Thread: Thick Blades for Thick Beards???

First I would like to thank everyone here for the great insights and tons of help over the last few months. I purchased a Dovo 5/8 spike point a few months ago and have really enjoyed getting into straight razor shaving. I've only had a few problems that i can't seem to find a simple answer for and this is why I'm posting my questions.

I absolutely love shaving with my straight, however if i don't shave for a few days it's more difficult due to my thick beard. Now i know of many people's opinions saying that larger blades are easier to handle thick beards, or that wedges are better for thick beards. Is there a guideline to which blade is better suited for a beard-type? or is it a trial and error scenario where everyone needs to find out which blade is best suited for them? I hope its not the latter because i'm a college kid who's not financially capable of purchasing multiple razors just to see which one i would like.

Regarding the issue with blade size, is it the size of the blade that would make the difference, or the weight of the blade?

Thanks for the help,
-Mike

In my experience weight has an effect. Size really doesn't do anything (except 7/8s and up for me make it difficult to get some areas). I can definately see that for really thick beards a heavier blade could make shaving easier.

I would also say it's mostly the weight of the blade that makes the difference unless you are referring to some of those paper thin blades like a 6/8 Boker King Cutter and other such "Singing" blades. Heavy beards would normally dictate a stiffer edge that resists deflection. I don't have a heavy beard but my beard is wirey and tough... thin blades tend to irritate my skin whereas stiffer blades don't. I have a Carbo Magnetic 4/8 that shaves just as comfortable as my 7/8" wedge though it does bog down in the rough. That little 4/8 is very stiff unlike my King Cutter who's edge is paper thin, and does give me great shaves.

I'd look for something other than a full hollow ground, it needn't be a wedge which can be a pain to hone. Quarter, half and even 3/4 hollows should be stiff enough I would think and a 6/8" size should have enough heft to get the job done... I have several 7/8" and a custom 8/8 which all shave great but my 5/8" 1/2 hollow doesn't really do any worse for me.

Unfortunately there is always trial and error involved in such personal matters, sometimes it's best to overshoot by going perhaps too big, just to set the two goal posts and then you can figure out where to aim next knowing what is too big and what is too small.


Regards

Christian

I know there are plenty of guys who really think you need to have a really big heavy razor and or grind to shave a tough heavy beard but all I'll say to this is that if you could go back in time and went to a barber back when they gave many shaves each day you would probably rarely see a wedge or 7/8s or 8/8s razor. Most barbers used 5/8s or 6/8s hollow grind razors as their go to razors. Some of the old timers preferred wedges but in general those were the type of razors that were used to shave every guy who walked into the shop.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

I would also say it's mostly the weight of the blade that makes the difference unless you are referring to some of those paper thin blades like a 6/8 Boker King Cutter and other such "Singing" blades. Heavy beards would normally dictate a stiffer edge that resists deflection. I don't have a heavy beard but my beard is wirey and tough... thin blades tend to irritate my skin whereas stiffer blades don't. I have a Carbo Magnetic 4/8 that shaves just as comfortable as my 7/8" wedge though it does bog down in the rough. That little 4/8 is very stiff unlike my King Cutter who's edge is paper thin, and does give me great shaves.

I'd look for something other than a full hollow ground, it needn't be a wedge which can be a pain to hone. Quarter, half and even 3/4 hollows should be stiff enough I would think and a 6/8" size should have enough heft to get the job done... I have several 7/8" and a custom 8/8 which all shave great but my 5/8" 1/2 hollow doesn't really do any worse for me.


Christian

This is helpful. I'd heard that wedges were better for thick beards, but I didn't know why. This stiffness factor makes sense.

I've been using a shavette that takes 1./2 a DE blade and have been getting pretty good shaves. Then today my first real straight arrived, a new Dovo "special" 6/8, honed by an expert. The blade is sharp. It easily slices my arm hairs with a light pass 1/4" above the skin. However, I was disappointed with the way it shaved. It would only cut through the whiskers on my chin with difficulty. I know I have a very thick and, I think, wiry beard. Maybe I should have a 'wedgier' blade. I do have a Wapi on the way. That'll make for an interesting comparison.

-Tom

Tom, keep us up to date after you shave with the sharp Wapienica

My remuda includes three razors, one of which (a Boker) is noticeably heavier than the others. It does go through my very heavy beard with more stability than the others. I think it's less likely to be deflected side to side, which in turn prevents nicks. The other razors, however, give excellent shaves. They just take a bit more care.

If you want to play it safe then purchase a wedge grind, ala W&B type, preferably a 6/8. The English razors are your best bet. But.... ask Kenrup if the 7/8 Chinese Double Arrow is a stiff grind. Those are inexpensive.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Tom, keep us up to date after you shave with the sharp Wapienica

"Sharp" is a key word. Unfortunately, I may not get the Wapi sharp for a while. I bought it used here from B/S/T so I could learn to hone. The fellow said he'd got it from Mike Ratcliff honed not long ago, but he thought he might have damaged it slightly, or at least he allowed for that possibility. The best case scenario is that it's not damaged and I can strop and shave and find that it does a good job on my beard. If I have to hone it, well, then that'll add another variable to the equation: Can a noobie hone job + wapi + stiff beard = a good shave?

An update on the Dovo. My first shave fresh out of the box was slightly rushed. Last night I got it out again, stropped and reshaved. It's slower going that with the 1/2 DE blade, but I eventually got a nick-free shave about 90% as close as the the DE. Considering that I'm not used to weilding that blade, which feels very long and very wide, that's not so bad.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I know there are plenty of guys who really think you need to have a really big heavy razor and or grind to shave a tough heavy beard but all I'll say to this is that if you could go back in time and went to a barber back when they gave many shaves each day you would probably rarely see a wedge or 7/8s or 8/8s razor. Most barbers used 5/8s or 6/8s hollow grind razors as their go to razors. Some of the old timers preferred wedges but in general those were the type of razors that were used to shave every guy who walked into the shop.

Interesting comment. While I prefer an 6/8 or larger razor in a 1/4 hollow grind, my grandfather was a barber and his razor of choice was a 4/8. I still have his razor.