Filarmonica stiff enough?

**dylandog** · 10-18-2006, 02:25 PM

I have a beard as thick as a boar's hair brush though hopefully not as smelly. I couldn't get any razor through my chin stubble until I tried a 6/8 quarter hollow. It does the job and does it clean. I'm looking now to get a second razor, and there aren't that many quarter hollows around, so I'm looking at the Filarmonica 7/8 (or 15/16) at classicshaving. I've only heard good things about Filarmonicas, and the description certainly emphasizes the heft. Will a 7/8+ full hollow have comparable stiffness to a quarter hollow? Can anyone with a super coarse beard recommend the filly?

**izlat** · 10-18-2006, 03:21 PM

I LOVE my 8/8 full hollow Fili but I would have to say the answer for you is NO. She does get through my 5 days' growth without any problem, but I cannot rival boar bristle. And even with my growth, I can say that a 6/8 quarter hollow is more stiff (if not more hefty). The Fili is definitely one of my top several shavers, very convenient, easy to hone, yes, pretty... just not as stiff as the wedges

CS sells the 7/8 for 99, afair. For this kind of dough, you surely can pick up a 7/8 Wade & Butcher restoration or something similar. I would think... Without fancy scales... Heck, people buy 7/8 wedges on the internet for 30 - 50 bucks in relatively good condition. Get it honed by Lynn, Joe, Randy, Bill for 20-30 more and you'll have a much better shaver for your super coarse beard.

Another thing - I might be letting out a secret, but you're gonna like to hear this:

Joe Chandler has some 7/8 wedges juuust about to hit the limelight! I have no idea what they are and how much they cost, but I would VERY VERY strongly recommend that you contact him! My favorite 6/8 quarter for now comes from Joe, and it is so so sharp and nice - certainly one of my top razors, despite the unknown brand. Cost me all of $50

I have been trying to get one of my other wedges as sharp and this just has not happened yet.

By the way, and this is not your best option (I think - Joe is) I have at least 7 or 8 project 7/8 wedges, and a couple of them operational. As I am always looking to try new things, I have to sell off some - so I could hook you up with a blade some of the meisters can restore for you. Overall, you'll still be under 100, most likely with custom scales and super honing (which would cost you additional 20 from CS, done by Lynn.) For your coarse beard, much better than the CS Fili.

Or, and this is contagious, hit ebay, bid on some 7/8 wedges and see what you win - you might get a restoration project blade, or you might just need honing from a honemeister. What was that saying, like a box of chocolates

Cheers
Ivo

**Steelforge** · 10-18-2006, 05:13 PM

How about these which John Crowley is selling?

http://www.shavingshop.com/index.php...6category%3D74

I've been trying to resist buying one.

**izlat** · 10-18-2006, 05:22 PM

Love the 3 pins, hate the etching.

Anyway, this is almost 100 over the Fili (and I am not saying that it is not worth it, just pointing it out) And, for the record, LX just sold a 7/8 Herder, which was not a looker but probably a great shaver, at a great price

Cheers
Ivo

**Steelforge** · 10-18-2006, 05:26 PM

I just cracked and bought one.

Well I just sold a guitar on ebay yesterday so I'm still money up even after buying it. Oh well, 1 more added to the rotation.

**RichZ** · 10-18-2006, 05:33 PM

I have a 7/8 Fili that works just fine. Just my .02

**izlat** · 10-18-2006, 05:46 PM

Iwan - WHAAA???

I hope it brings you many pleasant moments. You may need help soon, though

Rich - I absolutely LOVE my 8/8 but I do not think i have the super coarse stubble mentioned, so this is why i recommended a stiffer and heavier wedge

Cheers
Ivo

**RichZ** · 10-18-2006, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by izlat

Iwan - WHAAA???

I hope it brings you many pleasant moments. You may need help soon, though

Rich - I absolutely LOVE my 8/8 but I do not think i have the super coarse stubble mentioned, so this is why i recommended a stiffer and heavier wedge

Cheers
Ivo

I'm not a great judge when people talk stubble. I guess some is tougher than others...

**dylandog** · 10-19-2006, 01:47 AM

Well being a newbie it's likely that this has more to do with my shaving skills. But the full hollows I've used (nothing larger than 6/8) literally get hung up on my chin. Meaning, they either skip off or just stop. Period. Even the Lynn-sharpened one. I'm not a superbig manly guy, just a superhairy one, and I'm not aesthetically into huge razors, but I'll get one if it does the trick. This wacker quarter hollow I got from Crowley -- it's the same razor Iwan's talking about -- arrived just in time to keep me from giving up on straights. It kicks ass.

Originally Posted by RichZ

I'm not a great judge when people talk stubble. I guess some is tougher than others...

**Tobico4** · 10-19-2006, 01:58 AM

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

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