Got my first straight

**opliko** · 01-08-2010, 06:26 PM

Today, I got my Gold Dollar 208 in the mail from Ruprazor(super free shipping!), wow does it look sharp and I'm actually a little bit intimidated.

I have a filly strop on the way so I figure I'll shave once or twice before it gets here, but probably just once. Any advice on stropping? IE frequency, number of laps? I'll go re-read the interactive tutorials on straights again too. If you're wondering about my experience so far I've mastered DE's and creams/soaps(the ones I have) so all I need to learn is straight technique. Actually I did try a shavette once but it was one of the cheap ones from ebay that came with 300 blades for like 20 bucks total. Cut myself good I did. Later gents.

**luvmysuper** · 01-08-2010, 06:48 PM

"Shaving cream, be nice and clean
Strop every shave and you'll always look keen"

Keep at it, and don't give up. Don't be intimidated, literally hundreds of thousands of people have learned to do this and you can too.

**mdunn** · 01-08-2010, 07:09 PM

its very sharp, for sure. But so long as youre not silly with it you wont cut yourself.

Dont strop at all for the first shave, then about 60 laps for every shave thereafter is a good guide.

Good luck!

**calcustom** · 01-08-2010, 07:12 PM

I did a ton of practice stropping before I stropped my new razor for the first time.
I think someone called it muscle memory.
It suddenly just clicks.
I still nicked my Filly and I know I have a long way to go but I think it made a big difference.

**Luc** · 01-08-2010, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by mdunn

its very sharp, for sure. But so long as youre not silly with it you wont cut yourself.

Dont strop at all for the first shave, then about 60 laps for every shave thereafter is a good guide.

Good luck!

+1

**opliko** · 01-10-2010, 08:22 PM

Update! Finished my first shave with it tonight, took me probably 45 minutes give or take, I didn't pay attention. The first thing I noticed right away was how it felt like it was NOT sharp enough. I felt like I was using a Fusion again ripping away at the hairs. The resulting shave was actually pretty good, other than my chin area which I buffed and did 2-3 WTG and 2 XTG passes, still not smooth at all. As for the rest of my face I just did 2 WTG passes, and neck got 3 WTG passes, got a tiny weeper on the 3rd neck pass. It DID give a nice smooth shave on the neck suprisingly.

I'll be sure to use it again once my strop arrives, should be this week. Anyone else have experience with a gold dollar 208, or any of the gold dollar straights? Just felt like it should be a lot sharper IMO. It felt like one of the duller DE blades, I usually use Astra or Feather and it felt nowhere near as sharp as those.

**Muirtach** · 01-10-2010, 09:14 PM

Play with your angle if it did not feel sharp. Ken puts a great edge on those GDs

**opliko** · 01-12-2010, 10:56 PM

I'm gonna give it another go the day my strop arrives, I think my angle was too high. I'll resist the urge to strop it on my linen shirt. :) After looking at my straight under bright lights I saw a few nicks in the edge of the blade that were about the width of a hair.(yes I can see that small) I'm not sure if that's what stropping takes care of though.

As for the shave itself, should the straight cut the hairs with as little resistance as a DE? Shaving with a DE, the blade glides with almost no resistance at all, and the straight I had to "push" through the hairs.

**mark3d** · 01-13-2010, 01:17 AM

My first straight razor shave didnt do much for me either - the blade tugged and dragged as though it wasn't sharp, but the problem was technique. If you get the blade angle right, with a firm wrist and confident stroke, the gold dollar will take the stubble off no problem.

.

**leighton** · 01-13-2010, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by opliko

I'll be sure to use it again once my strop arrives, should be this week. Anyone else have experience with a gold dollar 208, or any of the gold dollar straights? Just felt like it should be a lot sharper IMO. It felt like one of the duller DE blades, I usually use Astra or Feather and it felt nowhere near as sharp as those.

Yes. I don't like them. There are better razors out there. But not for the price. Well, no new ones.

Did you try lowering the blade angle? Thats, in my opinion, the #1 cause of pulling with converts.

**opliko** · 01-13-2010, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by leighton

Yes. I don't like them. There are better razors out there. But not for the price. Well, no new ones.

Did you try lowering the blade angle? Thats, in my opinion, the #1 cause of pulling with converts.

Yeah I'll make sure to try that next shave. Thanks all who commented.