one of them can direct you further.
I've been at this Straight Razor thing for 3 years now, but ONLY now am I able to actually enjoy aspects of it apart from the shave itself.
I highly recommend going with Tony as well. This is how I started out. He is great to deal with and will answer any questions that you might have. I suggest you go with the kit that has both the hanging strop and the paddle, and then have him paste the paddle with abrasive pastes for regular up keep. This will help keep the razor sharper for longer between actually honings.
Matt
I'm going to send you to Tony too. Don't be afraid to talk to him about his merchandise and what your needs are. He's a stand up guy.
X
For someone that doesn't have a clue you're doing pretty well. You found StraightRazorPlace and are thinking of getting stuff from Tony @ The Well Shaved Gentleman. :tu
Can't go wrong with Tony --- really all you need for a while --- get some quality soap and you're on your way dudedo.
Justin
Thank you, to everyone. I will go with the super set at Well Shaved Gentlean.
Bravo! Bravo!
Justin
Thats what I would pick...good choice:)Quote:
Originally Posted by nomoreburn
I'm going to recommend that you take the opportunity to look over all our resources and the vendor links and then see what strikes your fancy and then ask some directed questions regarding the items you came across that you might want to know more about.
Lynn
I was thinking of these.http://vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xc...cat=142&page=1 or http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...5&categoryId=5 or http://www.jackscountrystore.com/detail.aspx?ID=5670 and this one http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...11/3874863.htmAny comments are greatly appreciated.
First
Take Lynn's DVD, you can find it on classicshaving.com - it will teach you a lot !!!
Next
I do think Tony's kit is great, and you get a nice shave ready razor, the only thing I will change is going and buying a better brush, I prefer SilverTip much better - and because you are going to love it so much, it is better to buy now, then spend the extra $ later, a good brush will last a life time
Other then this for start I don't think you need :)
Lynn's DVD is a GREAT resource. It's just the introduction a new shaver needs. It's worth the cost and then some. If you decide to go with a different set than the one at Classic, you would be doing yourself a favour by buying it anyway.
A good razor and a good strop are the most important tools. The Classic kit and the Tony Miller kit are standouts in that department. Classic has a good strop and a better razor, but Tony's has a good razor and a better strop. I would make my choice from these two options. As a further consideration, Tony will send you a shave ready razor included in the price and Classic will cost you $20 more
The rest are gravy and you will have to prioritise them for yourself.
A pasted paddle strop is a good thing to have to keep your razor going if you're not planning on learning to hone your own right away. You don't have to decide on that today, but you can't put it off forever either.
Classic clearly has the better brush than Tony, but Tony has the soap, styptic yada yada and these are all small considerations that can be upgraded as you decide what your set up preferences are.
X
If I were you, I will take the Tony's kit
then
But Lynn's DVD and a much better brush, if you don't have the $, go with Vulfix, they have some really good brushes, and for as low as 45$ for a bedger hair, you can't go wrong there
And
I know so many soaps and creams, and I think the soap Tony sell is nice, but not amazing
I think you will be better getting a nice cream, like Taylor Avocado cream and for soaps, I will be going with HoneyBee soaps
http://cgi.ebay.com/Handmade-6-pc-CU...QQcmdZViewItem
(The best when it come to price and quality - you get 6!!! pack of soaps for a very low price, less then 3$ for a soap, and this things are amazing)
http://www.bear-haven.com/page3.html
Mama's bear - also very good soaps most guys here like
Also
You might want to have a nice after shave or something like that to keep your face fresh and nice after the shave
I think the best is
https://www.thayers.com/store/?main_page=index&cPath=3
Witch hazel - very good for tuning your face
and don't forget Alum blcok!!!
