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

Originally Posted by Stubbles

[tortoise or the silver steel]Any suggestions between those two?

It doesn't really matter. Both are nice razors. The Tortoise's fame leads back to an overenthusiastic amateur review on another forum. At the end of the day, I personally find its look tacky compared to the Ebenholz, but that is just personal preference. Can't really go wrong with either.

Originally Posted by Stubbles

Now I have to take the next step and buy the razor, strop, brush, mug, strop, creams, balms...this gets expensive quick, doesn't it?!

Not necessarily, cf Buying a beginner's set on a budget - Straight Razor Place Wiki - it only gets as expensive as you let it get. I certainly wouldn't start with something in the USD 130 price range (I did, however, start with something in the USD 200 price range myself, and promptly enhanced the gold plating on a Wacker with a big water stain).

While I would not skimp on the razor/strop combo, there is no need to buy a fancy brush. Also, a good quality cream will do nicely, but need not be overly expensive. Check our Reviews section for more information - you might be surprised how relatively inexpensive straight shaving can be.

Happy shopping,
Robin

Welcome to SRP Stubbles. Cool that you did your homework on what this straight razor shaving is about. Everyone fears stropping initially. Fear of rolling the edge or nicking the strop but with practice it comes easily if you take it slow.

Here is a 1961 barber manual excerpt from the SRP Wiki help files on honing and stropping for your perusal. The last two pages are on stropping and if you follow their instructions on holding the razor and learning to flip before you try doing the stroke you'll be well on your way to successfull stropping.

I've got them in sizes from 4/8 to 10/8 and my personal favorite is 5/8. Not better or worse, just what I feel is a perfect comprimise of form and function. While there probably isn't a dime's worth of difference between the 5 and 6 it is a fact that given the identical grind the 5 will be stiffer. Whichever you choose will be fine once you get going so no worries.

Hmmmm... I'd rather think that flexing of the blade would not be an issue. The hollowness gives you the feedback. But flexing? I've never observed blade flexing in my 4 full hollow straights, even during stropping.

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.

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.

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..