Thread: Poll : What size razor do you prefer ? Why ?

I would have said 6/8 before but after using my Charles Jaschke 8/8 full hollow with such a wide spine and great weight I cant say that anymore, my 8/8 W&B FBU is also a great shave for me. I really like a heavier weight razor but it seems my paws really like some distance/clearance for neck and jaw line passes.
just my 2 cents FWIW
Mike

Gentlemen, I prefer 6/8 and 7/8 razors, although currently all my blades are 6/8, except for eight 5/8 blades, and I have no 7/8 razors left. I am considering adding a 7/8 to my collection, though, but no decision on brand yet. I prefer to go with a new-old-stock full hollow German razor. For some reason the 6/8 razor especially feels comfortable in my small hands. In time I have discovered the same thing with the 7/8. The one size I dislike is the 4/8, and anything bigger than a 7/8 erases my comfort zone.

I voted 7/8. To me that's the perfect balance of size and heft with out compromising maneuverability. I tend to prefer any blade 6/8-8/8. I find that 5/8 have to be rinsed too often and the weight and balance of the blade is not preferable to me over a slightly larger blade.

With a 7/8 you can shave almost half ur face w/o a rinse and have enough weight to the blade that let's it do all the work. I wish a lot of the currant production offerings would be available in 7/8 with out having to go custom- but at the end of the day I'm a vintage guy anyway.... God knows there was no shortage of 7/8 blades back in the day so I guess I'm good to go!

Originally Posted by JoeLowett

I voted 7/8. To me that's the perfect balance of size and heft with out compromising maneuverability. I tend to prefer any blade 6/8-8/8. I find that 5/8 have to be rinsed too often and the weight and balance of the blade is not preferable to me over a slightly larger blade.

With a 7/8 you can shave almost half ur face w/o a rinse and have enough weight to the blade that let's it do all the work. I wish a lot of the currant production offerings would be available in 7/8 with out having to go custom- but at the end of the day I'm a vintage guy anyway.... God knows there was no shortage of 7/8 blades back in the day so I guess I'm good to go!

I agree! I have many 5/8 and even some 4/8. Plenty of 8/8's also. But my go-to choice is almost always a 'heavy 6/8-7/8'...and most preferably always a wedge.

8/8 or bigger that's all I have in my rotation and all are customs. My first razor was a 5/8 TI and I thought my shave was great but I do remember saying to my self that someone has to be making something bigger, and that's how I found my self searching for the custom guys. Now a days it's all I use and I can handle my 8/8 or 10/8 around my face like its on its GPS system.

Originally Posted by JoeLowett

With a 7/8 you can shave almost half ur face w/o a rinse and have enough weight to the blade that let's it do all the work.

Witha 4/8 you can shave all your face & never have to rinse as the blade undercuts the lather leaving it there for the next passes.

although i love the 8/8 i voted 7/8 cause ive seem to pick two 7/8 razors (one 13/16 , close enough) and those seem to be the 99% go to choice of razor anymore and just so happen to be the first 2 razors that came out perfect to my taste when i first started using the coticule , so im sure its all mental connection but those razors and i are now one !!! ..lol..

i think the marketing of 5/8 is just geared to the beginner cause of ease of use and there not intimidating like those choppers maybe at first .. i know i bought to stainless 5/8 razor and a new 4/8 before i ever even shaved ... i crashed and burned on the 4/8 and never used it till i (started to learn) learned how , but didnt have as much difficulty with the 5/8

when i first got a 8/8 i played with it more then used it cause honestly i wasnt at the comfort level or level of skill to know the right angles and technique when i got it and i would think most would feel the same so i think the market goes for 5/8 ...

far as customs i think most buyers are already established enough or are just buying as a gift and are never gonna use it anyway , or are new shavers to the straight and are just going with the big razor frenzy at the moment ..

Voted 6/8. I prefer a full hollow, i.e. the Boker extra hollow. The real sweet spot for me though is in the "tween". I really like a blade at 13/16.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Witha 4/8 you can shave all your face & never have to rinse as the blade undercuts the lather leaving it there for the next passes.

Haha, that may be true, but I'd like fresh lather on the next pass anyway! :-)

Ironically one of my best shavers is a touch over 4/8 (beu Brummell 35) ... But despite the fantastic shave time after time I feel that something is left to be desired...

I started straight shaving with a 6/8 full hollow and I liked it a lot.
That time I was convinced that the wider, the better for me, and I was searching to buy 7/8 or even 8/8 razors.

Time passed and now I am confident that the best for me is 5/8.
Easy to maneuver, more flexible, more equilibrate. However, if I order a custom made, it will be a 6(or7)/8. This because a custom made will not be an everyday razor.