Hello everyone, just found this forum after searching for tutorials on how to use a straight razor. I currently own a DE87 and use the blades that came with it.....their brand name is currently slipping my mind and I have an assortment of brushes and soaps, I'm currently using a art of shaving super badger and a local soap makers spicy oatmeal shave cake. The straight razor I have is a golden dollar....never heard of this brand, my wife says its my starter blade lol and I have a surprise once I get better at using it. Also if their are any service members, thanks for all you guys and gals do!
Welcome to the Shave Den! Gold Dollar is not well liked around most of the shaving forums due to their abilities to take and maintain an edge on their straight razors. That being said we have had a member or two who successfully honed them and used them well. It's just very hit and miss. The best thing to do for learning to use a straight is to hit up youtube and watch many of the videos there that have people shaving with them. Also make sure you take the proper time to prep your face and go slowly with it as you develop your techniques for using a straight. Proper stropping and having a blade made shave-ready by a honemeister will also make things MUCH easier. If you have any questions, fire away though, a number of us people on here have started getting back into straights more
Good deal! and thanks for the welcome I was just looking. In the straights section and learned I could use a newspaper as an impromptu strop until I can find a good one at a god price. I used my straight tonight as well after watching one of the YouTube vids and got a decent shave With three passes WTG, XTG, and ATG. I still had to break out the EJ DE87 to hit the touch up areas though. Would you know off hand about how much it would be to get it honed and shave ready?
Most honemeisters charge anywhere between $20-$35 + round trip shipping for the blade. The only two I trust (Other than myself) are Glen @ Gemstar Customs or Lynn at Straight Razor Designs. They know their steel inside and out; not sure if they'll hone Gold Dollar razors though, some people do refuse to do them but you can always fire off an email. Nothing wrong with DE touchups after a straight razor shave though, it's a better alternative than digging in to try to get a BBS shave and ending up red like you had your face in a frying pan! Edit - Whoops, almost forgot Larry at WhippedDog.
Good info, ill have to shoot them an email to see of they would do that for me while I'm out in the field this week. Lol about the red face, the first time I used the gold dollar it was quite a sight
Hi and welcome to the shave den, I have used Glen to straights honed, great edge on them now, Glen is a member on this site and a supporting vendor his user name is gssixgun you can always send him a PM. Lynn is also very well respected I suppose its down to which ever is nearest to you.
Welcome man nice to have you here. And I'm assuming your user name is your MOS? Army National Guard Field Artillery 13D 2009-??
Y Yes it is, nice to see another red leg in the group been a fister since 99 and still going. I got seven years before I can hang up my uniform
Congrats. I might not make it to 20 years, but I have mad respect for the ones that can make it despite the way the army is. Also, I want your MOS and watch things blow up.
The jobs got its ups and downs though. Working in BDE is the worst because I am never really go to the hill as much as I used to and I have to play politics a lot as well. :/ but seeing new fisters learn old tricks that i know makes my job the best lol
Welcome to the Den. We know you'll fit right in. So grab yourself a comfy chair, and give our threads a spin! Burma Shave
Nobody in my FDC including myself had ever live fired before AT last summer. However, my battery shot the first live round even though the others had more experienced guys. But if I want to get promoted I might have to leave FA.
Fisters stagnate at 7 but we get promoted fast though at times in the fiscal year. Good stuff bout getting to shoot live, gotta respect the livefire ops
