Thread: My Edge

Problem with GD razors is that even experienced honers can get a good edge on only a certain percentage of them. As a beginner it is hard to decide whether your honing skills or the razor are to blame for a poor edge. Better get yourself a vintage quality razor.

No stabilizer, you might be able to hone that one.

It appears poorly ground, a bit of a frown in the middle and the heel is narrower than the toe.

The spine looks like it has a curve so it might make a nice smiler. If all these things are true and you hone with straight strokes you will only remove steel from the middle, (hence the frown).

Lay a straight edge on the edge to see the frown and width of heel to toe.

Still not a razor you want to learn on, first you must repair it then hone. Gold Dollars are “Kit Razors”.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

No stabilizer, you might be able to hone that one.

It appears poorly ground, a bit of a frown in the middle and the heel is narrower than the toe.

The spine looks like it has a curve so it might make a nice smiler. If all these things are true and you hone with straight strokes you will only remove steel from the middle, (hence the frown).

Lay a straight edge on the edge to see the frown and width of heel to toe.

Still not a razor you want to learn on, first you must repair it then hone. Gold Dollars are “Kit Razors”.

The spine does have a curve but the edge dose not have a frown it may be a shadow making it look like it. It does have a smile.
The heel and toe seam to be the same but I would have to measure them to be sure.

The picture is from before my attempt at honing. so it could be that ever thing you see in the pic is true but has now changed since being put to the stones.

Originally Posted by Kees

Problem with GD razors is that even experienced honers can get a good edge on only a certain percentage of them. As a beginner it is hard to decide whether your honing skills or the razor are to blame for a poor edge. Better get yourself a vintage quality razor.

Well, I manage pretty well. I have actually honed and sold a few hundred over the years. I find they compare favorably in that respect to say an entry level Dovo. An experienced honer should have a very high success rate with that particular model. A beginner, yeah, he would probably find it very difficult. On that, I agree. But it could be a lot worse.

In this case the OP already has three of them, bought for $5 each, and they are one of the easier blades made by the company to hone. You KNOW he is gonna try, anyhow, right? I do hope he touches up a better razor first, before getting serious about the GD, though.