Thread: Thick, Wiry Beard = Bigger, Heavier Blade?

I have one hell of a thick beard. I will say I see no difference in my Hollow Ground Duck from my Near Wedge and 1/4 ground. I will say I prefer heavier grinds. They feel better in my hand and I have better control but my duck can cleave with the best of them.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

For me, the weight of the razor does not make as much difference in my shaving as the grind of the razor. I don't know why.

I prefer the feel of a small quarter hollow razor (or heavier grind) to a full hollow of any size. Again I don't know why - like Glen said and maybe others (sorry I don't have time to read everyone's posts, so I try to hit the ones I think will be most entertaining - or have the most punctuation, hehehe) try different kinds of well-honed razors if you get the opportunity, and try to make an honest comparison for yourself to find what you really prefer.

And you are likely to find your preferences changing a little or a lot as your shaving/stropping/honing techniques improve

Hmm..interesting. I might have to try both a bigger and smaller blade in quarter or half hollows.

I have a 5/8 full hollow ground blade and a 6/8 full wedge for example..full wedge mow's my very coarse whiskers down with more ease than my 5/8 hollow razor..its just more shorter strokes are needed with anything less than a near wedge razor..for me anyways..

I'm one of those who had thought my beard type was just too stiff, or what ever for a hollow or extra hollow ground blade. Yesterday I debunked my own belief in this. I have a Boker 6/8 Extra Hollow Ground that I had put up almost a year ago because I just couldn't get it to shave well. In my mind it was just too thin and I had written it off. I started using 1/4 hollows, and my favorite razor for quite a while has been the Wacker Keilschlief Wedge, and I still like it a lot. Yesterday as I was checking on razors and cleaning off oil and applying Renwax I came across that Boker and thought, I haven't looked at this razor in almost a year. So, I decided to inspect it. I looked at the edge with a lighted loop and if anyone could have seen that edge right then I would have shrunk back with embarrassment. I had tried to hone it back then on my brand new Norton stones, and just plain didn't have any idea what I was doing! I could tell I had used way too much pressure on that thin of a blade, hadn't got the bevel set except for maybe one or two small areas and really hadn't done much polishing at the 8k either, which was a moot point anyway. So, yesterday I reset the bevel on the 1k Chosera, moved to the 4k Shapton, then 6k, 8k and finished on the 16k. I stropped it with CrOx on polywebbing, then with a Neil Miller real linen and Horween Cordovan strop. This morning I had as good a BBS shave as I've ever had with any razor. No tugging, no digging, no nicks, just a great shave. It never was the razor or the grind, just me!! Bad technique, I was using way too high of an angle, stropping? and for sure my honing. Whether there are beards too tough for a hollow grind, I don't know, but mine sure isn't one of them and that Boker is definitely back in the lineup, 1st String!! You might try getting yours rehoned and go with a much flatter angle and see if it improves. Good luck!!!

Best Regards,

Howard

It is my opinion, based upon nothing more than unsupported and unsubstantiated conjecture, that the variation in beard types (in terms of thickness, wirey-ness, density etc) within the adult male population is not as large as people might think it is, and certainly not of sufficient magnitude to merit a relationship to the grind of a razor.

Technique is the key, IMO. Heavier grinds can sometimes be a crutch for a technique deficiency and you do often see "intermediate" shavers touting the wedge-grind's praises in terms of shaving abilities over and above a hollow grind. I did it myself. A lot. lol!

No, it is my humble opinion that grind is immaterial - all razors meet at a tiny, tiny point whether hollow or full grind, and that is where the rubber hits the road in terms of a shave (or should that be "metal hits the whisker"? )

Good Luck!

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It is my opinion, based upon nothing more than unsupported and unsubstantiated conjecture, that the variation in beard types (in terms of thickness, wirey-ness, density etc) within the adult male population is not as large as people might think it is, and certainly not of sufficient magnitude to merit a relationship to the grind of a razor.

Technique is the key, IMO. Heavier grinds can sometimes be a crutch for a technique deficiency and you do often see "intermediate" shavers touting the wedge-grind's praises in terms of shaving abilities over and above a hollow grind. I did it myself. A lot. lol!

No, it is my humble opinion that grind is immaterial - all razors meet at a tiny, tiny point whether hollow or full grind, and that is where the rubber hits the road in terms of a shave (or should that be "metal hits the whisker"? )

Good Luck!

James.

Ah.....but there are differences in hair thickness and skin types (scientific fact, not conjecture). That is why so many different type blades were made and why one person likes a razor honed off of a Natural stone compared to synthetic. It is those subtle differences that make us unique. A good example is simply that I cannot understand anyone that does a cold water shave. But there are folks on the site that swear by it.
To each his own and enjoy your shave your way.

I am also fairly new to straight razor shaving. I think that if you just hang in there for awhile and take your time you will get the razors you have working just fine. Every time you shave, it will get better. I have around a hundred shaves now and I am just starting to think I know what I'm doing, there is quite a learning curve. Another thing that has helped me is sticking with one razor, at least for four or five shaves. Too many variable just complicate the learning process.
Randy

Originally Posted by rkw216

I am also fairly new to straight razor shaving. I think that if you just hang in there for awhile and take your time you will get the razors you have working just fine. Every time you shave, it will get better. I have around a hundred shaves now and I am just starting to think I know what I'm doing, there is quite a learning curve. Another thing that has helped me is sticking with one razor, at least for four or five shaves. Too many variable just complicate the learning process.
Randy

Absolutely correct. And just when you think you know what your doing, you'll get a bleeder.....LOL.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

Absolutely correct. And just when you think you know what your doing, you'll get a bleeder.....LOL.

Yep, cut myself two days ago. Don't think about work when shaving.

Thanks to everyone for all the input! I guess it's safe to say that beard density/thickness should not be a main factor when choosing a grind.

I did have a pretty good shave tonight - very close, not quite bbs everywhere (almost) but did have a few nicks.
I took Sterm's advice and let the lather soak for several minutes. I've seen and used this prep method in the past when I started using DEs. As time went on, I found that that I didn't need that extensive of a prep while using DEs. However, it seems to have some real benefits when I'm using a straight.

I'll add this to the routine and stick with the razors I have for now. As things evolve, I'll continue to evaluate. I am curious about different grinds so I'm sure I'll pick something up but, thanks to all the responses, don't think it's a requirement at this point