http://shavex.com/
For me it is a must have, no matter what kind of shave I am doing, even with a Mach-3, DE,Elctreic or whatever
It seems everyone agrees that the set from Tony's is the best choice. What about having abrasive paste put on the paddle strop. On how many sides( it says up to four). What size micron should be applied. Has anyone seen the honing videos on YouTube it's a three part video about 35min. altogether. I would also like to thank every one for the very informative feedback concerning my question.:tu
Tony is writing in this forum too, so you can ask him
But
Most guys here will agree that you should take 3 sides
with 3,1,and 0.5
0.25 seem to leave "to much" of a keen edge and most guys don't use it here
But like I have said, ask Tony about it, I am sure he will be glad to help you out:)
and don't forget the brush, I really think you should get something better, like a nice Shavemc,Roony,Vulfix,Simpson,Savile Row and so on
Nothing makes the shave better then a nice creams or soap with a good badger hair brush
That sounds like a good plan. I'm going to get a vulfix brush they seem to be reasonably priced and that they are a good brush. I just hope that I can get a good shave when I get this set. Currently I'm using a Fusion 5 bladed razor and my beard is very thick and coarse. My neck already has a few little scars and when I shave my neck it feels like some of the hairs are being shoved in my skin. I know it will take some time to learn, but I'm confident that it can be done. I'm very good with my hands and patient. I will be getting the set in the next 2 weeks for my birthday. So I'm trying to get as much info as possible.:bow
Go with Tony, a razor that shaves is really important.
vulfx brushes are great
I love this one and so many others
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...550/422182.htm
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...550/422187.htm
One is 24mm and one is 22mm
Don't take 26 mm, it is way over to big, and you don't want it as a first brush
I think 22mm is the best size, but 24mm is also very nice, any thing larger then this is just a waste if you ask me
They made of SUPER hair, very good one, price is one of the best, and some guys love it even more then most SilverTip that cost up to 4x times more
It has a nice hand for use, I don't think you can go wrong with either of them - super price for a super brush that will last you a life time
Also
Please pick up a nice Taylor cream or something like that, I think it makes one of the best lather out there
I would go for 3, 1, and .5 micron diamond; and .5 micron chromium oxide all on the leather. That is what I use and it works great.Quote:
Originally Posted by nomoreburn
I went with Tonys strop the service can't be beat he will also send you a practice strop with the #1 top of the line strop. He also has the video and being new also I would not take the razor out of the box untill watching at least the section on the shave. I got my razor and brush from vintage blades. Tony recomended them to get me a shave ready (Lynn Abrams honed) Dovo Tortoise razor which I love. I have almost a week of shaves under my belt an just three nicks. knock on wood I also got a super badger brush from vintage blades. As for soap I have been wet shaving sence my teens using a DE and have found none better then Colleens soaps. So i guess I put my own kit together but I wanted certen items and don't regret any of my decisions.
I was thinking of doing the same thing(getting the hanging and paddle strop from Tony and the razor from somwhere else.)Quote:
Originally Posted by junkinduck
I would like to have a good razor I was thinking of these two,(http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...013/564217.htm)
(http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...940/190288.htm)
I don't know if the razor in Tony's set is just as good?
I wonder if I could upgrade the hanging strops in the Super Set to
the Latigo for extra or if the ones with it are good enough?
I just wanna start out right, because I'm going to learn this art.
The one thing I'd recommend considering is getting an inexpensive razor from someone here in the FS forums rather than starting with a brand new one. It makes start up costs cheaper and gives you a chance to see what you like/don't like about the cheaper razor so you can make a better decision when you sink more money into a more expensive one.
Truth be told, my first razor that I got here from JoshEarl* still gets as much use as my Dovo which cost 4x as much.
Ant
*Josh puts a lot of shave-ready razors in the FS forum at newbie prices and is great to buy from.
NOMOREBURN,
I have the Dovo tortoise that you are looking at. Jim at Vintage Blades has that razor shave ready honed by Lynn Abrams. Mine came from Vintage Blades an was here in three days. Nothing aginst classic shaving I looked there too but Vintage was in the east and this means faster shipping for me. I also got the vulfix 2234 brush This was a huge upgrade from my old boar.
Don