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Thread: Modified Gold Dollar
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06-20-2022, 11:54 PM #13
Given your honing equipment, yes 2 or 3 degrees is quite significant indeed. With synthetics or lapping film to the 12k or 1µ level followed by lapped and diamond pasted balsa progression in three parts: .5µ, .25µ, and .1µ, properly used, then the difference is much less.
What models of Gold Dollar razors do you have? If you have the very basic entry level #66, two of them, well, you may as well sacrifice one for the cause, but honestly I really feel like you should up your honing game first before trying to do a total modification including spine thinning. It is a much more advanced skill set than honing, so you really need to max out your honing first, if you expect to have seriously awesome results. Also, what model Titan do you have? The cheapest Titan is actually the best, and it is claimed to be RHC60 and has fairly thin and light wood scales and no bolsters or other extra and clumsy excess weight. The steel is if anything, better than a GD. The higher priced Titans have big heavy clumsy scales with huge flat spacers and bolsters like a pocketknife. The steel is harder but actually too hard and very chippy if you don't know what you are doing when honing it. I actually prefer the GD208 or the GD P-81, or maybe the GD800 over even the HRC60 Titan.
The Dovo Bismarck is one of my favorite current production razors and you will like it a lot. Everyone should have one of these very hand friendly razors. Several other European makers use the same design and probably the blanks are all forged in the same factory. If well honed, it is a joy to shave with. Use your current cheapies to develop your honing skills and when you get your Bismarck you will be set for life, with a quality razor and three very viable backups or rotation members. Another option not to be overlooked is an American vintage razor. These were mass produced in huge numbers and LOTS of them are still around, going for chimp change. Genco, Ontario, Little Valley, there are about 20 brands to watch for, and my favorite of them all is the Union Spike. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO PICK THEM, you can find them on fleabay for as little as $10 in need of honing, or about $40 shave ready. You might want to keep an eye out for a likely Genco or similar, for right now, and don't try to do any mods on it other than a heel fix if necessary.
My honing style is rather controversial but it has given absolute newbies the ability to put an incredibly sharp edge on a razor on their first or second attempt, with less than $100 worth of equipment. See my website. I have been meaning to post my Method here on the forum but have been sort of busy.
CrOx after an 8k stone used to be regarded as a good edge. Now, we can do a LOT better than that. I would never shave on a CrOx edge. It simply isn't sharp enough for my taste. A 12k edge isn't sharp enough for my taste. You can do much, much better, but obviously you CAN shave with it. If you are that strapped for cash, instead of a Naniwa 12k, consider 1µ lapping film and the pasted balsa progression exactly as directed on my site. Maybe stop with the film and become skilled with that before investing in the balsa setup. There are ways to eke out a superior edge on the film if you get the right stuff and use it the right way.
Be patient and take your time putting your kit together. If you are in a hurry you will get stuff that later you will find inferior and a waste of your money. Think twice, buy once. Getting gear that you will always be satisfied, whether it is expensive or not, is cheaper than buying this and that and this and that to accomplish the same task.