any recomendations?

[luckysealy]

i have been enjoying shaving with my safety razors but i would like to try a straight. could some of you recomend a good entry level setup?

[heavydutysg135]

I would HIGHLY recommend Tony Miller's starter sets on thewellshavedgentleman.com (as would many other members I am sure. This will give you a shave ready razor (razors are not shave ready when you purchase them new) as well as the tools to maintain it for some time. My recommendation would be this set: http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.com/displayProductDocument.hg?productId=55&categoryId=5 with the paddle strop pre-pasted with 3, 1, and .5 diamond paste, and .5 micron chromium oxide paste (all on leather). This should be everything that you need to get off to a good start and you will not have to replace anything later since all the components are high quality and very useful. All that you would need to add later if you decided to get really serious would be a Norton 4K/8K hone.

[heavydutysg135]

Actually since you are already a wetshaver and probably have a good brush and soap/cream you might just want to order the seperate components. At a minimum you will need a razor that is shave ready and a decent strop to align the edge everytime before you shave. The 4-sided pasted paddle strop would be optional in the beginning but it will be needed after a few weeks to keep the edge sharp. The last and cheapest option would be to buy a shave ready razor with a 4 sided paddle strop with 3 sides pasted and one side plain leather for stroping; however, the hanging strops are easier and quicker to use. You will also probably want to pick up Lynn's DVD from classicshaving.com or from straightrazorplace.com

[Taz]

Actually since you are already a wetshaver and probably have a good brush and soap/cream you might just want to order the seperate components. At a minimum you will need a razor that is shave ready and a decent strop to align the edge everytime before you shave. The 4-sided pasted paddle strop would be optional in the beginning but it will be needed after a few weeks to keep the edge sharp. The last and cheapest option would be to buy a shave ready razor with a 4 sided paddle strop with 3 sides pasted and one side plain leather for stroping; however, the hanging strops are easier and quicker to use. You will also probably want to pick up Lynn's DVD from classicshaving.com or from straightrazorplace.com

+1

[luckysealy]

thanks a lot guys.

[heavydutysg135]

If you have any questions don't be afraid to talk to Tony Miller. He is more than happy to help any newbie get started. He is in business to make money; however, he is a stand up guy and he definitely will not steer you or anyone wrong. Also feel free to pm me if you have any more questions.

[Doc4]

Actually since you are already a wetshaver and probably have a good brush and soap/cream you might just want to order the seperate components. At a minimum you will need a razor that is shave ready and a decent strop to align the edge everytime before you shave. The 4-sided pasted paddle strop would be optional in the beginning but it will be needed after a few weeks to keep the edge sharp. The last and cheapest option would be to buy a shave ready razor with a 4 sided paddle strop with 3 sides pasted and one side plain leather for stroping; however, the hanging strops are easier and quicker to use. You will also probably want to pick up Lynn's DVD from classicshaving.com or from straightrazorplace.com

good advice! I'd say also check out classicshaving and look at the DOVOs and TIs ... or the Filarmonicas! You can't go wrong with the Filly razors, and the 3/8 is like $40! Or the 7/8 for $100. Get the razor sharpened with their sharpening service, a good strop, the Norton 4k/8k and Lynn's DVD (really good for showing you how to do it all, esp the honing when you feel up to it).

[heavydutysg135]

good advice! I'd say also check out classicshaving and look at the DOVOs and TIs ... or the Filarmonicas! You can't go wrong with the Filly razors, and the 3/8 is like $40! Or the 7/8 for $100. Get the razor sharpened with their sharpening service, a good strop, the Norton 4k/8k and Lynn's DVD (really good for showing you how to do it all, esp the honing when you feel up to it).

Those Filarmonicas are definately good deals; however, in my opinion the 3/8 is a little small and the 7/8 (the one I have in my hand is more like 8/8th:smile: ) is a little large for a beginner. A beginner would probably want arround a 5/8th blade to start out on. Although you can buy everything you need (except the paddle strop) at classicshaving I think that you would be better off with Tony. His strops are a better quality and they are cheaper. His razors that are shave ready are also cheaper than a comparable razor from classicshaving after the sharpening service.

[Taz]

Those Filarmonicas are definately good deals; however, in my opinion the 3/8 is a little small and the 7/8 (the one I have in my hand is more like 8/8th:smile: ) is a little large for a beginner. A beginner would probably want arround a 5/8th blade to start out on. Although you can buy everything you need (except the paddle strop) at classicshaving I think that you would be better off with Tony. His strops are a better quality and they are cheaper. His razors that are shave ready are also cheaper than a comparable razor from classicshaving after the sharpening service.

