Reflections on a meat Chopper

Ok, so I have been reading about all this ballyhou around here about these 8/8 W&B meatchoppers so I think gee I've got to get one of these things. So I get me a W&B Extra hollow ground 8/8 meat chopper and after using it I've got to ask all of you who favor them, whats the big deal.

Yea, it gives a great shave but so do many other of my other razors. I find it huge heavy and unwieldy. I have other 7/8 and 8/8 razors but this thing is really lacking in maneuverability like driving an 18 wheeler on my face. It has the road feel of a wedge. The scales are so big they keep hitting my ears and just get in the way.

So everyone who loves them sound off and tell me what the allure is to them.

No support here. My preference is for 6/8, followed closely by 5/8. Larger than that and I feel like I'm shaving with a kitchen knife.

Ed

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Ok, so I have been reading about all this ballyhou around here about these 8/8 W&B meatchoppers so I think gee I've got to get one of these things. So I get me a W&B Extra hollow ground 8/8 meat chopper and after using it I've got to ask all of you who favor them, whats the big deal.

Yea, it gives a great shave but so do many other of my other razors. I find it huge heavy and unwieldy. I have other 7/8 and 8/8 razors but this thing is really lacking in maneuverability like driving an 18 wheeler on my face. It has the road feel of a wedge. The scales are so big they keep hitting my ears and just get in the way.

So everyone who loves them sound off and tell me what the allure is to them.

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Too bad its hollow ground and not a wedge or I would buy it from you!

The bigger and heavier a razor is...the more of a man I feel like after shaving with it...the more skill it takes the more pride I feel...I think thats what got me into 8/8 to begin with. But to me the heft of the blade really makes a difference, even if its harder to get the same shave as a smaller more hollowed razor.

I got, by pure accident, my W&B 13/16 wedge as part of a "lot" that I bought in order to get a different razor.

It shaves my tough beard with less irritation than any other razor I own, and since I was new to str8 shaving when I got it I didn't know it was "big"...just developed a pattern that worked on my face.

It is now the "standard" of a close comfortable shave that all new razors are measured against.

Dave

My choice of favorite big to small varies. Today it is for the bigones. My Dorko 15/16 my most resent fav.:cool:

I find that the smaller blades are more twitchy when they hit the really tough parts of my beard. The 7/8 and 8/8's don't even seem to notice.

I've been getting into larger razors and really like their heft. As for a wedge or less ground razor I'd guess the major benefit would be how LONG the razor can go between strops. One thing I've noticed on the few razors I have here are that the more it's ground, the more often it seems to need stropping. I'm sure harder steels would have less of an issue with this but with razors of equal steel quality I'd say that a thicker blade provides less opportunity for the steel to bend or fold when shaving Of course I'm just guessing. Until I get this 13/16 wedge reground so I can sharpen it and use it I'll not be able to test this theory in depth ;).

What is there to like about those big-arse sheffield meatchoppers? Good question!

NOTHING! They're overpriced junk and I wish everyone would quit bidding on the damned things. I hate it when people start running the price up like that by talking about how wonderful those razors are.

5/8" Baby!!!!! That's the real deal!

I really see no advantage to size but I do experience a better shave with a thicker grind i.e. wedge, 1/4 or 1/2 hollow. The 4/8, 5/8 and 6/8 are also easier to hone.

Just my two cents,:)

Its not just about the size factor here. I have a few 7/8s and 8/8s razors of German manufacture and the filamonica is 7/8s but they are much thinner and lighter. The W&B is just incredibly heavy and massive in a way the others aren't. I don't think I would sell it but it will remain in that corner of my razor box with my Japanese razor. A curiosity to be dragged out and used a couple times a year.

I think that for me 5/8 and 6/8 is the way to go.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I think that for me 5/8 and 6/8 is the way to go.

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This is really the deciding factor, or should be, for everyone. It's not about what everyone else likes. It's what you like. This is the reason we don't all drive black cars that are identical. It's called personal preference. :)

For me, I like the larger, heavier blades. That's my personal preference. I like the heft and stability of the larger blades, and am most fond of shaving with wedges. Call me crazy, but to me, a 5/8 full hollow is too light. A 5/8 wedge is much more useable to me. I don't hink I would be comfortable with a 4/8 at all. :shrug:

Different strokes!!:D

Personaly I like them all,each has their own attraction
Kind regards peter

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Originally Posted by canerunner

This is the reason we don't all drive black cars that are identical.

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It's because we don't all work for the "one world government"!!!!! ;)

8/8 or bust!!!

I'm kinda partial to 5/8s and 6/8s myself. I've gotten good shaves with everything from a 4/8 up, though. 6/8 to me is the perfect compromise between "manly" heft and controllability. That size just appeals to my eye, too. To each his/her own. I've got a 6/8 Filly square point full hollow, though, that seems much heavier and stiffer than the typical full hollow...more like a half. I love Filarmonicas. :D So much so that I went in debt to acquire another. The grind seems more important than the size. I've got an ivory handled 4/8 Eskilstuna that shaves like a much bigger blade...it's got a shoulderless, almost frameback grind that imparts a lot of stiffness to the blade, and I didn't get that singing rasp so common to very thin-bladed razors. The big razors are nice from a aesthetic standpoint, but I don't know that they shave any better. They're a fad, for the most part. 5/8 isn't the most popular, common size for no reason. If more people wanted them, the companies would make more of them, and charge out the wazoo for 'em. :D All that aside, a half-hollow seems to me to be the best compromise between a stiff blade (quiet shaving) and ease of honing and quality of edge. I like 'em all.:p