Thread: Filarmonica stiff enough?

Originally Posted by Tobico4

I too have a coarse beard and have found that the grind is more important than the size. I have a 4/8 Hugo Koller wedge and a 5/8ish Dubl Duck Satin Wedge that shave better than my 6/8 and 7/8 hollows. I have the same problem, hollow ground blades "stall" or "skip" on my chin, even the 6/8 that Lynn honed for me.

I have never used a filly so I can't help you with that part of the question.

Dave

Thanks Tobico, that's what I needed to know.

Izlat, I'm with you about the etching. I could do without the gold. But I love this razor. Maybe overpriced, yeah, I got the $175 one w/ebony scales. But then that's about the price of a TI.

What did you mean when you said Iwan would need help soon? That these are hard to hone?

Well, I did mean that he seems to be buying many really nice razors. This is addictive, and the trouble is they are not cheap.

However, I do believe (from my limited experience) that they are hard to hone. I have worked on several hollows, and several 1/2 and 1/4 grinds. Let me just say that while I get the hollows decently sharp, this has not been true with the wedges (as well as my framebacks, for that matter) The only exception is a W&B 1/4 7/8 that I somehow got shave-ready.

But don't worry, it'll come

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by dylandog

Thanks Tobico, that's what I needed to know.

Izlat, I'm with you about the etching. I could do without the gold. But I love this razor. Maybe overpriced, yeah, I got the $175 one w/ebony scales. But then that's about the price of a TI.

What did you mean when you said Iwan would need help soon? That these are hard to hone?

Ah I see. Yeah I spent a bomb on this one too, but it's my only razor and I was aiming to keep it that way. Now I'm figuring one backup's a good idea - after I dinged it and it was out of commission for almost a week. As far as the backup goes I don't care much if it's pretty or collectible or whatever. Just that it be a powermower.

Izlat was just referring to my obvious addiction to razors.

I'm not personally experienced in honing quarter hollow wedges but I've been told it's no harder than a full hollow in terms of complexity.

I have super coarse hair too.

Grind will always be important for use with thick hair. I don't like shaving with hollow ground razors unless they are at least 6/8", but that also fails too depending on how hollow ground they are. My Dubl Duck Goldedge is 6/8", and shaves amazing hardly flexes, but I have shaved with a 7/8" Extra Hollow Ground german razor and it was real flexy because it was so thin all the way across. My Henckles Fridor 8/8 is stuper stiff, but hollow ground. Just have to find the stiff grinds.

Wedge blades are amazing for coarse beards. They are so stiff you can't even hear the whiskers being cut. They are horribly annoying to hone, not hard but they just take a while. I realy enjoy them, not only for their stiffness and weight but because since they are so stiff their edge stays sharper longer since it isn't flexing so much

I have never shaved with a 1/4 hollow blade yet but I am getting one of the Hess "otto" razors from Randy soon. I would imagine it would make mince meat of my thick whiskers and be much less work on the hone.

Good luck, I will report my findings on the 1/4 Hollow Hess when I get it from Randy. I am so excited

The 6/8 full-hollow INOX G. Butler that I have is very thick. Gives me the same amount of feedback as a wedge and mows through the tough stuff as if it wasn't there. So there are exceptions to the rule.

I have a stiff beard as well and have found the full-hollow friodurs to be quite stiff, they don't so much as bobble when they hit the trees on my chin.

I have found that with more experience even the wire-hair guys can use the more flexible hollow-ground razors effectively. I've got several and nowadays can get a good shave from them nearly as easily as my 1/4 ground razors or my big friodurs. The only one that still gives me trouble is my extra hollow "singing" Wacker, which stalls out every time.

That Butler that I was talking about was as stiff and heavy as a wedge but still a bi-concave. Go figure

So, Michael - I am asking myself: Why are you keeping the Wacker?

I am pretty sure if I didn't like how a razor shaved (consistently) - I won't keep it.

Heck, I find I have to let go of razors, which are / are going to be great shavers just to keep the size of my rotation to what I find reasonable / justifiable. I already sold a WKC, a great shaver from Joe C, a nice-to-be Wostenholm 1/2 wedge, and a Puma 89. And believe you me, I will be putting up more - eventually. I have to.

or I'll eat my words that we don't need many razors. Because already looking at 32 for less than 3 months.

Correct me if I'm wrong, are the stainless razors stiffer than the carbon ones for the same grind?

PuFF