What difference does the extra 1/8 of an inch make?
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What difference does the extra 1/8 of an inch make?
Hey Andy,
I guess that depends on your face. But most advice I've heard is 5/8 for new shavers. Its better for under the nose and chin. I'm pretty new to shaving and like the 6/8 better, but thats because I have a lot of face to go over.
my $.02
Hi Andy,
There isn't all that much difference. Either way you
will be a winner. Besides I will predict that if you
turn out like the rest of us, within a month you
will own a 5/8 as well as a 6/8.
Then in short order you will start searching for
a 7/8.
Terry
Buying your first razor is like shooting smack for thr first time - the beginning of the end. You'll be addicted in no time. Six months from now, you'll have 10 razors of different sizes.
-Rob
Sizes! I wish it was only sizes!:D Theres also point styles to consider, monkey tails, different scale types, sweet little sways to the spine, cool emblems etched in the hollow. Then you'll notice that you don't have a TI or Dubl Duck.:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlampo
I'm about as newby as it gets and I'm already in over my head.
:eek:
I personal prefer the 4/8 and 5/8 blades, I do own several 6/8 but I get better control over the smaller blades. Over the next few months you will end up with at least one of each. The bigger blades look better and more macho.
Peter
I also prefer the 4/8 and 5/8 razors. I have a 6/8 and I don't feel like I have as much control over it, especially when I'm working on my neck.
-- Gary F.
Wait, I was supposed to wait six months to have ten razors?
Damn.
;) not quite at ten yet.
I am way over my head. I have 3 in the mail right now and bidding on one more.
Then I have to quit for awhile.
I've just started (a month and a half or so now) and I've got 7 razors in my rotation, one got claimed by my stepdaughter and one went to my fiancee, and I have 3 more on the way for a total of 12. I'm also talking to vlad about getting a custom one from him.
And I STILL catch myself surfing eBay looking for more. I need to be shot.
-- Gary F.
Bidding on two more I just saw one................................
Popeye, PM if any loved ones try an "intervention". We're here for you, buddy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Popeye
Keep up the good work.:D
TMike
As far as size goes, I don't think you can go wrong with either a 5/8 or a 6/8. Those are a good starting point, with 5/8 maybe being a little more of the "norm".
Having said, that, you are the only one that can determine what is "normal" for you. I started out with three 5/8 blades (all purchased at the same time), and now I have a couple more 5/8, a 6/8, a 7/8, and an 8/8 meatchopper W&B that I love!
Beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder, and what may be wonderful to one guy, may not be to another. See what you like, and buy what pleases you. The only points I will make to you are to be very careful shaving with a spike point razor, and whatever you buy should be honed and shave ready when you get it for best results.
Oh, and if you're smart, you'll go ahead and leave this addiction behind before you get started. Once you're into it, your chances of getting away clean are NIL!
Not only that, there is no 1-800 number to call. Not too many here will encourage you to stop either. Ex. TMike's post
Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.
Give it a few weeks and it won't matter as you'll be deciding which one to use next. hee...hee....hee....
5/8's seem more common and are therefore generally slightly more affordable and they are very nice to shave with. I also have a 6/8 Geneva which is a very nice comfortable shaver for anyone.
I have a goatee so I can use big muthas without worrying about the upper lip.
Gary
The smart thing to do is buy all the basic stuff you need and about 7 razors for a rotation then erase this site from your computer and never come back here again. The rest of us didn't do that and look at us!
Actually a 5/8s round point is a good starting point for a beginner. You can eventually try em all and I guarantee you will.
Most of the time I notice the weight difference more than the width itself. A 6/8 has a heftier spine and will weigh noticably more than most 5/8. Rule of most thumbs around here is that a 6/8 will shave a heavy beard better. I guess maybe I don;t have a heavy beard because I can get a great shave from a 4/8 to a 8/8.Quote:
Originally Posted by abs672
Glen
Yeah, the extra weight of more steel gives the blade more momentum, but the lighte blades get into some corners better. I actually find my smiling 7/8 Wade & Butcher has all three benefits. It's good to have more than one blade anyway in case the primary goes down for some reason. That was my determined plan when I started. Now I've got The W&B, a Heljestrand, 7 Duck and I've got seven other razors coming from Gary. Oh don't worry though, mine go out almost as fast as they come in. Are you looking for one? PM me. Great deals.
X
Then again maybe you do. When you know how to put a keen edge on a razor, as I know you do, the size of the blade becomes less of an issue!Quote:
Originally Posted by gglockner
Hal
This generally is true, I have a set of 7 sprock razors that are 6/8 in size but they are very light, much lighter than my 5/8 dovo. The spine slops to the blade almost instantly and the blades sings really well, when you pluck them the note last a for a few seconds. Thats said they shave well but I still prefer smaller blades.Quote:
Originally Posted by gglockner
This addition thing is getting to me, i keep saying in posts that I prefer a smaller blade then I keep looking at the 8/8 meat choppers, please help me.
Peter
As time passes by, this is becoming more and more true. A larger razor, and a heavier grind will alow you to get by with less than perfect honing skills. Nowdays my favorite razor is the Simmons 5/8 extra hollow gound...Quote:
Originally Posted by halwilson
Nenad
Help you with what? Choosing a new 8/8?Quote:
Originally Posted by phopwood
That's about the only *help* you'll get from this lot of enablers :)
-- Gary F.
I started with a 5/8 blade that did not come shave ready (although it claimed to be shave ready) back in 1994 while i was in the Navy, back then i was a on again off again straight shaver. Mostly because A. i did not have a site like this to refer to. B. i was misled by the hair plucking rather than hair shaving of the razor. After fidling around with a hone (which was 2k grit) and getting a better shave. (How can i have thought that was a better shave back then?) i stuck with it. about 1.5 years ago i bought the norton 4k/8k stone and boy did i start liking the shaves. Now i am having to hunt for the credit card because the wife hides them on me :rant: so i don't buy any more razors. Ok, long story short, started with 5/8, which i like, but am graduating to bigger blades for the heft.
Jmy. Ellis
I started a month ago and bought a 7/8. I immediately got a 5/8 to learn.
I think the 5/8 is much better to start out with because you will be trying to figure out how to shave each part of your face. The smaller 5/8 will allow you to try a wider variety of techniques, approaches and angles to get at each part of your face. I'll go back and try the 7/8 again only after I'm comfortable and confident in how to shave each part of my face.
P.S. if 10 razors in six months is hooked, I'm in big trouble. I'm up to 25 razors in only one month, and I don't have a TI, Dovo, W&B or a Dubl Duck yet. :cry:
Tom
ive got almost 30 in the couple months ive been collecting. mostly 5/8ths, not all perfect. some need scale work, some are dull, but better yet, they were all reasonably cheap. i like the 5/8 size, its comfy in my hand. actually my fav is my lil robeson shur-edge, its 5/8ths, and closed its smaller than a dubl duck dwarf. just easy to hold n maneuver.
-micah
Just a small point, but many German razors (made according to metric sizing) that are classified here as 6/8s actually measure closer to 13/16s.
If you check out the Dovo razors offered at www.classicshaving.com you'll see that almost all the razors are listed as 5/8s (11/16s). As I recall, it is only their new Bismarck that is 6/8s (13/16s). On the otherhand, their TI offerings have quite a few larger blades listed as 6/8s and 7/8s.
That being said, awhile ago I set up a good friend with some shaving gear and started him out with some good quality 5/8 razors. I recently sent him a larger blade (that I originally got from John Crowley) for him to try. He's only just started shaving with a straight recently and told me, with his large hands, that he found the bigger blade easier to use.
Hal