Thread: Confirm/refute my assessment and please give suggestion

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

Some time back, I read an old barbers manual that suggested 4/8 for first time straight razor shavers. At the least, smaller width blades should be tried at some point.

I have 5/8ths, 6/8ths and 4/8ths razors. I like the 6/8ths & 4/8ths best.
The 4/8ths is amazing for tight detail. It's a half hollow which is nice.
I enjoy the sounds of the full hollow but I also like the silent ninja aspect of my wedge.
Quite honestly I think the smaller blades are easier to learn with. Hollowness is preference. Wedges have more weight to more easily slice through hairs but with hollower grinds you get audible feedback.

I actually have a 7 day set of 4/8s,my son refers to them as dads girlie razors

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I actually have a 7 day set of 4/8s,my son refers to them as dads girlie razors

If they're too girlie for ya you can send them my way .

Pixelfixed:

Beautiful razors! Beautiful case.

I always enjoy seeing this set!!!

Omg omg, that's a beautiful bunch!

To the OP:
Based on what I've read here, I also thought about (and finally bought) a 5/8 as my first "shave ready" razor to go along with the grand-grandpa's (also a 5/8). After shaving with it, I found it very good... that is until last week when received a 4/8 half-hollow Biedermeier from ebay. After cleaning up and some sharpening, proceeded to shave and bang, instant love , found it quite easier and pleasant to shave with, mostly in the more challenging areas, such as chin and neck sides. I'm still using the other two 5/8-s, but I definitely prefer the 4/8. So, for me (and my beard ) a 4/8 turned to be nicer to use as a beginner.

Regards,
Adrian

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

Some time back, I read an old barbers manual that suggested 4/8 for first time straight razor shavers. At the least, smaller width blades should be tried at some point.

4/8s are pretty maneuverable and I have one myself, but I prefer the 6/8 and 5/8 blades. The 4/8 I have is an antique that I paid $8 for and I restored it. It was the razor that I first learned to hone. I have shaved with it a few times, but again, I prefer the wider blades.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I actually have a 7 day set of 4/8s,my son refers to them as dads girlie razors

Girlie razors my eye! That's an awesome set! What does your son want you to use, a machete?

I have concluded that the size of the 4/8 blade scales is more important than the size of the blade. Some 4/8 razors have correspondingly small scales, and those I don't like as much. Some 4/8 razors have about the same size scales as some 5/8, and those I like a lot.

The 4/8 blade that comes with a relatively larger scales gives a greater sense of feel, I believe, that you get with larger blades.

Some years ago, I had a blade with a deep chip. Rather than throw it out, for grins I ground out the chip on a bench grinder, honed it, and ended up with a blade that was about 7/16. But, it had a 6/8 scales. I loved that razor! The ease of control, and the sense of feel I had was eye opening. That is when I realized that the width wasn't as important as the scales for me.

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

I have concluded that the size of the 4/8 blade scales is more important than the size of the blade. Some 4/8 razors have correspondingly small scales, and those I don't like as much. Some 4/8 razors have about the same size scales as some 5/8, and those I like a lot.

The 4/8 blade that comes with a relatively larger scales gives a greater sense of feel, I believe, that you get with larger blades.

Some years ago, I had a blade with a deep chip. Rather than throw it out, for grins I ground out the chip on a bench grinder, honed it, and ended up with a blade that was about 7/16. But, it had a 6/8 scales. I loved that razor! The ease of control, and the sense of feel I had was eye opening. That is when I realized that the width wasn't as important as the scales for me.

Interesting post! I made new scales for that antique 4/8 Geneva and I used the original scales as my pattern. For my big mitts, the scales are too small for them. I'll get around to make a new set of scales and make them larger. I bet that razor will shave even better with the larger scales.

Personally, I would go with the 5/8 half-hollow. I find the grind more important than the blade width. And for me, a heavier grind is much better. My full and extra hollows might give a marginally closer shave, but they definitely leave me with a bit of razor burn that the heavier grinds don't.

Anymore I find myself only interested in wedges to maybe 1/4 hollows. In fact, once I have a few more posts under my belt, I will probably be listing my full and extra hollows on the classifieds here to finance a 7/8 Hart.