Thread: A question on size

I'm assuming it's a Thiers-Issard? They make nice shavers, and use Sheffield steel hardened using their special lead process. AFAIK theres no silver in the steel, the name comes from the fact that the very high-carbon steel can be polished to a silver-like sheen.

Not a Thiers-Issard. I've already talked myself down from jumping straight to those. It's an old Solingen bearing a 'Best Silver Steel' stamp.

Back to the topic of my humble Puma 3/8, there is a very slight nick at the front of the blade, right where it begins to arc. By slight, I'm talking millimetres. Given its location, would it be worth trying to hone it out? I'll try and get a pic up tomorrow if that'll help anyone better respond.

And in case I haven't already said it, thanks for all the help so far.

I'll echo what others have said about the 5/8 - 6/8 range. Not only are they easier to hone, but easier strop and to handle in the shave. It's a good sarting place.

Silver Steel is fine, but misleading. What you need to pay attention to is the place the steel came from and/or the manufacturer. Sheffield and Solingen are the top of the line steels, but Eskeltuna and some others are also alright. Post a link to the blade you are thinking of or at least the exact make and model and we should be able to advise you better.

Personally, even though I have a lighter beard I am growing into a larger blade kinda guy. It might be like getting a motorcycle though. I don't think anyone would recommend you get a huge touring bike as your first, but you may end up there before long.

X

Originally Posted by Sweeny Todd

... there is a very slight nick at the front of the blade, right where it begins to arc. By slight, I'm talking millimetres. Given its location, would it be worth trying to hone it out?

YES! Even the smallest non visible nick can cause problems for you.

That Solingen blade's probably fine.

X

Guys with a coarse or thick beard generally do better with a razor that has a stiffer grind. These are referred to as a "wedge" (single concave grind), 1/4 hollow ground ( bi-concave grind) or 1/2 hollow (bi-concave grind). The minimum blade width would be 4/8 . The 3/8 size is generally referred to as a moustache razor. It is very good for precise shaving around the beard/moustache/goatee.

Have fun,

Well, the issue of 'what first' is resolved.

I just won a basic 5/8 MÜHLE-Pinsel at what seems to me to be a fair price, considering it was listed as "brand new." Of course, this wholly ran against my original logic, which was to buy something off one of the sellers who ship the blade with a true shave-ready edge, and I may still do that (Mr Chandler, if you are the sort who checks IP traffic and have noticed repeated visits to shop.writerferret.com from a heretofore unseen IP, that'd be me.)

Thanks again for all the help. I don't doubt I'll have more questions regarding honing and stropping once the razor arrives.

Until then...

S