Razor Width and Grind

Are there any threads dedicated to discussing the benefits and disadvantages of different grinds and widths? 6/8 v. 5/8, hollow v. extra hollow, etc?

Well, there have been a lot of these types of threads... but here is a pretty recent one

Grind vs Beard observations - Straight Razor Place Forums

I can see in other posts that you are asking questions about which razor would be best for a new guy. I just wanted to suggest putting in some time either looking through the wiki, or doing searches on the forum. You'll see that lots of people have the same questions you are asking, and you'll have some time to really look things over before you buy anything.

To be honest, I really dont think the width and grind makes a huge amount of difference to the actual shave.

I have a fairly tough beard and it grows in pretty quickly. My first razor was a DOVO Black Star 5/8 hollow ground, and it worked (and still does work) great!

I get just as good a shave out of a 4/8 hollow ground as I can from a 7/8 wedge. As long as the razor is shave ready and your technique, prep and stropping are good you should be able to get an equally good shave from any razor.

I personally prefer wider blades (6/8+) as I find 4/8's feel very small in my hands, but I still like to use them and get a good result. I do have pretty big hands though! Other guys here prefer the smaller blades, its really personal preference! :)

For beginners, the Wiki recommendation is a 6/8, half hollow round point, just because 6/8 and half hollow are right in the middle of the range. The round point just means no spike point that some beginners dont like as they catch themselves with it.

You dont have to stick with this recommendation though, and if you have a real hankering for a huge W&B wedge then by all means start with one of them! Other guys here have started with razors that their grandfathers left for them, and they've been all sorts of different grinds and widths.

All I'd say is just to get a good make of razor, make sure its shave ready and dont spend a fortune in case you dont like it.

As a first razor, something fairly middle of the road in terms of width and grind is not a bad idea, just because it lets you know whether you want to go bigger or smaller and more or less wedge like, rather than starting at one extreme or the other and working back. But in terms of 5/8 versus 6/8, either is fine!

A DOVO Black Star or Best Quality, or one of the entry level Thiers Issard's would be an excellent first razor, or one of the shave ready razors from the classifieds here.

Good luck and keep us posted!

I think I made it clear in my linked post that you need to try different blades to find what works for you. Not everyone lives at the top of a bell curve, I think I fell off the curve as a baby :p

Find a blade you like the looks of in your price range that is shave ready, so you have something to aim for when honeing yor own. You will learn what you like from experience, experiment and enjoy :)

bokaba,

+1 on the advice offered in the previous posts.

Personally, I believe that you needn't worry that much about the technical aspects of the grind of your razor at this point. In str8 razor shaving, as in golf, its not so much the equipment, but the operator.

The key variables for getting a close, comfortable shave for you will be--the quality of the razor of whatever grind you purchase, whether it is properly honed and developing correct stropping as well as shaving technique.

its true, I am continually discovering and rediscovering preference for blade sizes and grind as they change in my hands. It can't be anything to do with the razor itself but my actual technique. I believe that whatever you start with will not be one that you stick with (you may indeed come back to it and will inevitably get much better results) - for me it is much more about discovering different razors (the more the merrier though this isn't gonna help you shave) while keeping in mind the real determining factor is an improvement in confidence and ability.

I have a variety of sized straight razors with different grinds. They all shave well and there shouldn't be too much fuss made on your first razor as you will likely end up for 3+ in a short time.

Pabster