Thread: Gold dollar or alternative?

It may be a good idea to list your location on your profile as there could be a mentor or razor club nearby to help you out.
Good luck !!

My first razor was a Dovo from Lynn. It is getting honed by him as we speak. I still use it all the time. I can't stress to you the importance of a quality, sharp razor. It has a very steep learning curve and it will only make it more complicated if you have a dull razor that is less than quality. Good luck to you in your journey. This is a great place with lots of info. If I had it to do all over again I would probably go with a vintage.

In my opinion the best choice to begin is a vintage straight prepared and sold by a member who is used to straight razors.

It's a best option than any new razor.

Hi,Zero2005, and welcome to SRP. You join the best forum on the web. I am still a newbie, and I have been shaving with a Straight for 4 1/2 months and my 1st razor was a GD because of the price and I only paid $10, and it was not worth it. As a beginner if I would of started with a new razor honed by Lynn himself I would of been frustrated, because shaving with a stra8 is a art and being a beginner myself starting with one by Lynn I would not have gotten a good shave, because the is a large learning curve involved. Lynn started this forum for us to learn from everybodys failures & experiances so we could start this journey with less frustrations. And learn from these great members, that have a wealth of information that are very willing to share it with us so we start with fewer disadvantages. So do get discouraged, and don't take it personal, we are just trying to help you!! With all that said stay away from the GD.

SRD (Lynn Abrams proprietor & Honer) has a Dovo BQ for $102, which includes an initial honing, and a complimentary re-honing, which you will need sooner or later. The value of $15-25/each for a honing anywhere else figured in means it's the equivalent (or less) than your price for the Dovo elsewhere. Save yourself time and headaches by going to SRD and buying a Dovo, or a Ralf Aust or Boker for about the same price. All are 1st quality razors, which GD are not!

Originally Posted by Thaeris

In my opinion the best choice to begin is a vintage straight prepared and sold by a member who is used to straight razors.

It's a best option than any new razor.

Just out of curiosity why would a shave ready vintage be better than a quality shave ready new razor, is it better just because of the price ?

It's not better. Some might say vintage is better and depending on the brand like new Boker and vintage or new Henkels or vintage some of the vintage are better however it all boils down to the specific razor. You can't make a blanket statement.

If you're preference is new then go for new. Actually if a vintage has some wear issues it may be harder for you to touch up as you begin honing.
My Ralf Aust was easier to touch up as I was first learning to hone than some other vintage blades I had that either had smiles, odd hone wear, etc.

Originally Posted by zero2005

New guy looking for a new affordable straight. So far I've looked at the vintage stuff but I really want a new blade not a vintage. I've come across a couple options in my price bracket the gold dollar 208 for 50$ and the 800 for 65. They are honed by a sharper razor. The only difference between them from what he is saying is the 208 is carbon and the 800 is stainless.

Are there any other options in the 50-75$ range for a new blade? I'm wanting to eventually learn to hone but I wanted a blade I can use first. If these are my best option for now then should I get the carbon or the stainless?

I've already looked at the whipped dog offerings

Welcome!

As you have already started to find out 99.99% of EVERYTHING ABOUT BUYING, USING AND MAINTAINING a straight razor is 'Personal Preference'.

Personally I like the larger blades 6/8 is right in the middle of what I prefer and don't prefer the 4/8 or smaller.

With that said a 9/16 isn't a bad blade to start with. I've recently had a razor given to me and much to my dismay they have decided to not keep it.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...er-editor.html

I haven't honed it yet and if it does hone up and give a nice shave, I'll give it to you. PM me and we can discussing shipping costs.

Originally Posted by mike1011

Just out of curiosity why would a shave ready vintage be better than a quality shave ready new razor, is it better just because of the price ?

If the new razor was prepared by a person who knows how to make a razor shave-ready, and if the new razor is from a known name, of quality, there is no difference but the price.

We give the advice to our knew members (of the CCC french club) to check for vintage straights restored by "old" members because they're _ cheaper (we think it's better if a new member start with a cheap blade, so he doesn't spend too much money to check if he enjoys or not shaving with a straight) _ and shave ready (with a protocol of disinfection after test).

Most of the new razors are bought in stores, where they are sold with no additional preparation than the "industrial finish", so they are often not really shave-ready, and more expensive than restored vintage. They can also check for salesman who add a preparation to make sure the blade is shave ready, but it's still more expensive.

But it's just a matter of opinion