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Gold Dollar Razors

OpusX

OpusX

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Well I've searched and found several people mentioning these in various thread, but no overall discussion thread on the topic, so lets talk about Gold Dollar straight razors.

With the recent restore of my Rolls Razor, I now have the itch to progress into straights, and have purchased two Gold Dollars at this time. One is a 66, direct from the slow boat, and I intend to work through honing it with lapping film. The second is a P81 from Crescent City Razors, so I know that will be shave ready. The W59 seems like an interesting beast and may get added into the mix as well.

Should be a fun adventure.
 
That should be fun. I got a 66 from Wuhan. It took a good edge. I made it a square point. The W59 and other ones look interesting but they are more than the $4 I spent on the 66 😬
 
In another neighborhood, @Slash McCoy did a pass around with 2 modified GD66 with Method edges and a Diamond paste balsa strop. They were hyper sharp and smooth. So the one from Crescent City should be nice.

Remember that most honers won’t touch a GD, but it can deliver very nice shave once honed up.
 
The steel is good but the 66 just has so much extra steel on it. You probably have to grind down the heal to get it lay flat on the stones.
I have a few modified GD and the shave great.
 
The Monkey said:
The steel is good but the 66 just has so much extra steel on it. You probably have to grind down the heal to get it lay flat on the stones.
I have a few modified GD and the shave great.
Click to expand...
I'm in no way opposed to doing a mod just for fun. It's been a while, but I've ground out a blade or two in my day ;)
 
I got a w59 and never ended up having it honed...just looked too beastly. If I could go back and do over, I’d get a w60 French point. The 66 is pretty standard for mods and messing around.

John’s right, they’re quite beefy and the QC on the shapes and grinds is horrendous. They can make nice razors though if given some TLC.
 
SteveChuckFrank said:
@OpusX awesome post! I’ve been looking at GD’s as well so I’d love to hear what others have to say about them.



Is this because of @The Monkey’s comment, or another issue?
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what @GearNoir said. they tend to have a lot of QC/geometry issues that need to be addressed before they can be properly honed. most of those issues require grinding to address properly. could you do it with stones? probably but it will take a LONG time and a LOT of effort.
 
I know people love the look of the w59, my experience with it was that i still prefer the 66 with stabilizer. although ive seen some who believe the mass behind the hone line helps on the w59, i didnt feel it was value adding.

I’ve had the pleasure of handling most of the GD line. Ive only modded the 66 and w59 myself, but used others have modded or honed. Ive modded a dozen plus 66s and only one w59.

I know some have pushed the grind up, i havent.
 
I have a few 66s for honing practice and possible mods. So far I have only trimmed and honed one of them. It shaves decently, but I need to work on the edge.

There is nothing wrong with GD razors if you know what you are getting into.
 
here are two of mine they are great shavers, the only thing you need to be careful about is initial geometry when you get them. Some are good... Some are Wonky as hell. Buy a box full and play, they are cheap enough

aCrRxUHl.jpg


1E5Pxd0l.jpg
 
BarberDave said:
here are two of mine they are great shavers, the only thing you need to be careful about is initial geometry when you get them. Some are good... Some are Wonky as hell. Buy a box full and play, they are cheap enough

aCrRxUHl.jpg


1E5Pxd0l.jpg
Click to expand...
Really like the top one.
 
For the 66 model, it's best to think of them as a piece of hardened steel with a razor inside that you need to uncover. To people who don't have a lot of equipment to make their own heat treated blank, the GD 66 is a good deal. It costs at least as much to get your own blank to that stage. That's how I think about them anyway.
 
bluesman said:
For the 66 model, it's best to think of them as a piece of hardened steel with a razor inside that you need to uncover. To people who don't have a lot of equipment to make their own heat treated blank, the GD 66 is a good deal. It costs at least as much to get your own blank to that stage. That's how I think about them anyway.
Click to expand...
An interesting approach. Especially for the price, I have no issues playing the "reshape the blade" game.
 
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