Super Cheap Gold Dollar Razors

I keep seeing mention in here of Gold Dollars. I did a search and found them out there, really cheap, "shave ready", etc.

Are people purchasing these to see how low they can go and get a good shave? Or perhaps are they actually quite good?

What' the story with these? What's everyone going on about Gold Dollars for? Would love to know.

Thanks!

Rob

Good steel, takes and keeps and edge well. And not everyone wants an old sight unseen from whipped dog. I use em everyday. Most of the time they need a little grinding in certain spots so they can be honed evenly. And they are 6/8 round tip which is perfect for beginners or experts alike.

GD's require some modification to be 100% useable as they come like that from the factory...though when made 100% ready to use they are very good for beginners as well as the experienced...as long as the steel was hardened when made...its 100% useable

People are having fun modding/altering them because they are so cheap, and yet can prove to be very nice shavers when properly honed.

ok, so i'll need a hone then... I saw one with a strop for only $20! Including postage, that's amazing.
What hone would be recommended then? I'm going to hit purchase right now

Have you seen the two gold dollar modification contest threads?

Last year:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/273180-Competition-3

And this years version
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/330994-Gold-Dollar-Competition-2013

Robster said:

ok, so i'll need a hone then... I saw one with a strop for only $20! Including postage, that's amazing.
What hone would be recommended then? I'm going to hit purchase right now

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Got a dremel? Note that if they are shave ready, they are good for beginners and experienced alike. If you are new, getting them shave ready yourself is not recommended. It's more than just throwing them on a hone and being done. If you think of them as good razor blanks from which to start, you're pretty much on target.

And my guess is that the strop is not worth even that, but I don't know.

OMG! How did I ever miss this! I'm in. I've ordered the razor and strop just now, will do some research on hones/honing and after a few shaves etc, if I find it worthwhile I'll delve into the modification contest. Nice wooden scales for me. Traditionalist. Thanks so much.

Robster said:

ok, so i'll need a hone then... I saw one with a strop for only $20! Including postage, that's amazing.
What hone would be recommended then? I'm going to hit purchase right now

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Here you go: when you order a GD, you order more than one...usually it's like ordering at White Castle. when you get yours in the mail, send one to me. I'll prep it for you to be a good shaver, then you can use that as a starting point for your others. Ok? If you're game, just PM me when yours arrive.

Robster said:

OMG! How did I ever miss this! I'm in. I've ordered the razor and strop just now, will do some research on hones/honing and after a few shaves etc, if I find it worthwhile I'll delve into the modification contest. Nice wooden scales for me. Traditionalist. Thanks so much.

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The contest is over. Not sure if it will be an annual thing, but those give some great ideas, eh?

You're quite fast on the trigger! If the order you just made comes from China, in all likelihood the razor will not come shave-ready. You'll have to get it honed by someone first, which is usually what's recommended if you've never shaved before.

I know buca3152 was selling some shave-ready gold dollar in case you really want to stick with them, or otherwise, one of the best source to start is to get the Poorman's kit from Whippeddog.com. Its where a lot of people start, and it allows you to get decent equipment for the cheapest possible price (strop+razor). After that, if you decide you want to stick with it and learn how to hone, you can work on your gold dollar razor.

edit: Nevermind, I see that Krodor will hook you up, this place is just awesome like that

pmaster said:

You're quite fast on the trigger! If the order you just made comes from China, in all likelihood the razor will not come shave-ready. You'll have to get it honed by someone first, which is usually what's recommended if you've never shaved before.

I know buca3152 was selling some shave-ready gold dollar in case you really want to stick with them, or otherwise, one of the best source to start is to get the Poorman's kit from Whippeddog.com. Its where a lot of people start, and it allows you to get decent equipment for the cheapest possible price (strop+razor). After that, if you decide you want to stick with it and learn how to hone, you can work on your gold dollar razor.

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I probably was a bit quick on the trigger, but I've been open razor shaving with a disposable blade model now for a few months and love it. I'm just addicted. I've got a good 4 day growth right now, haven't had me time as yet, but have it booked for later today

Thank you to Krodor for the generous offer, it's much appreciated. I'm speechless

Robster said:

I probably was a bit quick on the trigger, but I've been open razor shaving with a disposable blade model now for a few months and love it. I'm just addicted. I've got a good 4 day growth right now, haven't had me time as yet, but have it booked for later today

Thank you to Krodor for the generous offer, it's much appreciated. I'm speechless

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Let us know how you like it, and welcome to the dark side! Wait until you start honing your own...

