Questions - after reading articles...

[JohnG10]

I've read the FAQ & 1st Shave articles (etc, etc) - but still have questions...

It seems like the 5/8 size has more models to pick from - is there a reason that size seems to be more popular ? If I can keep the 5/8 flat when honing (I assume I can, I hone my wood carving knives all the time) should I still get a 6/8 as a first SR ? I have a small/medium sized faces, and am a bit concerned that the 6/8 might too large to get under the nose well (my hairs grow up to the base of the nasal divide, and my nose is flat on the bottom, not upturned). The main reason, I'm considering a SR though is to cut down on the razor burn I get from the "lift & cut" razors - so if 6/8 is easier to avoid burn, I'll put up with "awkward top lip" issues.

Also, the "full-hollow" grind seems to be more popular with "better" razors than 1/2 ground. My hairs probably are on the border between normal and coarse. Which do you think would helps me get less razor burn ? (I imagine the weight helps the 1/2 hollow, but the extra sharpness helps the full hollow. Which helps "more" ?) Do you have to be really careful when stropping a full hollow to not push & bend / fold the blade at the narrow point ?

In general, is the Dovo, Jaguar, TI, or Hart steels heat treats noticeably different ?

My neck hair lies flat to the skin, and points sideways. Will a square point (Hart) tend to jab into the soft underside of my jawline where it joins my neck a lot more than a round point ?

Is the pure, best or silver-tip badger brush the best for caked soap ?

Does a paddle strop work any worse for a SR than a hanging strop ? The paddle strop is always "taunt" so it would seem to be more fool-proof, but most SR strops are the hanging type. Is it just nastolgia - or another reason ?

Edit: Is the steel or heat treat noticeably better in the "middle-priced" Dovo's (etc) than the lower priced ones ? Example: Dovo "Best Quality" versus "Classic" versus "Silver Steel".

Thanks.