Thread: Half/Full Hollow flexing, average beard density, stubborn stubble

The FAQ reads:

A half hollow grind offers enough heft for beginner shaving, yet also has some flexibility for comfort.

Doesn't a full hollow (not a singing extra hollow) offer even more flexibility and comfort than half hollow?

Shouldn't more feedback from a full hollow vs. half be a good thing, not a bad thing?

For a beginner, why is it important to have more heft of the half hollow vs. full hollow?

Personally, I wouldn't be fretting about this stuff. Just buy the razor you want and you'll be fine.

Actually the hollowing space is a continuum and not discrete. Picking few discrete points in that space is just that.
At certain point the flex of the blade becomes noticeable.
New people don't have light touch so pushing too hard on a blade with quite a bit flex gives them poor results, the razor actually cuts worse, not better.
Feedback is a great thing to improving one's technique.
There is no difference in heft between full an half hollow. The difference in heft between razor comes almost entirely from differences spine thickness, not from the differences in hollowing.
More mass = less feedback = masking user errors.

Originally Posted by snakyjake

I have a medium/average dense beard, with large stubborn stubble around the chin. Because of this tree trunk stubble around the chin, I'm leaning towards the half hollow to start.
.....snip...

However, I'm having difficulty finding a 5/8 half hollow razor. I was surprised I did not see one at SRD (Dovo or Boker). Other places list the 5/8 half hollow out of stock. The 5/8 full hollow seems to be popular and very available. The half hollow becomes fully available at 6/8.

Since the 5/8 half hollow is less available, that raises the caution flag. Perhaps it is not popular for a reason?
...........

Do not be bashful -- if you cannot find a half hollow
to your liking on one of the sponsors web site pick up the
phone and ask.

In some cases the descriptions are hard to search...
But these guys know their inventory and their suppliers
inventory too... so ask.

I started SR shaving about 6-7 weeks ago with a 5/8 full hollow. I don't notice any flex. I tried the Tortoise / Special, and Silversteel / Ebony and both worked well. I liked the tortoise blade a tiny bit better, but in retrospect, I think any differences I noted between the blades was due to random variation in the grinding (the final grinding is done by hand), rather than true differences between models.

I found the 5/8 easier for me to use than the 6/8 under my nose, chin hollow, corners of the mouth, and hollows alongside my trachea due to it's manuverability and my ability to see around it. The 6/8 shaved a tiny bit easier on the flat areas like my cheeks, and the sides of my neck.

I found the feedback from the full hollow helped me get my angle "just right" a LOT. The feedback was just a sound, and I didn't get any of the flexure related "bites" that some webites (AOS?) mentioned.

ps: I bought a wetshaving kit from SRD (Tortoise Dovo, 3" Latigo strop, Stevensons's brush & SRD soap) and was very happy. Lynn was a great guy to deal with. I've also tried Poraso Cream and it worked well.

Personally I think no matter what blade you get, you're going to get used to it, you kinda have to if it's all you've got. I do recommend getting a good strop with your razor, and maybe a cheap one to practice on.

It sounds like the overall consensus is not to worry too much about how much hollowing you've got or which blade and just figure it out as you go. Probably good advice. I'm sure technique, prep, and patience will make most of the difference vs. half or full hollow or what width the blade is.

It's hard as someone totally new to this to really know if these things make a big difference or not. All we can do is ask, right?

I'm leaning toward the Ebenholz mostly for looks.

Thanks, guys.

-Stub

OK one more time with the details...

I always make the exact same Recommendation for a first razor... and here are the reasons..

One, Stropping there is a actual difference when stropping a 5/8 to 6/8 the 6/8 is way easier for a new guy to keep flat... This is a big deal, Stropping is the most over looked part of this hobby and really one of the most important..

Two, Mass some of the 6/8 sizes jump to the heavier spine size so yes they do have more mass so they actually are easier for a new guy to shave with... Many new guys start with rather tentative shaving styles the extra mass does help, which takes us to the next point.

Three, Half hollow the rather tentative style that a new guy has is greatly served by the extra stiffness of a half hollow, I would recommend a 1/4 hollow but there are even harder to find and way more expensive, I only recommend stuff that is available new and can be purchased anytime...

Four the Round point, what can I say they LOOK safer but honestly they'll cut ya just as fast...

Five, they are pretty much middle of the road, so on your second razor you can easily decide what direction to go next.... Oh yes there will be second razor LMAO

Now you can buy any razor you want, really you can, but those are the actual reasons behind my reommendations...however people have been starting with all different razors for a long time and so can you.... A recommendation is only that a starting point nothing more...

BTW Dovo and TI have these razors..

Originally Posted by snakyjake

Not sure how much the "flexing" I'll have with medium-light density with seriously stubborn stubble around the chin that even gives my DE some challenges? Or if the "flexing" is more of an issue for someone who has a high density beard?

A sharp edge will cut through the stubble just the same. I think you are confused about the idea of flex. A hollow, or as an extreme, a singing / extra hollow, will flex not against the hair, which it should slice through, but against the contour of your face.

I had read about blade flex on the forum when I started out and didn't remember experiencing it in shaving with a straight back in the '80s for a short time. When I came back to it thanks to SRP one of my first razors was a vintage Puma High Class 6/8. I was doing the WTG down my cheek and darned if I didn't feel the flex in the blade. I felt it to the point where I stopped and held the blade in front of me and looked at it for a bit before I continued the shave. Since then when I do feel a blade flex I don't pay any attention to it. As the kids say, it's all good.