You get what you pay for!

How folks believe that a razor that cost less than ten dollars at retail, crafted by virtual slave labor can be constructed of high quality steel defies logic. A high quality alloy forging would eat into that price considerably before any finishing work, markup, etc .. Possibly made from recycled Yugo leaf springs, but, to each his own.

Think about it ....

Loner16 said:

You get what you pay for!

How folks believe that a razor that cost less than ten dollars at retail, crafted by virtual slave labor can be constructed of high quality steel defies logic. A high quality alloy forging would eat into that price considerably before any finishing work, markup, etc .. Possibly made from recycled Yugo leaf springs, but, to each his own.

Think about it ....

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More astounding (to me) is that some guys pay upwards of $200 for a simple, sharpened piece of heat treated steel (i.e.- a straight razor) simply because it was stamped out in Solingen instead of Ningbo.

Razors are not rocket science. Heat treated steel is not that complex. Labor and materials are very cheap, especially in China.


That's my thoughts about it

I am biased though, so take it for what it's worth.

Check out the process used for your $100 and up Dovo razors:




No real hi-tech needed. Mass produced items should be cheap.

Each to his own opinion .. Far be it from me to attempt to change anyone's mind. But, having spent an adult lifetime working with the stuff, I can say that high quality steel alloys do not come cheaply. And a skilled tradesperson earns, and deserves the good living they earn, so to my good self at least, the money is well spent. I can't speak to what comes out of China, India or Pakistan in terms of straight razors .. Only the other consumer products that reach our shores and are not worth the shipping charges let alone the asking price.

When said countries grasp the concept of interchangeable manufacture, and can actually produce a male thread that fits the female, I may eat my words, But, at the present time, I'm not very hungry!

a BBS is a BBS whether its from a $100 razor or a $10 razor. and it really is just that simple.
i have no problem with my gold dollars. -havent used them in some time though. maybe ill break one out tomorrow.

Loner16 said:

You get what you pay for!

How folks believe that a razor that cost less than ten dollars at retail, crafted by virtual slave labor can be constructed of high quality steel defies logic. A high quality alloy forging would eat into that price considerably before any finishing work, markup, etc .. Possibly made from recycled Yugo leaf springs, but, to each his own.

Think about it ....

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This has become interesting. There was an interesting bit of media that came up a while back when one of the Chinese ministers made an embarassing fopar for Apple when he boasted his countries amazing manufacturing capabilities. So amazing that they could manufacture an iPhone for under $5. Now, this is when an iPhone was $800. So when they can make an iphone, with glass, metals, chips, all put together on a factory line for less than $5 I know without any doubt that they can do the same for a straight razor. There's no doubt about it.

I find, having traveled to China, Indonesia and other lower income countries over the years that a lot of people in "the west" don't have a full grasp of just how cheap things really are for the majority of the world and what things cost. I often hear people in conversation here in Australia say things like "Oh, that kids toy is $45, it would have only cost about $10 to make!". The reality is, that kids toy would have only cost about 15 cents to make (this is just a rough example, it's not accurate, but you get the idea).

A classic here, is a pack of cigarettes and a beer may cost you about AUD$30. Roughly. Now a friend just got back from Vietnam where he got a pack of cigarettes, a Heineken beer and a lighter for $1.50. He was just shocked and was having a hard time dealing with the price of everything in Australia.

So, I'm probably going on a bit, I do waffle on but to end where I started, if an iPhone can be made for less than $5, a razor, with high quality steel even, is a sinch. Who'd want to wager on what it really costs? I'd love to find out! 20 cents?

Loner16 said:

How folks believe that a razor that cost less than ten dollars at retail, crafted by virtual slave labor can be constructed of high quality steel defies logic.
Think about it ....

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Well, have you tried a modified GD?

It does shave.
Granted, it does not keeps its edge as long as a Thiers Issard, but it does a more than adequate job.

Where you get what you pay for is the scales which are really, really cheap.