Thread: want to get a new razor

I don't really need a new razor, but I thought it would be nice to compare, have one that I could used to extend my honing cycles, and just have a really nice truly beautiful razor on top of my very cheap regular bought only to see if I'll like straight razor shaving, razor.

So I have a few questions on razors. I think it all boils down to weight, but just in case I'm wrong, I'm concerned with the hollowing and thickness of razors. I know razors were hollowed to make honing easier. So you don't have to take off metal for the whole width of the razor, just the tip. Now is the different hollowing, full, half, quarter........again only having to do with weight or something else?

Regarding the thickness of the razor, again I think it just has to do with weight, but maybe there is another advantage/reason for one over the other?

If I'm right I would think the heavier the better (as much as you can handle) because the heavier the greater the tendency to resist getting stuck, twisting in your hand...... Also the easier to hone I would think, because you have less effort to make sure its flush to the hone.

The spine work is something I am also thinking about, I'd like to get some really exaggerated spine work, but it looks like when you hone it'll cause some eccentricity. Should I be concerned here?

Lastly, I was perusing through the custom builds and restorations forum and there is some nice stuff there. Some of the guys make razors from scratch and they truly look like works of art. Are those pieces meant to be shaven with and if so do any of you know of any guys that'll take a custom build commission and is it worth it.