This is going to be my first straight, should I go with a 5/8 or 6/8? Pros and Cons of both would be nice, thanks.
Mike
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This is going to be my first straight, should I go with a 5/8 or 6/8? Pros and Cons of both would be nice, thanks.
Mike
I honestly don't think it matters. A smaller razor may be a little easier to move around your face, but not everyone would agree with that. A larger razor may make it a little easier to watch your shaving angle, but not everyone would agree with that.
I think anything in the 5/8 to 6/8 range is good for a starter.
5/8 is a good size to start with.
later you can always go to a bigger size
First learn to shave, buy a first 5 / 8 from the Classifields here on SRP
Keep in mind this is just a personal opinion... Either will do fine IF they are truly shave ready
but
A 6/8 is a bit heavier and that sometimes helps with those first tentative shaving attempts
The 6/8 can also help with keep the blade flat while stropping when you are new, and later on a 6/8 can be easier on the hones for the same reason
Again this is JMHO and either will do fine...
This is from a little different perspective. This was never going to happen to me, HA! Dropped my stainless the 2nd week I had it and it hit the rounded edge of the sink and put the nicest little smile you've ever seen right in the middle of the blade. By the time I honed that out it was closer to 4/8 then the 5/8. If you start with 6/8's and the "this is never going to happen to me" happens you'll have more metal to work with.
Regards,
Howard
I'm still pretty new to the Straight. My first month of shaving was with a 5/8 Dovo. I then got a 6/8 Revisor. From my experience I concur with gssixgun. I found the extra weight of the 6/8 helped me keep the blade moving and the angle was easier to maintain. I see a lot of recommendations for having 2 razors to start. You might try one of each.
Good luck and keep cruising these forums. Tons of good info and helpful folks.
You'll find as you begin your journey that there are plenty of variables to be concerned about. The eighth of an inch between 5/8 and 6/8 is not one of them.
I agree with all that has been said. I find that when I look at the razors online I always gravitate toward the larger blade. When I'm actually shaving I like the maneuverability of the 5/8. It just handles nicely. The 6/8 does too though. Almost six of one half dozen of the other.
I prefer 6/8, but for reasons that are not attributable to "size", but rather weight and shank width. I strongly recommend you look for a razor with thin/ light scales.
A5/8 that was half hollow and had a substantial shank would be just as good as any 6/8
I have one 5/8 and two 6/8 and I don't use the 6/8 anymore, they serve as backups. I do find I like the 5/8 better overall, it gives me more of a tactical feed back, such as it starts to stick and I can feel it better and reposition the blade where heavier blades will go on through with momentum. All in all it's a ymmv.
Solus, I'm in Glen's camp.
If you're still on the fence - how big are your hands? If you take a glove size larger than 'large' and feel cramped trying to write w/ a slender pen - you pretty much have your roadsign.
Really you have to try them to see which you like better. Everyone will just tell you what THEY prefer. 5/8s is the classic size. it's what most barbers used. 6/8s is a little beefier. Personally, I like the 6/8s but what you gain in maneuverability in the 5/8s you have some extra heft and weight in the 6/8s. I would say just get what appeals to you and don't worry about the size. For your next razor get the other size.
I started about six weeks ago with a 5/8, have used a 6/8 and with very little information to go by, few comparisons, found the two both equally awkward and as easy to use.
Thinking a 4/8 might work "better," I found out, for me, it doesn't. Not enough mass or something.
Sticking with 5/8 for now until I get more shaves like I did this morning (smoother, no nicks or abrasions).
I can't figure out how people use the 11/16 and 8/8 spatulas to shave, getting under my nose with a 6/8 is a trick I'm going back online to some videos to review.
I prefer a 6/8 or 7/8 size. YMMV.
I have a fairly heavy beard, and the 6/8 works much better than the 5/8. Doesn't matter how sharp I get the 5/8, it just doesn't shave as well as the 6/8.
I have both 5/8 and 6/8 and really can't tell the difference in the shave.... Usually I buy the
5/8 because for some reason the cost is less.
I will echo what everyone else has pretty much said already. It doesn't matter. You'd see a marked difference in the beginning between a 4/8 and a 6/8, but not a 5/8 and a 6/8.
Now, not to throw everything at you at once, but you will see the most obvious difference as a newbie between an extra hollow and a near wedge/ 1/4 hollow. Both shave equally well once you learn a little more about shaving, but they do shave differently.
My advice? Don't look too hard. Buy a shave ready one from SRD or from the classifieds here and start learning to shave. Then try something different after a few months. You just have to experiment, but try not to get bogged down by too many details. We have a tendency to do that here. :)
There's not that much of a difference in 1/8th of an inch, but just to throw my opinion out there, I prefer a larger blade. But just starting out, it won't make that much of a difference.
For the record, I agree the difference of 1/8 in in blade height is not enough to notice. What IS noticable is the shank size. Not all makers, but most use a larger blade blank, which means a larger shank - easier for large hands to grip and articulate. Some of the Genco keep the tiny shanks on the 6/8 :( Here, its mostly hand size. If I could get the shank & spine size and weight in a 5/8, I probably wouldn't care at all.
I found the 5/8 much easier to use as a beginner - but I have a medium sized face and relatively pronounced valleys on my chin and neck. The 5/8 size just fit under my nose, and fit my chin and neck valleys better.
The weight of the 6/8 makes it mow down wiskers for longer between sharpenings - but I often end up with a tiny bit more razor burn with the 6/8 since the momentum hides the fact it's starting to need a touch up. The 5/8 also forces me to shave with more correct angles and account for the angle the hair grows at more - since it doesn't have enough weight to cut dense whiskers easily otherwise. (Of course, when the 6/8 is freshly honed, the 6/8 works just as well except it still doesn't fit under my nose or into my neck valleys as well).
The 6/8 is easier to strop and hone - so if you have a larger face and flat neck I'd go with 6/8. Otherwise, I'd recommend 5/8. I'd also recommend 1/2 hollow. You'll get a tiny bit closer shave with full hollow, but the half hollow is significantly less sensitive to mistakes in your angle (ie: less razor burn when starting out).
Mike,
5/8th's or 6/8ths will work as mentioned. Also as mentioned something to think about is shank size to hand size. If you have any antique stores near you that may have some for you to feel in your hands, this may help you with what will feel more comfortable while flipping when stropping.
For me 1/8 of an inch is not much in some ways but i could tell a big difference in 1/8 of an inch between razors when I was first starting. The 6/8 and larger blades were intimidating and harder for me to shave with especially under the nose. I like them all now but at first it was 5/8 or less.