Thread: Starter Kit on Ebay / Is it Good

Hi...can anyone tell me if this is a decent starter kit for the money, and also tell me anything else I may need? I know I will have to replace the brush right away....how does the strope look? And more importantly how is that razor!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Heirloom-Dovo-5-...QQcmdZViewItem

That's a pretty good set. The brush and soap are something you'll want to upgrade if you decide you want to stick with it, but they'll do fine for now. The razor and paddle strop are keepers. I've got one of his 2-sided paddles and like it. The razor is plain, but of good quality. If you stick with it you'll want to acquire a hanging strop at some point, and maybe a hone eventually, but the paddle strop will keep a razor going for a long time unless you damage the edge somehow.

Thats a Tony Miller set. All top quality stuff and everyone hear will sing his praises. It's a no-nonsense setup covering the basics for anyone new to straight shaving. The paddle is prepasted for touch ups and has a leather side for stropping. Tony has his razors honed so that you can start right away. You may want to eventually upgrade the pieces as you see fit but it's a very good start and will serve you well

Let me say a couple of good words for the brush and soap - they can certainly perform well (but maybe this requires some skill). Soap is nothing fancy yet one of few that didn't irritate my skin. Sure, I'm not crazy about the scent but it's mild too; it worked well for me, from what I remember. Brush is preferred to some over silvertip because it has more backbone and exfoliates better...

Tony Miller (who sells the set) is a member here and will support you - just ask around for satisfied customers (I am one of them)

Cheers
Ivo

I got my first kit from Tony with theis exact same set-up (except I think my razor was even maybe a step under this one) - and here is the straight scoop - I stopped using the soap and plastic mug after the first shave - the soap is fine, the mug is cheesy but workable - the brush is cheesy but I still use it in rotation (with several other much "nicer" brushes) and it hold its own. But look, the cost of the set is worth it for the razor and the strop - first the razor will be hand honed and sharp out of the gate - no screwing around with "am I doning something wrong" because your shave sucks, because your "shave ready" razor isn't really shave ready! In fact, I believe that it is one of our shavemeisters, and maybe the chief poobaa of this whole endeavor, that sharpens Tony's razors...You can;t do better. The 4 sided pasted is indispensable (IMO) for keeping the blade keen, even though I have started honing, a little, I always end up on the pasted (that same pasted) for the final passes. Oh, and Tony is one stand up guy, you will hear that over and over, but in my dealings with him he has been prompt and willing to help me when he didn't need to, and willing to fix problems no matter how small if they should arise - that my friend is worth 2x what he is asking for that set. Just my 2c. What I would do if I were you is go to Tony's website and price the same set, without or without options - and look at the hanging strop in addition to the pasted strop (you will need both, again in my humble opinion) - and then buy with confidence. Disclaimer: I have no interest or stock in the company, etc.. http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.com/ K

Thanks guys, I'm blushing. Yes, the brush and mug are near the lower end of the scale but there for a reason. They were the least expensive, workable ones out there. I could go with a nicer mug and badger brush but the set price would quickly jump closer to $200 which would keep many from taking this first step. The mug I first used in these sets weighed over a pound, added quite a bit to shipping costs and was breakable. I have found many beginners are a bit rough on this stuff so unbrakable is a good thing. I read or get e-mails about dropped and nicked razors, paddles and strop laid in water, mugs knocked off the counter while fumbling with the strop, etc......I myself used a Burma shave brush my first two years!

Also, in the interest of full disclosure, yes the razor is honed but not by Lynn. I use another member here, EL as simple logistocs make this easier. If you owned one of my razors you already know the job he does and has shaved with and sharpened these things far longer than most of us here have. No disrepesct to Lynn or any of the other honers out there but EL's will stand up to any and surpass many I have tried. No worries.

Tony

You won't go wrong with this kit.


Terry

Tony,
No worries about the brush. Boar also works a lather quicker on hard soaps. I am in my 3rd year of straights and only recently treated myself to a badger. Sometimes I will still use the boar. I lost my first brush, and replaced it, and I can't find that one right now either. Good thing is, those brushes are easy to replace!

Welcome to the forum. That is a great starter kit. it has everything that you need to get started. I use just about everything (except the mug...i prefer a bowl). I got one similar, only mine had a hanging strop. you might want to check out Tony's site to see what else he has in stock.

The only regret I have about my purchase is that I didn't get the kit with both a four sided and hanging strop.

You could do a lot worse than to deal with Tony. We all love him here and for good reason.

X