Future Proofing.

Hello,

It was my understanding that for a beginner a 5/8 half hollow would be easier to learn than a 5/8 full hollow and both these 5/8’s are easier to learn than a 6/8?

I jumped the gun a bit and for my first razor and purchased a 5/8 full hollow rather than a half hollow however as this is my first razor of course I can’t compare the 2 so the full hollow is fine by me.

I am now thinking of purchasing a back up or 2nd razor and I would also like to future proof myself for the day when I become proficient at straight razor shaving (probably months down the road) so was wondering if I should be looking at 6/8’s as it seems to be the average size for an experienced user?

As my full hollow 5/8 is my first and only razor I have nothing to compare and not sure if a bigger razor is the way to go for future proofing, so as for my second razor should I buy a 6/8 or another 5/8 and a 6/8 in a year or however long it takes to become experienced?

Thanks.

I'd say not to worry.
I started out with a 5/8 full hollow myself, and that turned out great.
The reason a 5/8 half hollow is recommended for beginners is simply that it is a middle of the road option before one knows personal preference.

Getting a second razor is a sound idea, that way you'll be shaving even if you ruin one, or will have to send it out to get honed.
For that second razor I would maybe try a half hollow 6/8.
No real reason for it, other than just to get to try out another grind and size combo.

But again, do not worry about that first razor of yours. I'm sure you'll do fine with it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Birnando

I'd say not to worry.
I started out with a 5/8 full hollow myself, and that turned out great.
The reason a 5/8 half hollow is recommended for beginners is simply that it is a middle of the road option before one knows personal preference.

Getting a second razor is a sound idea, that way you'll be shaving even if you ruin one, or will have to send it out to get honed.
For that second razor I would maybe try a half hollow 6/8.
No real reason for it, other than just to get to try out another grind and size combo.

But again, do not worry about that first razor of yours. I'm sure you'll do fine with it!

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Thanks for your reply and it does lead me to my 2nd question, why do the more experienced users prefer a bigger razor such as a 6/8, what is the advantage of a bigger blade?

Well, you are right, quite a few prefer the somewhat bigger blades. Not all, by any means.

It's all preference really, does not have anything at all to do with the shave-ability of the razor.
Me, I use big razors, but I am a fairly tall fella and have pretty big hands.
I find that I have better control of them when honing and stropping, they look good(!) and the added weight is in my book a plus. Others might disagree:)

Eventually you will find what suits you best.
In the meantime, enjoy that 5/8. It will serve you beautifully;)

With razors there is no such thing as a starter razor. The only difference between a 4/8s and 8/8s is the larger one is more clumsy and you have to maneuver it differently while a 5/8s can be moved around much more easily. Think an 18 wheeler vs a sports car. Your face only sees the edge of the razor the rest is how you wield it. Old time barbers preferred 5/8s and 6/8s razors to shave customers. I don't know what it is with the big razors these days. Probably no different than large brushes and large scuttles. yes, I have some larger razors but to tell you the truth I prefer the 5/8s and 6/8s.

FWIW I prefer 4/8 full hollows. I have a couple of 5/8 in my rotation and one 6/8. I don't like the feel of bigger blades or wedges.

You'll have to experiment to find out what you like.

I like how the bigger blades look and like to shave with them. They can be a little harder to maneuver on your face but not so much that it
bothers me. You'll have no trouble adjusting to a 6/8 or 7/8. Size matters but not very much.

Thanks,

“they look good(!)” “I like how the bigger blades look” “I don't know what it is with the big razors these days. Probably no different than large brushes and large scuttles.”

It seems from what I have read so far that aesthetics plays a substantial roll on choosing the bigger blade such as the 6/8’s as the user prefers the more imposing look and perhaps more of a statement?

And thus, the rationalization for RAD begins...

I have 4/8s, 5/8s, and 6/8s. They all provide excellent shaves. I happen to enjoy using a variety of different styles. While my favorite razor is a 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot, I also love shaving with a 4/8 Filarmonica Inox. In the beginning, I do think a 5/8 size is easier to master than a 6/8.

Choose a razor that attracts you. As you gain more experience, the choice of a razor becomes less and less important. With good technique, you can get a good shave with almost any style razor as long as it is sharp.

Happy Shaving!

I got a 5/8 full hollow as my first razor and I love it. Then I got a 7/8 W&B and couldn't use it, WAY too big for me. I'm swapping it for a 5/8 W&B but I'd actually like a 4/8; saw a nice Spanish one I think a while ago....

I purchased both a 5/8 and a 6/8 for my first razors. I actually found the 6/8 better (but that's just me, maybe I'm a freak)

I think i like the weight of the blade, i find it help with the cut. Since then i have also now got a 4/8 and I'm really am not a big fan of that.. Although i have used it ever day for the past week lol

Maybe saying I'm really not a big fan is a bit strong, its just not my preferred razor..

I think as long as you get something around the 4-6/8 and either a half hollow or full hollow in a good brand you will be happy and either way you will find out what you really like once you get your second.

:You will figure out what works best for you. There are very few hard and fast rules (like stropping every time you shave, etc...). A 5/8 or 6/8 round points are suggested for beginners. However, many of our members have cut their teeth with spike points, larger, smaller, etc... :)

I started with a full hollow as well (spike point!!!)
I found myself going larger with each purchase until I shaved with a 10/8 blade. That was the end for me. I find myself back into the 5/8 range these days and even creeping into the smaller realms. I have cut myself back there as well as I found the 3/8 difficult to hone and strop after all of those larger blades. If I had to grab the best shaver out of my bunch right now it would probably be about 5/8.
As for selection which one to choose, don't worry too much as you can usually get most of your money back on a smart purchase. I would just try something different by deciding what I liked about my current razor, then accentuate that by a small degree.

The angle of the edge doesn't vary much, so long as the wider razor has a thicker spine to compensate. A good healthy bevel might be 0.02in. wide, and a human hair might be 0.003in wide. So the degree of hollowness has nothing to do with the ability to cut hair, which could be accomplished without its ever touching the concave surface. A hollow grind lightens the razor, for a given width, and increases its ability to collect lather and, should you wish, wipe it back onto your face, instead of falling into the basin.

Long ago I was a fair-to-middling good university fencer. The height of my career was when I defeated a Scottish champion, and some of those schoolgirls are good. Part of the art is in making the small movements of the weapon by rolling between forefinger and thumb, with the other fingers ready to clench up tight when you do something more decisive, or have it done to you. I found myself far more prone to making inadvertent wild movements of the foil than of the épée, which is 50% heavier.

It's true, though, if you look at eBay etc., the really wide razors seem to attract prices hard to justify on utilitarian grounds. I think it is mostly a matter of "mine is bigger than yours", or somebody's anyway. I always wonder if the people who used 8/8 razors, personal or for barbering, also had a 4/8in. one for tight corners such as under the nose. That might explain why makers such as Wade and Butcher seem to have produced more than their share of these two extremes. I also think the heyday of the 8/8 razor seems to have coincided with the near-universality of moustaches.

I started out with a 13/16 full hollow and from there I have had and have anything from 4/8 to 7/8 of different grinds, and waiting for my first 15/16.
Of the ones I have used, I have found that I prefer razors from 6/8-7/8, but I also have 4/8's and 5/8's that are wonderful shavers, it's just that I prefer the extra weight in the bigger blades and I find them easier to use. Type of grind doesn't matter that much to me.
But again, as most, if not everything within this hobby, YMMW.
You just have to try different razors, and figure out what suits you best.