Thread: My new Tony Miller kit

Well I bit the bullet! After narrowly avoiding a cheap piece of rubbish strop on ebay (thanks to FiReSTaRT and others in the strop forum), I have made what I confidently think is a much better investment.

I was looking and reading and researching and stressing about what to get when I realised a few things. Firstly, I need to get a basic kit together so that I can start shaving with a straight. Secondly, this is a long term investment (and as such should cost more than a packet of Mach 3 blades).

So that just left the question of "Which kit and from whom?". This was pretty much answered by Tony Miller's reputation. I have never seen someone with such positive feedback. Simply amazing!

So I went ahead and ordered the Heirloom Dovo 5/8 Straight Razor Shaving Set #2 http://tinyurl.com/yaeza3

My boys are giving this to me for Christmas. Now I just have to spend a few weeks practising my surprised look for Christmas morning.

(no... that's not it...)

Cheers,

Scott

You got yourself some great gear, Scott The paddle will require a few more strokes for daily stropping than a hanger but it will work just as well. The abrasives will be just right to maintain your edge as long as you don't damage it. I got one shave-ready DOVO (Bismarck 5/8 bone) from Tony and it's a superb shaving performer.

Are you planning on giving yourself
a Christmas morning shave?

I'm sure that you will enjoy it.
I wish you success.


Terry

Thanks guys! I think the boys will be disapointed if I don't have a go at a shave on that morning. Chances are that I will have an audience!

Actually that prompts a question, should I use the non-abrasive side of the strop prior to my first shave? Or does Shave Ready literally mean Shave Ready? I am hoping that I can just start shaving so that I have a baseline for what I good edge feels like.

If my timing is good and I care correctly for the blade, I'll be suggesting a hone & hanging strop for Fathers Day. All part of my master plan!


Scott

There are mixed views on that but remember:
1) Stropping (if done properly) won't hurt the blade
2) It can only help

If I were you, I'd get a scrap piece of 1x1 from the local hardware store, a butter-knife and practice proper stropping motion with them until you are moving it back and forth in a proper x-pattern, rolling on the spine and not catching the edge. That will save your strop from nicks and your edge from damage, once you get the goodies.

I will stress again that while stropping
take your time. Take it sloooow, speed
means nothing. Be sure that you don't
lift the spine.


Terry

Definitely use the non abrasive side of the strop. It proably will be shave ready just relax and go slow.

......and spend a couple of minutes lathering
up. This is a large part of the enjoyment of
this addiction.


Terry

I've only been using my Dovo (same kit as yours) for a couple of days now but I've noticed that the preshave stropping forces me to focus and gets me in the right frame of mind before I lay that sharp piece of steel to my face. I'm looking at the whole process as a ritual so stropping is just as enjoyable as whipping up the lather and the actual shave.

Don't forget to dry that razor afterward!
Jack

For drying I use this little trick. I believe
that Rtaylor mentioned it many months
ago.

Lay a towel on a flat surface and back
hone the blade. By backhone I mean
lay the blade flat and lead with the
spine. Of course you could also
just strop the razor 10 or so times
as well.


Terry