Thread: Hello from Seattle

Hello from Seattle!

I'm new to straight-edge shaving. I have a Gold Dollar #66 straight razor but haven't gotten it sharp enough yet.

Some assorted lapping film came in today that I'm trying to use (with a ceramic tile) for honing. I already have a two-sided paddle strop (that I bought originally to use with knives).

I've also placed an order with Whippeddog for an already honed "sight unseen" used straight razor. So eventually I'll have something to compare my Gold Dollar razor to.

I'm determined to get the Gold Dollar shaving sharp. This isn't rocket science so hopefully I can figure it out soon.

I've read most of the articles and seen the YouTube videos. So far, whatever I do, the razor just doesn't get much sharper.

I know that has to mean that the bevel just isn't set but...I'm doing all I can.

Part of the appeal to me however is to be able to hone for myself so sending it to someone else isn't an option for me. As I mentioned I've already (just) ordered a honed razor from Whippeddog as well.

Any advice on honing would be welcomed however!

G'Day and welcome to SRP.
You'll find the GD's are discussed ad nauseum around here.
I bought one for my first cut-throat (before I found this place...hehehe) and used it straight out of the box.....
I learned to hone on it (eventually) and have now passed it on to my eldest son (after a rescale) who is getting quite good results out of it.
Look at YouTube and search for gssixgun. His videos are great and explain most everything you would need to know about honing.
Lyn Abrams (the founder of this great site) has some too - and there are many others.
Watch and learn, my friend and it will come to you eventually.
We look forward to hearing of your successes

Welcome, It's good to know there are other Seattleites here on the site. I'm sure there are lots, but I'm new myself.

Originally Posted by Havachat45

G'Day and welcome to SRP.
You'll find the GD's are discussed ad nauseum around here.
I bought one for my first cut-throat (before I found this place...hehehe) and used it straight out of the box.....
I learned to hone on it (eventually) and have now passed it on to my eldest son (after a rescale) who is getting quite good results out of it.
Look at YouTube and search for gssixgun. His videos are great and explain most everything you would need to know about honing.
Lyn Abrams (the founder of this great site) has some too - and there are many others.
Watch and learn, my friend and it will come to you eventually.
We look forward to hearing of your successes

I'm curious about the rescale. How hard was it to do. I'm sure there are videos about taking the pin out and repinning but did you buy scale blanks and cut them to size or are there some already the right size?

Also, do you know if it's feasible to remove the Gold Dollar logo from the blade and how would you do that?

Thanks.

I you are through Yakima anytime soon I would be willing to sit down and help you with this. I get to the westside on occasion, but don't have any trips planned soon. we also have fairly regular meets every year: one at my house in the spring and one in Spokane in the late summer/early fall.

GC, Welcome.
On a number of levels you've chosen a hard path. I did too. Learning to shave with a str8 at the same time you're learning to hone a str8 will have its own tutorial affect. That's why I'm called pinklather.

Maybe the best input I can give is strong encouragement to get together for some face-time w/ experienced users. Deighaingeal (I can NEVER remember how to spell that) might be your best bet here. 'Highly skilled, personable. Even at $4/gal for gas, I would say it might be the best money you spend on this pursuit. The objective being to shorten the hardest part of the learning curve and expedite the fun & joy - both of the shave itself, and our natural fetish for making sharp edges. Time w/ Deighaingeal, or another kind user might be your shortest path to the joy.

I've removed the logo, and have sharpened the blade so that I can shave with it. I'm still experimenting to see how far I can go.

I ended up getting 4k/8k slip stones and a cut down 12k. I've also ordered a shave ready used razor from Whipped Dog but haven't received it yet. This will be just to have something to compare my work to.

I've also ordered some scale blanks and brass hardware so that I can play around with making scales for the GD razor after I get my other razor.

I have found the local signwriter a good place to get acrylic off-cuts (usually for free), which are a great scale material to learn on.

I'm determined to get the Gold Dollar shaving sharp. This isn't rocket science so hopefully I can figure it out soon.

FWIW --

Many of the GD razors have stabilizers (the thicker section of blade at the heel) that are too meaty. They tend to lift the edge off the stone when you're honing the heel of the edge.

Especially if your edge is developing a hook at the heel, use a coarse stone to thin-out the stabilizer so that it lets the blade lie flat on the stone when you're honing it.

And when the Whipped Dog razor comes, and it's sharper than the GD (which it probably will be), you'll have another question:

. . . Is the difference caused by the GD razor,
. . . or is Larry a better honer than I am ?

Have fun --

Charles

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

...

And when the Whipped Dog razor comes, and it's sharper than the GD (which it probably will be), you'll have another question:

. . . Is the difference caused by the GD razor,
. . . or is Larry a better honer than I am ?

Have fun --

Charles

Haha...that's why I've been honing like a fool and trying to speed up my learning curve

At this point I'm actually hoping that his razor won't be sharper than mine! Today's was the sharpest shave yet!

I'm probably not going to get his razor for another 1 1/2 weeks so I'm putting the odds at 50/50. A few weeks ago there would have been no contest of course.