Thread: Need some advice

I basically did everything they say not to do, I bought cheap (gold dollar) with a cheap strop ($29 for both) I shaved with it a few times and it was downright painful. The alum block was dern near unbearable. I now know that I should have gotten it honed and gotten a better strop, but we know what they say about hindsight. My question is this; now that I have it should I send the razor off for a honing and "ride it out" or would I be better served to get a vintage from the marketplace or a "sight unseen" from whippeddog.com and using this gold dollar to practice stroping and honing. Also should I stick with this cheap strop while learning or am I doing myself a huge disservice?


Thanks to all in advance!

Scott

I'd go with Larry or some other dependable vendor of lower end, but good edged razors. I also would save the GD to learn the stropping motion. Not seeing your strop, I can't comment on it, but if it's flat, decent smooth leather, it should be ok.

Your strop is probably the last thing to upgrade.

Oh well,,,,, start reading the advice in the library section, it was constructed by many who had good results by following it & start again,,,,

Straight Razor Place Library:Books/Beginners Guide - Straight Razor Place Library

Hi Scott & welcome to SRP! What I would do if I were you is to find a better vintage razor like on eBay or something & get it professionally honed by Lynn or gssixgun. Once you get it back you will know how a correctly honed & stropped razor feels to shave with. Meanwhile use the cheap strop you have & the Gold Dollar to practice stropping with. If I had a GD, I wouldn't even attempt to shave with it. There is a list somewhere's in the library of razors not to buy & GD is on that list. I heard that some will shave good when honed & stropped right but they're so inconsistent not all of them will do that. This is why we are here to help others out & change a bad experience into a good one. There is a wealth of information on here & plenty of members here to help you out, plus I'm sure if you search, you will find some members in your area that aren't afraid to give you some one on one learning. If you were in Texas near me, I would be more than happy to help you out but you will find someone in your area that will be able to help you out. By sticking with the cheap strop for now, you will be able to practice stropping with the GD. I'm sure you already have some accidental cut marks on your cheap strop already but as you keep practicing you will do it less & less by following the instruction of rolling the blade on its spine & strop again. There is a reason they say to roll it on the spine. If you have any questions please feel free to pm me or ask questions on here & you will get a lot of people here to help you out. You are not alone, there are many guys & gals out there that are new to straight razors & want to learn the right way. Always make sure you have a firm grip on the razor & don't let it slip from your hands in the sink or it will end up with a chip in the cutting edge but should that ever happen, many times it can be honed out by one of the professionals on here. I do all my honing & stropping myself & eventually you can do your own honing & stropping with the right equipment. In the long run it is a whole lot cheaper than buying refills for these 4 & 5 bladed razors they have these days. I like shaving with older vintage razors myself, if only they could talk. So Scott, stick with the GD & the cheap strop to practice stropping it while you are getting a vintage razor honed professionally. You can even buy a new one but if it were me, I would get an older one with little or no hone wear & one w/o a frown on the edge & you will be set to go. You will then be able to get it professionally honed & stropped while you practice with that GD you have for now.
Best wishes,
Steve

Scott
Go to the Forum, then the Workshop & scroll about 3 lines down & you will see this:
Sticky Thread Sticky: Welcome to the Workshop: How do I / Where do I / What do I / answers are here
Start reading there & you will also find more information on how, where & what do I do & there is a wealth of information there also, but you can go to the Library & learn to strop, watch honing videos & so on. I hope this all helps you out on things you want to learn about straight razors!

Hi Scott. I also purchased a Gold Dollar unknowingly at first but it came honed. A short while after I dinged it off the sink and it was time to learn honing myself. I brought it back to shave ready and get a close comfortable shave from it. You could always send it to Phil at Classic edge. You could ride it out if you get it honed. I wouldn't worry about the strop I nicked mine. Just sand it with 1000 grit and rub some mink oil on it. If you cut it, you can glue the big cuts down. Larry at whipped dog is a great guy he really knocks the customer service out of the park. You could get a sight unseen as they are fine razors he sends you and 100% shave ready. I am also a beginner and I feel you pain of buying something and then finding out its a piece of crap. Good Luck

Scott

Hi and welcome. Many of us find SRP after buying a cheap razor and strop and finding them useless. Best bet is read a while and when you are ready start again and just use the cheap stuff as practice pieces. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask