Thread: Dovo Best Quality vs. Gold Dollar

With all due respect, the OP of this thread acknowledged his inexperience and had used his GD once at the time of posting.

I have no doubt you can get a GD to shave, and maybe even shave well. I've honed a couple of them over the years and they were OK. What I'm more interested in is the average time between rehones, or even bevel sets.

Everyone gets very gung-ho about the fact they can get these things to shave. I've heard very little over the past 5 years about living with one day in, day out. There's more to a razor than just the few shaves post-hone. It's also about how that edge holds up over time and the medium to long-term maintenance requirements.

We know the good brands keep up over time. GD info in this regard isn't, as far as I can tell, as readily available.

There is a reason they are cheap, and it is not just to do with the scales. The steel might tap-dance along the line of shaveability, but I'm prepared to bet my reputation (whatever it is...) that it isn't much better quality-wise than that.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

What I'm more interested in is the average time between rehones, or even bevel sets.

Everyone gets very gung-ho about the fact they can get these things to shave. I've heard very little over the past 5 years about living with one day in, day out. There's more to a razor than just the few shaves post-hone. It's also about how that edge holds up over time and the medium to long-term maintenance requirements.

We know the good brands keep up over time. GD info in this regard isn't, as far as I can tell, as readily available.

There is a reason they are cheap, and it is not just to do with the scales. The steel might tap-dance along the line of shaveability, but I'm prepared to bet my reputation (whatever it is...) that it isn't much better quality-wise than that.

James.

There is a guy on another razor site who committed to a year with the same GD. He is well on his way to completing his commitment. The maintenance is no different than other razors.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

There is a guy on another razor site who committed to a year with the same GD. He is well on his way to completing his commitment. The maintenance is no different than other razors.

Well, that may be your opinion, but the two I have, if I was to use them to shave, wouldn't make it more than three or four shaves before they'd have to hit the Nani 12k, minimum for a refresh. That, in addition to their inconsistent geometry makes them very tricky to even get an even bevel.

And as soon as your taking a blade to the stones frequently, you're constantly reducing the metal available on the blade, and as you use more of the metal, the geometry will change.

My other blades, most over a year old, have been honed once, and never needed anything more than good stropping and some crox now and then.

GDs are great to practice honing on for the very reason they are so inconsistent in their geometry, hone 10 different GDs, and you'll be better prepared to tackle a blade with similar issues.

To use as a go-to razor, wouldn't even think of it and why? You can get real steel, a nice vintage blade, for $20.00 or less to practice on and then have a consistent, usable razor.

edited to add:

This is a $12.00 razor I grabbed almost a year ago, sent it out to get honed, it's one of my favorite blades now.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Well, that may be your opinion, but the two I have, if I was to use them to shave, wouldn't make it more than three or four shaves before they'd have to hit the Nani 12k, minimum for a refresh. That, in addition to their inconsistent geometry makes them very tricky to even get an even bevel.

And as soon as your taking a blade to the stones frequently, you're constantly reducing the metal available on the blade, and as you use more of the metal, the geometry will change.

My other blades, most over a year old, have been honed once, and never needed anything more than good stropping and some crox now and then.

GDs are great to practice honing on for the very reason they are so inconsistent in their geometry, hone 10 different GDs, and you'll be better prepared to tackle a blade with similar issues.

To use as a go-to razor, wouldn't even think of it and why? You can get real steel, a nice vintage blade, for $20.00 or less to practice on and then have a consistent, usable razor.

edited to add:

This is a $12.00 razor I grabbed almost a year ago, sent it out to get honed, it's one of my favorite blades now.

Nice razor Phrank!!!

Originally Posted by Phrank

Well, that may be your opinion, but the two I have, if I was to use them to shave, wouldn't make it more than three or four shaves before they'd have to hit the Nani 12k, minimum for a refresh.My other blades, most over a year old, have been honed once, and never needed anything more than good stropping and some crox now and then.
]

My Double Arrow, arguably identical to Gold Dollars, has 35 shaves and counting on just clean strops. My GD behaved the same before I PIFed it to a new straight enthusiast.

It is not my "opinion" that another shaver has committed to a year of GD shaves to show that the razor is viable, it is a fact that he is actually doing it.

Do GDs and DAs have geometry issues?(ret) Absolutely. Will they be passed down and treasured by relatives? No, they are cheap junk. But the vast majority of them are capable of holding a great edge. The last statement, of course, is my opinion.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Well, that may be your opinion, but the two I have, if I was to use them to shave, wouldn't make it more than three or four shaves before they'd have to hit the Nani 12k, minimum for a refresh. That, in addition to their inconsistent geometry makes them very tricky to even get an even bevel.

And as soon as your taking a blade to the stones frequently, you're constantly reducing the metal available on the blade, and as you use more of the metal, the geometry will change.

My other blades, most over a year old, have been honed once, and never needed anything more than good stropping and some crox now and then.

GDs are great to practice honing on for the very reason they are so inconsistent in their geometry, hone 10 different GDs, and you'll be better prepared to tackle a blade with similar issues.

To use as a go-to razor, wouldn't even think of it and why? You can get real steel, a nice vintage blade, for $20.00 or less to practice on and then have a consistent, usable razor.

edited to add:

This is a $12.00 razor I grabbed almost a year ago, sent it out to get honed, it's one of my favorite blades now.

Phrank: That's a mighty fine razor you acquired for twelve dollars.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

Phrank: That's a mighty fine razor you acquired for twelve dollars.

I agree, I then found two other French framebacks, both Duveres Freres #19, for under $20.00 each...one turned out like the one in the pic...the other one I busted out on, frown was too far gone and there was a crack in the heel...win some, lose some...but they are among my favorite blades.

Going to get a well deserved "off topic" penalty soon....

Originally Posted by Phrank

I agree, I then found two other French framebacks, both Duveres Freres #19, for under $20.00 each...one turned out like the one in the pic...the other one I busted out on, frown was too far gone and there was a crack in the heel...win some, lose some...but they are among my favorite blades.

Going to get a well deserved "off topic" penalty soon....

I prefer yours to the Gold Dollars, Phrank.

Originally Posted by AlanII

I prefer yours to the Gold Dollars, Phrank.

I'll agree with that!

GD razors suck. I would go with whipped dog, his razors are of good quality and are shave ready.