Thread: Practice Straight Razor - Blunt

Originally Posted by AlanQ

I taped the edge when I did it and it doesnt increase the resistance at all. It does negate any possibilities of slicing an ear off however.
Ps. can I havce a dram?

Hey Alan! I don't plan on slicing off my ear . . . . .I do have some sideburns, so I don't go that close to the ears! You are welcome to enjoy a dram or two of my single malt scotch, however you will have to come down to Franklin, Wisconsin (suburb of Milwaukee) to the party! Take care!

I suspect the value of owning a blunt razor will be moot by the time you receive it, seeing as you are already doing full shaves with a sharp razor.

That is a suggestion that I wish I had taken to heart more when I started. It certainly would have saved me a good cut or two!

Originally Posted by Augustagj

That is a suggestion that I wish I had taken to heart more when I started. It certainly would have saved me a good cut or two!

Augustagj, IMHO, it has been a very good investment! I am still using it to practice my strokes with both hands and I also practice my stropping flips on a leather covered 3"x10" book while watching TV in the evening. I will be doing my 4th straight razor shave this morning with my "real" Ralf Aust 5/8 Straight. My real shaves are improving and my "confidence" using both hands with the very sharp straights has also improved. I really do feel that the practice with my "blunt" Gold Dollar helps!

Congratulations. It sounds like you have done some good homework to maximize the experience and minimize blood loss. I think that was very prudent!

Originally Posted by Moonshae

I'm not sure how useful practicing with a dull blade would be. You might learn a little bit about angles, but without the feedback of actual hair removal, you won't know if you're doing it right or learning bad habits, especially with regard to pressure. You're better off just starting with a properly sharp, shave ready blade and following Lynn's advice on how to start shaving with a straight.

It's actually pretty difficult to hurt yourself with a straight. Small nicks are not a big deal, and you'll likely be dealing with razor burn mostly at first. A dull blade won't help you avoid those.

Thank you so much for this input. I too was thinking that it might be of value to get a blunted practice razor, but not so much now. I'll just get a "ready" razor from Lynn at SRD. Thanks!

I know this is kind of an old thread, but I want to throw out there that, as a beginner, I have found the blunt GD practice razor I have very helpful. It was originally given to me as part of a "starter kit" by my mother-in-law, who accidentally ordered the version with the "practice razor". I found it very helpful to work with it while I waited for my real straight to arrive. I could've just use a bread knife, but the grip would've been different, and it just made more sense to work with an actual razor shaped object.