Thread: Sensitivity issues

I would suggest not using the Gold Dollar razor if you are using the factory edge as supplied. I do not believe any amount of stropping could put it right. It likely needs to honed to be sure it has a good edge. That and your technique combined could be the problem. Once you eliminate the blade as a source by having it honed to shave ready then you know it is your shaving technique if you still have the same issues. The razor you are waiting on might go a long way to improve things too as it should have a better edge than a Gold Dollar factory edge.

In the meantime do as Utopian suggests and go slow, watch your pressure on the blade, blade angle and do WTG passes. If it goes better WTG with your new razor then try XTG. If the XTG is comfortable then maybe try the ATG pass.

Bob

Wow, those are some really good suggestions! I did have the razor honed at a local shop that specializes in barber clippers for haircuts and agriculture use. It cost less than five bucks, so I wasn't too concerned with the quality of the honing, just that it would be better than what it came with. I have been able to see a noticeable visual change to the cutting edge as it degrades. I have started using a pair of heavy canvas pants with my leather strop (kinda difficult since the 1X4 I have is about 3.5 feet long). Also, I think I may have gotten some acronyms mixed up. I used ATG for Across the Grain, and XTG for Against the Grain. The Against the Grain is the most painful (as is to be expected with a bad edge).
This is some really great stuff to try out. I never even considered a cold water shave. Does it matter if you do it after a shower?

If a shop does not specialize in straight razor honing chances are they could even make an edge worse than before. There have been more than a few cases of people taking razors to shops that do knives etc sort of thing and had the edge buggered up. For sure don't use the Gold Dollar and give your face a break.

Bob

I usually do a cold water facial rinse just before I get out of the shower.My preference. You can just as easily do a cold water face wash just before you lather. Two things I do to ease my shave is after the shower cold water rinse I run a small drop of hair conditioner over my beard and leave my face wet after the shower. Just before lathering I re wet my face and rub a little Cremo, Kiss My Face or a dollop of Aveno in a can for sensitive skin as a pre shave. For me, I feel it gives me smoother glide for the razor.

Welcome to SRP tseppish:: these two YouTube videos really helped my S.R. Shaving technique. Search for the Lynn Abrams introduction to S.R. Shaving video. Also search for the three pass shave. It's the video by DRMATT357

The first step is to acquire a S.R. With a real shave ready edge. I would recommend looking for used razors on the SRP members sale link or new razors from Straight Razor Design. This will assure your next razor will arrive with a real edge for shaving.

Originally Posted by BobH

If a shop does not specialize in straight razor honing chances are they could even make an edge worse than before.

Bob

In the case of "stock" Gold Dollars, this is unlikely. rubbing it on the sidewalk wouldn't either. A properly configured and honed Gold Dollar can deliver a good shave though.

Originally Posted by Splashone

In the case of "stock" Gold Dollars, this is unlikely. rubbing it on the sidewalk wouldn't either. A properly configured and honed Gold Dollar can deliver a good shave though.

Yup, my assumption was that the OP's Gold Dollar was a "stock" Gold Dollar as there was no mention made of it being purchased shave ready. I did indicate that if it had a "factory edge" it might not be the greatest.

Bob

Euclid:
I bought it through Vintage Straight Razor, part of what they call "The Shaving Network", and it does come with a free honing. I will probably send it to them once I have a magnifier to check with. After I got it honed at a shop locally, it did shave better, but not great. The edge degraded swiftly after that, and I don't have the skills to keep it keen yet.

Splashone:
The local shop did make it better than it was before; they specialize in clippers and barber scissors, and will sharpen about anything else. For five bucks, I figured it was worth it to see if it would be any better.

BobH:
The seller did say it was "shave ready", but they sell mostly Gold Dollar and a few other low cost brands. One of the retailers in the "Network" is The Blades Grimm, who I understand doesn't have the best reputation. However, I understand that Tim Zowada is doing some consulting with them or Gold Dollar to improve things, so maybe it will get better?

Originally Posted by tseppish

Euclid:
I bought it through Vintage Straight Razor, part of what they call "The Shaving Network", and it does come with a free honing. I will probably send it to them once I have a magnifier to check with. After I got it honed at a shop locally, it did shave better, but not great. The edge degraded swiftly after that, and I don't have the skills to keep it keen yet.

Splashone:
The local shop did make it better than it was before; they specialize in clippers and barber scissors, and will sharpen about anything else. For five bucks, I figured it was worth it to see if it would be any better.

BobH:
The seller did say it was "shave ready", but they sell mostly Gold Dollar and a few other low cost brands. One of the retailers in the "Network" is The Blades Grimm, who I understand doesn't have the best reputation. However, I understand that Tim Zowada is doing some consulting with them or Gold Dollar to improve things, so maybe it will get better?

OK, I was under the wrong assumption and you know what they say about making assumptions. So, if it was sold as "shave ready" either it wasn't or as a beginner you damaged the edge with poor stropping or shaving technique. The later is not unusual at all, did that quite a bit in the beginning also. If the seller will re-hone it for you I would get that done. When you get it back "shave ready" don't strop it, just use it to see what the edge feels like. That would eliminate bad stropping as a cause of edge damage.

I would still say not to use a shop that will sharpen anything. Honing a straight razor is a pretty specialized skill.

Bob