Thread: 5/8 vs 6/8 razors

I am new to straight razors and bought a Dovo Col Ichabod Conk 6/8 razor set Amazon.com: DOVO 506B 6/8 Col Conk Straight Razor with Full Shaving Set: Health & Personal Care

I see from reading beginners posts that it seems that most beginners start with the 5/8. What is the difference between the two and what are the benefits/downfalls? How are these measured, is it the width of the blade? Would it be better for me to buy a 5/8 since I am a beginner? Overall I like the razor itself but am unhappy with the set. I obviously paid too much as the brush is garbage and the case is plastic. I figured for that price the accessories would be a little higher quality. Overall though I am totally hooked! I can see that I am going to spend a fortune as time passes. Thanks for all the help.

Is it a decent razor for a beginner?

I don't think you did that bad. That's a good razor! You could have paid a little less if you shop around, but some people have spent good money and gotten garbage razors from Pakistan that don't hold edges.

The 5/8 are cheaper than the 6/8. The 6/8 have more metal for honing (last longer) one would last 200 years and the other 300, speaking figuratively (I don't know how long they realy last, but I know it's a long time). As far as one being more comfortable to get around the face is all subjective. I like 6/8 better but have great shavers that are 5/8. For learning I don't think is going to make a difference. What I recommend is get a second razor, have them both proffecionally hone, and keep one as the control to see how you progress on stropping and retouching your edge. Double O

Originally Posted by ccase39

I am new to straight razors and bought a Dovo Col Ichabod Conk 6/8 razor set Amazon.com: DOVO 506B 6/8 Col Conk Straight Razor with Full Shaving Set: Health & Personal Care

I see from reading beginners posts that it seems that most beginners start with the 5/8. What is the difference between the two and what are the benefits/downfalls? How are these measured, is it the width of the blade? Would it be better for me to buy a 5/8 since I am a beginner? Overall I like the razor itself but am unhappy with the set. I obviously paid too much as the brush is garbage and the case is plastic. I figured for that price the accessories would be a little higher quality. Overall though I am totally hooked! I can see that I am going to spend a fortune as time passes. Thanks for all the help.

Hi and welcome. I'm a noob myself, so, I'm certain some more experienced guys will chime in and correct or add to my statements. I think you got a pretty cool kit, seemingly at a fair price IMHO. It looks rather complete and apparently comes from Vintage Straight Razors so, it's shave ready sharpened. Very good. I don't see a strop at all in the pictures or description, did you get one? You need that. The sheath is nice, the VDH starter kit is cool (yeah, it's cheap, but functional), the plastic case doesn't matter, the blade is good. At my drugstore, the VDH boar brush was 10 bucks. At my super market, the VDH kit you have is 10 dollars. At Target, there's a nicer VDH kit for 20 bucks, and if you want to try a badger brush, that is also at target for 10 more dollars from VDH. The boar is fine and some like it more for the stiffer bristles being better at exfoliation.

There are general recommendations and general disclaimers (YMMV) all over this site. People just trying to help, but knowing that each persons face, skin, hair, preferences, goals and more all seem to vary to a degree. I read a bit before buying my razor and decided to ignore some of the general advice for my own personal preferences. They say, don't get a spike, but I did anyway and I'm very happy with that choice and the usefull little corner it has.

To answer you question, the measurement you refer to is the width of your blade from it's cutting edge to it's spine (the back edge) and it is measured in inches. So, 6/8 is an eighth of an inch wider than 5/8. The beginners help section has all the pictures with names of the parts for your educational purposes. You have a wider blade. Depending on the grind (I almost went with a Dovo Best Quality 6/8 half hollow for my first) you likely have more weight in the blade then a 5/8. I'm not sure of the significance of this as gravity is not always an advantage or disadvantage since you'll pull your blade up or down as you shave. There is more metal, so, if you were to shave all your life, you have extra to hone away with each sharepening. The blade is wider, so it needs more 'room' to work with. Meaning it may be more difficult for you to lay it down flatter when shaving your upper lip becuase your nose is in the way is the only example I can think of. Ooh, or trying to reach the concave parts of your neck under your jaw line.

IMHO you can enjoy your razor and set and just practice with what you have. You do not need to go out and buy another razor already. An eighth inch isn't all that significant. Actually I believe the standard is either 5/8 or 6/8 so you're all set! (assuming you have a strop). It's those extra skinny or extra wide ones to maybe avoid until you're experienced. Shave, practice, enjoy, then acquire more stuff! Your taste will develop as your skill does, maybe faster, but thats where you're wallet will keep you in check.

As has been said the difference is 1/8th of an inch in width and I don't think it will make that much of a difference. That is aside from the smaller blade might be a little easier to do the upper lip with. I have a mustache so really could not say on that score. I started on a 4/8 and now prefer 6/8 but do shave with all sizes between 4/8 and 8/8.

I can't say if you over paid or not on this board because it is a sort of valuation and that is not allowed.

Bob

Originally Posted by hiplainsdrftr

Hi and welcome. I'm a noob myself, so, I'm certain some more experienced guys will chime in and correct or add to my statements. I think you got a pretty cool kit, seemingly at a fair price IMHO. It looks rather complete and apparently comes from Vintage Straight Razors so, it's shave ready sharpened. Very good. I don't see a strop at all in the pictures or description, did you get one? You need that. The sheath is nice, the VDH starter kit is cool (yeah, it's cheap, but functional), the plastic case doesn't matter, the blade is good. At my drugstore, the VDH boar brush was 10 bucks. At my super market, the VDH kit you have is 10 dollars. At Target, there's a nicer VDH kit for 20 bucks, and if you want to try a badger brush, that is also at target for 10 more dollars from VDH. The boar is fine and some like it more for the stiffer bristles being better at exfoliation.

