I have never used a straight razor and am wondering what would be better, or maybe one of each?
Kriegar Straight Razor | Vintage Straight Razors
Gold Dollar Straight Razor | Vintage Straight Razors
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I have never used a straight razor and am wondering what would be better, or maybe one of each?
Kriegar Straight Razor | Vintage Straight Razors
Gold Dollar Straight Razor | Vintage Straight Razors
I would choose neither. If I have a choice I would click the classifieds button at the top of this page and find a razor that is not only able to be honed, but is actually shave ready. While of the two choices some of the GD can be made shaveable it takes a lot of work in most cases and is not worth the time; Kriegar isn't really even a razor, more of a razor shaped object.
deighingeal is on the money. Gold Dollars can be put right but unless you have the skills to do it yourself you're going to have to pay for the skills of others. The classifieds or other reputable places will probably afford you better and cheaper options.
You have chosen the worst. If you add Tomohawk razor you will get a "champion's list of razors". Never buy one of these three, under any conditions. I also vote for classifieds or probably eBay.Quote:
Originally Posted by mjparks89
Kriegar just outright suck. GDs can be good beginner razors, but new they come with issues which could/ would spoil the experience for beginners. There are people who buy them, fix them and sell them, but I don't know if the place you linked to does.
There are many other brands that will shave well. The problem as a beginner is recognizing them.
A safe bet is buying from the classifieds here. You can rely on getting a quality razor there.
If you want to buy from another place, then dovo, boker or thiers issard are the best (and only) brands which still make new razors of high quality steel. If you are interested in more vintage razors, then anything made in solingen or sheffield is a safe bet as well. There are many other possibilities as well, but these are the big ones to start with.
Plenty of good razors are available from other places and other manufacturers, but that also requires a bit of knowledge on the part of the buyer to know what to look for and how to recognize warning flags. Sticking to a 'known good' brand for a first razor is a good idea because it is safe, and you'll have a known quantity to compare with later on.
Another good reason to buy a razor from the classifieds is that you'll have an affordable blade with a known good edge. The thing with razors is: if the person selling them does not use them himself, they don't know whether it is sharp enough to shave with or not. Any razor with any type of edge is 'sharp' compared to e.g. a pocket knife. Sharp enough to shave with is something else entirely, and unless the person is a shaver, they don't know the difference.
Thank you everyone, I am off to the classifieds.
I have corrected a Gold Dollar and like it but I was only able to do so as I have worked on vintage razors so I now know (roughly) what I'm doing. You would be well advised finding a shave ready vintage razor. I don't live on your side of the Atlantic so have no personal experience of retailers there but I have heard good things about Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales
Indeed, I went down that path, thinking about trying to learn. Well, the first lesson was not to buy cheap razors. Lesson learned...
I do not know anything abut the Kriegar but the Gold Dollar will needQuote:
Originally Posted by mjparks89
the serious attention of a honemaster to set it right nine times out of ten.
So do factor in the price of honing...
When you have learned to hone a razor correctly and have the
full kit of hones to take a dull badly finished razor to shave
ready you might find the Gold Dollar a worthy challenge
and an education. I bought a GD on a whim but did not
expect all the work it took.
If you check out the Classified section on this forum you may find
a darn good vintage blade that has been correctly sharpened
and is shave ready.
Shop for a while before you jump in...
IIRC one or two vendors sell shave ready Gold Dollars. This means the Gold Dollar steel quality is OK for razors. Gold Dollars are hit and miss though, IIRC again, you have to buy a few to end up with one or two that will shave. Kriegar, Zeepk, Venus etc will never take an edge.
Gasp. I never thought I would say this but use a disposable before the other two!
Instead of buying one of these. Throw a handful of cash out the window then take a piece of broken glass (preferably jagged) and try to shave with it. My first SR was a vintage from the classifieds. Its amazing, if my skink could handle it I'd do two three-pass shaves a day.
My G-d, man. What's wrong with you? First of all, I didn't think skinks had any hair. Second, why the flark are you shaving it even if it did? Third, WHY?Quote:
Originally Posted by Devilpup
My mistake I meant skin. And I'd shave twice a day because I find it enjoyable and relaxing.Quote:
Originally Posted by AxelH
Lol I love this thead, My brother actually went out and bought a gold dollar razor with fake mother of pearl handles and its so heavy and dull. If I were you i would invest keep any eye out for flea markets and antique store razors, I recently picked up an amazing wade and butcher for 14.00 at an antique store shaves like a beast
It would only be a small handful of cash though - they're available for A$3.99 here is Australia with free postage!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Devilpup
I've managed to get a resonable shave out of mine, but it took some work and it taught me lots about honing.
I'm eager to see what my shave ready one shaves like when I get it.
FWIW
People, it seems, have had varying levels of satisfaction with the GDs based on what I have read here on SRP. I have one that shaves pretty well. I would not however suggest a razor like this for a first razor because as far as I can see they are never shave ready and always require a good hone at the least. I would suggest finding a older shave ready razor, from the classifieds maybe and start from there. If you want to get a GD later to practice your honing etc at least you will have a measure of what a sharp razor is.
Stu
Quote:
Originally Posted by Str8Raz0r
Thats what i did with my brothers razor i actually used his GD to practice honing
I started giggling so hard I almost peed myself.Quote:
Originally Posted by AxelH
OMG, I laughed till I cried.. Good one man... hehe.. Still laughing ...Quote:
Originally Posted by AxelH
Couldn't agree more, StuQuote:
Originally Posted by Str8Raz0r
Good choise.Quote:
Originally Posted by mjparks89
Im new as well, just started str8 shaving 7 months ago. Gold dollar was my 1st shaver(at that time I had'not discovered SRP). and was horrible especially it wasnt shaved ready.
I've seen quite many people had their 1st shaved with bad razor & stop continuing str8 shaving. So Imo 1st gear on 1st shave is important.
GoodLuck
Me thinks skinks do not have hair....Quote:
Originally Posted by AxelH
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bl...d_skink444.jpg
:rock:
Yep, I checked close. No hair. hehehehehe. That was friggin funny man... I'm still chuckling today.. hehe..Quote:
Originally Posted by niftyshaving
Devilpup, thanks for the laugh. I know you must not have liked us making fun of that, but it was just so funny!!! :)
Sometimes the smallest thing can be just hilarious.
M
By all means please laugh. I've learned to laugh at myself every chance I get.
I would recommend going to an antique store or a flea market and just keeping an eye out for a good looking SR, I went out and bought a Dovo from a shop brand new but i hardly shave with it anymore i use my 14 dollar W&B that i picked up. rather than spend a bunch of money on a new razor buy a cheap razor and clean it up