Thread: Is it the grind?

I have three 1/4 hollow ground and three full hollow ground razors in my rotation. The 1/4 hollows are a W&B, Sheaf Works, and John C. Cockhill. The full hollows are a Boker, Wostenholm, and Bigelow & Dowse (honed by Lynn).

My 1/4 hollows do not pull like my full hollows, I get an audible grateing and pinging sensation with the full hollows. I can get a close shave with all (definately with the one Lynn honed) but the thicker blades seem more comfortable to shave with, is it the grind or something else?

Dave

The blades on the full hollows are more thinner and therefore more prone to flexing as the hairs pull at it, this is what's causing that "pinging" and "grating" sound (some blades are advertised as "singing" blades because they ring if you pluck them). DE blades (which are also very thin) tend to ping and grate like this as well. This can be reduced by making the blades sharper so the hairs pull at the blade less. All of my blades are full hollow, but only one exhibits this pinging characteristic, and it is my least favorite blade though it gives excellent shaves.

Your right, it is the grind. The pinging and grating are from the flexing of the full hollow blade. The 1/4 hollow has more steel so it flexes less.