I agree with a strop or paddle or both from Tony but I would get the razor from one of the vendors that use Lynn. Nothing against Tony he is great but I am 99% sure he send his razors out to be honed including his own. I just started STR8 but I will tell you I got some razors done else wear and tried them and they just did not seem sharp so I dropped them off at Lynn's and I noticed a huge difference. I am new to STR8 but I know there are a lot more people that agree with this. Also being new I started with a 4 sided paddle 3 paste 1 leather. Found it difficult to strop on the paddle bought a barely used #1 strop by Tony and it is so much either so if you can swing it I would get a pasted paddle and a strop, get a reasonably priced razor from any of the great ideas above a get it to Lynn or the vendor will send to Lynn for you.
Example:
Great Starter Set
1 - Heirloom 4 Sided Vintage Style Paddle Strop For Pastes $59
1 - Heirloom #2 Original Latigo Hanging Strop $43
1 - DOVO Genuine Ebony & "Silver Steel" 5/8 $80
Lynn's Honing $20
Total $202 Tony's Best Set $195 and less quality then above
As above just paddle $154
Basic Starter Set
1 - Heirloom 4 Sided Vintage Style Paddle Strop 3 pasted Sides $54
1- DOVO "Best Quality" Straight Razor, 5/8 Same razor as Tony's set but not as good as above. $56
Lynn's Honing $20
Total $130 Tony's $154

Just examples lots of ways to go. Good Luck

[heavydutysg135]

I agree with a strop or paddle or both from Tony but I would get the razor from one of the vendors that use Lynn. Nothing against Tony he is great but I am 99% sure he send his razors out to be honed including his own. I just started STR8 but I will tell you I got some razors done else wear and tried them and they just did not seem sharp so I dropped them off at Lynn's and I noticed a huge difference. I am new to STR8 but I know there are a lot more people that agree with this. Also being new I started with a 4 sided paddle 3 paste 1 leather. Found it difficult to strop on the paddle bought a barely used #1 strop by Tony and it is so much either so if you can swing it I would get a pasted paddle and a strop, get a reasonably priced razor from any of the great ideas above a get it to Lynn or the vendor will send to Lynn for you.
Example:
Great Starter Set
1 - Heirloom 4 Sided Vintage Style Paddle Strop For Pastes $59
1 - Heirloom #2 Original Latigo Hanging Strop $43
1 - DOVO Genuine Ebony & "Silver Steel" 5/8 $80
Lynn's Honing $20
Total $202 Tony's Best Set $195 and less quality then above
As above just paddle $154
Basic Starter Set
1 - Heirloom 4 Sided Vintage Style Paddle Strop 3 pasted Sides $54
1- DOVO "Best Quality" Straight Razor, 5/8 Same razor as Tony's set but not as good as above. $56
Lynn's Honing $20
Total $130 Tony's $154

Just examples lots of ways to go. Good Luck





Wow! That was very nice of you to put all that work into the post. Just to clarify one point though, Tony does not sharpen the razors that he sells as shave ready. He sends them to another member who he feels is a superior honer.

[Taz]

Wow! That was very nice of you to put all that work into the post. Just to clarify one point though, Tony does not sharpen the razors that he sells as shave ready. He sends them to another member who he feels is a superior honer.

Yea thats what I thought thats why I said 99%

[murchmb]

How about a different approach? I would go over to SRP (http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums) and/or S.E.R. (http://www.straightedgerazors.com/forums/index.php) and pose the same question. You could probably end up with a good shave ready razor and a serviceable strop for a lot less than the cost of the entry sets that are mentioned above. After using your ultra-budget setup for a while and liking the straight experience, you might then upgrade to a finer setup and sell/PIF your initial set to another newbie.

I'm currently in that beginning stage and am trying to decide if I like shaving with a straight. My razors came from eBay (plus one from a forum member), and the strop from the honemeister that prepared my eBay blades for me. I can recoup or even make a profit on the tools I have acquired should I decide straights are not for me.

[heavydutysg135]

How about a different approach? I would go over to SRP (http://www.straightrazorplace.com/forums) and/or S.E.R. (http://www.straightedgerazors.com/forums/index.php) and pose the same question. You could probably end up with a good shave ready razor and a serviceable strop for a lot less than the cost of the entry sets that are mentioned above. After using your ultra-budget setup for a while and liking the straight experience, you might then upgrade to a finer setup and sell/PIF your initial set to another newbie.

I'm currently in that beginning stage and am trying to decide if I like shaving with a straight. My razors came from eBay (plus one from a forum member), and the strop from the honemeister that prepared my eBay blades for me. I can recoup or even make a profit on the tools I have acquired should I decide straights are not for me.


This is also a really good idea. JoshEarl always has great deals on "no frills" shave ready razors that would be great first razors (or second or third lol). You would still need at least a strop though.