Question: what are the advantages and disadvantages of a full hollow vs. a half hollow ground straight razor? And would one's technique in shaving with one or the other differ much based on those plusses or minusses?
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Question: what are the advantages and disadvantages of a full hollow vs. a half hollow ground straight razor? And would one's technique in shaving with one or the other differ much based on those plusses or minusses?
IMO there are only slight differences between half and full hollow; they are close cousins. You'll notice the differences a lot more between full hollow and quarter hollow/wedge razors. With the thicker grinds you'll get less feedback and a slightly more forgiving (of technique) blade. A full hollow requires a lighter touch, can be less forgiving but will deliver outstanding shaves once your technique is nailed down.
Exactly what I would have said were I articulate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
Thanks. Reason I'm asking is that I've been shaving with a half hollow Dove 6/8 for almost a month now and beginning to get very good results. Just bought a 5/8 full hollow (from same source, both sharpened by LA) and getting crappy results. It is me or the razor or both?
On the other hand, my skin is a little tender at this point. Maybe I need a day off?
The stiffer the grind the less flexing of the blade but there is another variable and that is the hardness of the steel. If you have a standard carbon steel, say like a Sheffield, verses say like TI C135 blade, all else being equal, the C135 will be stiffer and flex less and thus will not behave quite like a full hollow.
Take Care,
Richard
I also started with a dovo best half hollow 6/8, and my first shave with any other razor was a smaller (4/8) full hollow. That shave was, well, not good, not bad= no nicks, but it was different.
Two things change, 1 the blade flex = feed back that you might not be used to. In my case this caused me to be a bit more tentative as i didn't yet understand what the razor was telling me. Now that I have more experience the full and extra hollows they give a lot of information. I can actually tell that I am about to nick before it happens and react (stop) before it does. When trimming at times I can feel individual hairs pop
2 the mass of the razor best analogy I can thing of is smart car vs dump truck for plowing snow. That is an exaggeration but you have to create the horsepower to bring a 4/8 razor though your beard much more so than a 8/8 (may depend how course or thick your beard is) Inertia can be your friend here.
In general I think full hollows are less forgiving but will tell you if they are going to bite you, if you know how to listen. Also even if you do not like full hollows shaving with one will force you to learn better technique and that will transfer to heavier razors giving you smoother and more comfortable shaves.
I have started to look at the razors like this as far as feedback is concerned
grind is the course adjustment and size is the fine adjustment. I also think that the forgiveness factor rides on a similar scale.
Please note these are my feeling and do not represent the feeling of SRP or its members, or maybe they do, I have no idea.
This whole post may in fact be daft. Yes i have been drinking and am at this moment avoiding housework and my wife.
Dam she caught me .......:tameshigiri:
Personally, I think it's a style thing. A razor if quality is a razor and they should all shave great. It's the operator that introduces the variables. I'm convinced many guys get a big heavy razor and just use it differently (probably without realizing it) which gives all the different results you see. For my part the only issue I have with the larger razors are the scales are much larger and you have to keep manipulating them on your face cause they get in the way. Yes the feel of a wedge type is different than a hollow but the final outcome should not be affected.