Thread: Maybe a Good Use for Gold Dollars?

I thought of a good use for cheapy razors today.

Someone new to straight shaving could buy a GD, then file the edge down to the point of it being butter-knife blunt, but smooth.

Then use it as a safe "practice" razor. Lather up, work on holding the razor correctly, moving it correctly across the face, using the off-hand, etc. With a rounded, smooth edge, no damage done, but maybe some early awkwardness could be avoided?

I have to believe this idea has been tried, and must have failed, but I thought I'd put it out there and see what you think?

I think that you can get a good edge on some of those Gold Dollar razors, not sure that makes sense to dull one of the good ones on purpose. People have tried a lot of options and tools, there is even a video of somebody shaving with a paring knife:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ing-knife.html

And I have also seen one when the person shaves with a knife made with obsidian.... .

As you hinted in your post and president Harry S. Truman said: "The only thing new is the history that you don't know."

Al raz.

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I thought of a good use for cheapy razors today.

Someone new to straight shaving could buy a GD, then file the edge down to the point of it being butter-knife blunt, but smooth.

Then use it as a safe "practice" razor. Lather up, work on holding the razor correctly, moving it correctly across the face, using the off-hand, etc. With a rounded, smooth edge, no damage done, but maybe some early awkwardness could be avoided?

I have to believe this idea has been tried, and must have failed, but I thought I'd put it out there and see what you think?

I know there was a guy here who did exactly that with a Zeepk so his son could practice shaving. Seemed like a good idea..!

I have a friend who is seriously thinking about switching, and I thought about dulling and rounding off a cheap razor just to let him practice. That's when it occurred to me…there IS something I can do with Gold Dollars...

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

Someone new to straight shaving could buy a GD, then file the edge down to the point of it being butter-knife blunt, but smooth.

Then use it as a safe "practice" razor.

I don't get it

If there's a necessity for practicing with a dull object, surely there is something better readily available without having to make an extra purchase and then file it down

Or is this just one of those lighthearted "ha-ha-the-GDGDs-suck" threads?

I suppose there could be some value though to having a really dull razor around to give to a young son who wants to imitate dad... still, I'd probably rather get a budco razor or something much cheaper

Hey sorry. I'm not saying anybody has to do anything, just thinking out loud in a half-practical, half-light-hearted vein.

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

Hey sorry. I'm not saying anybody has to do anything, just thinking out loud in a half-practical, half-light-hearted vein.

don't be sorry I'm just laying out my thoughts as well

My currently sharpest blade is a Gold Dollar. I don't think I would grind it down.

Fair 'nuff!

This started with a buddy of mine who wants to try the straight, but really is timid about applying that blade to his face. So I thought, "Gee, I wish I had a razor with no edge on it that he could practice a little with."

Then I thought, "Hey almost every razor I have honed is now lacking an edge!"

But of course, I wanted to fix those. Then I thought "Aha! I bit on a cheapy straight that now just lives in my miscellaneous stuff box...why not turn it into a 'dry-run' practice razor?"

Happened to be a Gold Dollar, but a Kriegar would do just as well...or poorly!

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

don't be sorry I'm just laying out my thoughts as well

I think it a good idea to use a cheap razor and blunt it to learn with. I've seen threads where some guys use butter knives to practice with, so what better than a real razor?

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I don't get it

If there's a necessity for practicing with a dull object, surely there is something better readily available without having to make an extra purchase and then file it down

Or is this just one of those lighthearted "ha-ha-the-GDGDs-suck" threads?

I suppose there could be some value though to having a really dull razor around to give to a young son who wants to imitate dad... still, I'd probably rather get a budco razor or something much cheaper

I don't think LawsonStone meant "Gold Dollar" in that context but rather, any cheap brand. I think "Gold Dollar" was used as a figure of speech and not to get at the brand or anyone who has one.