Thread: My new Tony Miller kit

This is all fantastic info. Many thanks guys.

I absolutely intend to strop the razor prior to each shave HOWEVER I was hoping to skip this step on the very first (and only this one) shave.

The logic behind this is that I have never shaved with a straight before.
I also have never used a strop. If I know what the blade felt like the first time (when it was expertly prepared by Tony) then I know what I am shooting for. If I apply my newbie stropping techniques, I may corrupt this first learning experience.

If I use the blade as shipped by Tony am I going to do myself some damage or I am completely missing the point?

All of you advice is greatly appreciated.

Scott

Originally Posted by finno

(when it was expertly prepared by Tony)

Actually, expertly prepared by EL, a member and Honemeister (the real kind) here. He does all of the razors I sell.


Tony

Scott,

Your instincts are right here. You could mess up the blade with bad stropping before you even try it. On the other hand, the shave might not be as smooth without a little stropping beforehand. The edge undergoes tiny amounts of corrosion between uses, and stropping helps clean that off. I would imagin that this could happen after honing, even if you don't shave, but I'm not sure.

So it's your call. Either way there's some drawbacks.

I would definitely recommend grabbing some of your hair and trying the hanging hair test on the fresh edge. That'll give you an idea how a shave-ready razor reacts to your particular hair, which will help you later when you learn to hone.

Good luck,
Josh

Scott,

A thing to consider on stropping is this.
I strop the evening before. That way
I have more time in the morning for
shaving.

Now this is debatable, some other members
do this as well and other insist that you
should strop immediately before the shave.

Don't be afraid to experiment a little and
see what works for you.

As far as the razor enroute from Tony. If
you feel comfortable stropping it a few times
before shaving - go for it. Your going to
have to do it sooner or later and preferably
before the second shave......

I'm confident that you will do fine.



Terry

There's a recent thread somewhere on here (unfortunately I've been unable to find it) where one of the members talks about how his freshly honed razor is less comfortable to shave with than one he's stropped a few times. General consensus was that while the hone gets a razor to its sharpest level, it's not a smoothly polished edge so it tends to be less comfortable until it's stropped. Tony would be able to tell you if his razors are stropped after honing before he ships them out ... or how much difference, if any, it would make.

I would think a lot of the comfort level would depend on how sensitive your skin is as well as how you prepare for the shave (i.e. hot shower, preshave solution, type of soap/cream, etc). I also highly recommend having a bottle of Witch Hazel on hand for use as a cooling splash immediately after the shave - as far as I'm concerned, this stuff rivals sliced bread and duct tape in terms of useful innovation. I use Dickinson's brand, available for about four bucks at Walgreen's or Kroger and the scent doesn't interfere with whatever aftershave I use to finish up.

Keep us posted on how the equipment acquisitions come along ... and practice that look of surprise, 'kay buddy?
Jack

Ok, I guess that I'll be the dissenting vote here. Yes, you can shave the first time with a truly shave-ready razor the first time without stropping; I've done it.

I'd recommend only going with the grain, and probably only a couple of passes -- don't try for BBS yet. Let your beard grow for a good day or two )more dramatic to see longer, heavy growth shaved off ), invite the boys in to observe, and start showing them proper male grooming.

GOOD LUCK!