There are general recommendations and general disclaimers (YMMV) all over this site. People just trying to help, but knowing that each persons face, skin, hair, preferences, goals and more all seem to vary to a degree. I read a bit before buying my razor and decided to ignore some of the general advice for my own personal preferences. They say, don't get a spike, but I did anyway and I'm very happy with that choice and the usefull little corner it has.

To answer you question, the measurement you refer to is the width of your blade from it's cutting edge to it's spine (the back edge) and it is measured in inches. So, 6/8 is an eighth of an inch wider than 5/8. The beginners help section has all the pictures with names of the parts for your educational purposes. You have a wider blade. Depending on the grind (I almost went with a Dovo Best Quality 6/8 half hollow for my first) you likely have more weight in the blade then a 5/8. I'm not sure of the significance of this as gravity is not always an advantage or disadvantage since you'll pull your blade up or down as you shave. There is more metal, so, if you were to shave all your life, you have extra to hone away with each sharepening. The blade is wider, so it needs more 'room' to work with. Meaning it may be more difficult for you to lay it down flatter when shaving your upper lip becuase your nose is in the way is the only example I can think of. Ooh, or trying to reach the concave parts of your neck under your jaw line.

IMHO you can enjoy your razor and set and just practice with what you have. You do not need to go out and buy another razor already. An eighth inch isn't all that significant. Actually I believe the standard is either 5/8 or 6/8 so you're all set! (assuming you have a strop). It's those extra skinny or extra wide ones to maybe avoid until you're experienced. Shave, practice, enjoy, then acquire more stuff! Your taste will develop as your skill does, maybe faster, but thats where you're wallet will keep you in check.

I got this strop Amazon.com: Fromm Razor Strop 2 1/2" X 23": Health & Personal Care It has two strops, one the smooth leather and the other is fabric material. What strop dressing should I start with? As far as the brush goes a couple of weeks ago I was doing a cooking demonstration at a street fair (Im a chef so a close shave is important) and a lady had a booth with hand made soaps made from goats milk. It came with a very nice brush that I am happy with. I am not sure about the soap yet, it does the job and feels nice and stays lathered but I want to try some different types to see how the goats milk soap compares. I also bought a vintage Henkels a month or so ago from an antique fair that is very nice but needs to be professionally honed. Right now I am using it to practice stropping. I intend to send it to someone on this site for honing.

Originally Posted by ccase39

Is it a decent razor for a beginner?

Yes it is a Dovo made razor.

Man oh man! You are hooked! I started with a $128 investment. The razor was in good condition from eBay for $20. The Norton 4000/8000 hone plus a stone holder set me back $75, the brush and soap made up the rest. I thought I was good to go. Without belaboring the point, four months later, I am still spending. But I am a tinkerer so I have had to try a little of everything. Ways to unpin a razor and save the original collars, making scales, buying exotic woods for the scales, building jigs to cut and thin the scales, buying buffing wheels and compounds to restore the blades (I'm not doing so well in that department at the moment), and on and on. Dip your toe into the still waters of the straight razor hobby and you will find yourself neck deep in the whirlpool of soaps, brushes, blades, scales, hones, scuttles, finishing, restoration, rehabilitation and the list goes on.

Welcome to the zany world of straight razor shaving. There is much to be learned, much to be tested and tried, but I promise you this, your journey into this rabbit whole will never, ever, be dull. There are great people here ready and willing to help. Do not be afraid to reach out for that help.

I will be watching your progression with interest. I hope you find this new adventure to be as exciting and challenging as I have.

Randy

Originally Posted by WhiteLion

Man oh man! You are hooked! I started with a $128 investment. The razor was in good condition from eBay for $20. The Norton 4000/8000 hone plus a stone holder set me back $75, the brush and soap made up the rest. I thought I was good to go. Without belaboring the point, four months later, I am still spending. But I am a tinkerer so I have had to try a little of everything. Ways to unpin a razor and save the original collars, making scales, buying exotic woods for the scales, building jigs to cut and thin the scales, buying buffing wheels and compounds to restore the blades (I'm not doing so well in that department at the moment), and on and on. Dip your toe into the still waters of the straight razor hobby and you will find yourself neck deep in the whirlpool of soaps, brushes, blades, scales, hones, scuttles, finishing, restoration, rehabilitation and the list goes on.

Welcome to the zany world of straight razor shaving. There is much to be learned, much to be tested and tried, but I promise you this, your journey into this rabbit whole will never, ever, be dull. There are great people here ready and willing to help. Do not be afraid to reach out for that help.

I will be watching your progression with interest. I hope you find this new adventure to be as exciting and challenging as I have.

Randy

Thanks Randy! Yes I am hooked and I can foresee spending a fortune in my future. Its all I can do right now to refrain and learn the basics. I keep finding myself coming back to this site every 15 minutes or so lol. It looks like a good idea to get razors from the classifieds here. I saw some great stuff reasonably priced and I know I can trust this site. I have gotten the norton stone you mentioned but it never even occurred to me to make my own scales!!!!!! This is going to be fun as I love to fiddle with things. I have a ton of bamboo around, do they make good scales?

Originally Posted by Double0757

The 5/8 are cheaper than the 6/8. The 6/8 have more metal for honing (last longer) one would last 200 years and the other 300, speaking figuratively (I don't know how long they realy last, but I know it's a long time). As far as one being more comfortable to get around the face is all subjective.

The only functional advantage to using larger blades is their ability to scoop more lather. That's pretty much it.

Sure, some prefer smaller blades for maintaining beard lines (like a 3/8 shaper or some stubby blades), but that can be done with any size blade.