Thread: Modified Gold Dollar

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

...Any decent vintage Solingen razor will out shave and out perform them...

Out of curiosity, have you shaved with a properly honed, unwarped Gold Dollar?

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Out of curiosity, have you shaved with a properly honed, unwarped Gold Dollar?

Out of curiosity, do I come across as if I based my reviews on hearsay?

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Interesting remark. I can see at least 4 flaws on this razor. Now let me see... The Dovo "Best Quality" is approx USD 30 more. Taking into account Dovo's near impeccable QA track record, and their high quality scales, I would always go for the Dovo - if I wanted a new razor.

Don't get me wrong, chaps: if you're happy with your Chinese razors, that's great. However, there is an alarming amount of people reporting badly ground Chinese razors, and that is never a good thing. Especially if a number of beginners starts running around in this forum, claiming that these razors are the best value a beginner can get. Because they are not. Any decent vintage Solingen razor will out shave and out perform them, and yet there are always a few of those available in the classifieds for the same money or less than one of the Chinese razors.

Regards,
Robin

Robin i hate to be agree with you but i have to.I think you are right on this issue.(In the other hand for price they sell is worth that money 13.00 my last check)
Darn your English is tough (hearsay) i used dictionary for this one.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Interesting remark. I can see at least 4 flaws on this razor. Now let me see... The Dovo "Best Quality" is approx USD 30 more. Taking into account Dovo's near impeccable QA track record, and their high quality scales, I would always go for the Dovo - if I wanted a new razor.

Don't get me wrong, chaps: if you're happy with your Chinese razors, that's great. However, there is an alarming amount of people reporting badly ground Chinese razors, and that is never a good thing. Especially if a number of beginners starts running around in this forum, claiming that these razors are the best value a beginner can get. Because they are not. Any decent vintage Solingen razor will out shave and out perform them, and yet there are always a few of those available in the classifieds for the same money or less than one of the Chinese razors.

Regards,
Robin

Just to compare apples to apples here.


I have posted this before, and I'll post it again. A year or so back I purchased a brandy new Dovo SS pearlex (~$150) from a highly regarded vendor. Looked great. Blade was warped. Sent it back.Recieved another brandy new Dovo SS pearlex, same warp, same side. Sent it back, and discussed with teh vendor. We decided to try a brandy new Dovo SS Ebony....guess what? Same warp, same side...

Take a peek, they all looked exactly like this. Only making contact at toe and heel on this side, and the reverse on the other side.


That's three new Dovos with exactly the same glaring flaw. The vendor and I agreed to call it quites after that, as he was paying way too much for shipping those things back and forth....

I ended up getting a vintage Dovo SS #41 of of EBay, and it's a great shaver, with a perfect blade (razor was originally purchased in 2001)


I have NEVER had a GD/DA with a bent/warped blade as of yet.

Same test on a DA, fresh out of the box:


In need of some smoothing out near the heel? Yes.

A tang that is not aligned with the main body of the blade? Yes

A grotesquely huge shoulder stabilizer? Yes.

Fit and finish a bit rough? Yes.

All of those are fixable. A warped blade is not.



So, here is my real world experience, not hearsay:
I've honed up about 50 GD/DAs so far. One I was not able to get shave ready (not due to warpage, it just wouldn't take an edge). Failure rate: 2%

I had 4 Dovo #41 SS razors. 3 out of the 4 were warped, and unhonable. Failure rate 75%

I'm not saying that overall Dovo has a 75% failure rate, but for me it sure did. I bring it up as a counterpoint to the idea that "made in Germany" means that it must be perfect, and "made in China" means that it must be caa-caa. I certainly have Solingen blades that are remarkably crafted.


I have also posted images of the edges capable on these razors compared to edges from reputable Solingen/Sheffield razors, which is about the only objective way I can think of to make such a comparrison. Nobody can pick one out of the lineup.


I must say that I enjoy the passion that we all have for our razors, let's keep the passion focused on the razors, not getting upset with each other.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I must say that I enjoy the passion that we all have for our razors, let's keep the passion focused on the razors, not getting upset with each other.

Quite honestly, I find people who get passionate about inanimate objects interesting. Personally, my main concern is whether a razor shaves and is easy to maintain. Yes, I have seen those images before. It was in the thread "All new Dovo's are POS's" (grammatical brain damage courtesy of the thread starter, a well known amateur review writer) over at GRP.

Interestingly, you are more or less alone with your problems. I know that hurts, but that's the way it is. Incidentally, you are the only person who has seen more than 10 Gold Dollars who has not also seen severe problems. Funny, isn't it? Reversely proportional experiences across the board.
Well, back to business, then. If you manage to find a sufficiently large sample of other people who experienced similar problems with Dovo razors whose name is not Joel and who can actually provide visual proof, I might be vaguely interested in such a comparison. Until then, I maintain that Dovo "Best Quality" razors offer a much better value for money.

Regards,
Robin

This is intriguing..
I have a friend that's interested in getting into a straight razor, and I was thinking of picking up an inexpensive razor for him... this might be just the ticket. Of course he'd still be on his own for strop, brush etc, but this can at least start the bug!

Here's my 2 cents: of the last four Dovos I bought, one had to be returned because the blade's tip was hitting the scales. Another, a Bismark, was defective in that the inlay on the side was off, but I was not allowed to return it because I had shaved with it before contacting the vendor, SRD. (It was stupid of me, admittedly, but I didn't know that a razor couldn't be returned as being defective once it has been used, and I certainly understand the wisdom of that policy). Don't get me wrong, I still like Dovos, but they are not without their problems.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Robin i hate to be agree with you but i have to.I think you are right on this issue.(In the other hand for price they sell is worth that money 13.00 my last check)
Darn your English is tough (hearsay) i used dictionary for this one.

I agree with you Sham

For $13, if you have the ability to bring them to shaving condition, they are worth that price...

Robin's English is exceptional!

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Quite honestly, I find people who get passionate about inanimate objects interesting. Personally, my main concern is whether a razor shaves and is easy to maintain. Yes, I have seen those images before. It was in the thread "All new Dovo's are POS's" (grammatical brain damage courtesy of the thread starter, a well known amateur review writer) over at GRP.

Interestingly, you are more or less alone with your problems. I know that hurts, but that's the way it is. Incidentally, you are the only person who has seen more than 10 Gold Dollars who has not also seen severe problems. Funny, isn't it? Reversely proportional experiences across the board.
Well, back to business, then. If you manage to find a sufficiently large sample of other people who experienced similar problems with Dovo razors whose name is not Joel and who can actually provide visual proof, I might be vaguely interested in such a comparison. Until then, I maintain that Dovo "Best Quality" razors offer a much better value for money.

Regards,
Robin

Depends on how you define "severe problems". I have listed above the common problems I have indeed encountered. I have mentioned these issue countless times in many different GD/DA threads.
To me they are not deal breakers, I simply correct them and move on. A newbie may find them significantly more challenging to deal with, I agree. That is also why I post the issues, to share that information.


The issues I had with my Dovos didn't "hurt", but I believe it is in the interest of the forums to share my experience.


You may be correct in stating that a $85 shave ready Dovo is a better deal than a $45 shave ready Gold Dollar, but it is a matter of perspective, and what someone wants to spend getting into a new hobby.


If someone wants to spend $13 on a razor, then it is their responsibility to know that it may not be a top of the line performer right out of the box....

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Interestingly, you are more or less alone with your [Dovo warpage] problems.

I have two Dovos, both are warped. I won't be buying anymore of them.