Poll : What size razor do you prefer ? Why ?

I have been having a bit of a debate with a couple of custom razor makers. It seems two thirds of their orders are for 7/8 or larger blades. OTOH, when you look at the commercial manufacturers the majority of their offerings seem to be 5/8 and 6/8. A few 7/8 and once in a blue moon an 8/8.

This would indicate to me that the larger majority of folks shopping for straight razors prefer the 5/8 and 6/8. If not why would the mfgs make that their main production ? It seems the difference in price between those two sizes is negligable. I'm thinking the average person, who is not a razor collector/shaver, may be starting out, would be reluctant to go for the 7/8 and up.

Perhaps the reason the custom guys get so many orders for the larger blades is because they are dealing with the straight razor cognoscenti ?

I voted for 6/8, because I've been using 6/8 razor for a long time, but I like 5/8 too.

I prefer a 6/8 blade, although most of my razors are 5/8. I like the fact that they hold more lather before I have to clean the blade. However, I find that any larger than 6/8 is awkward to shave with. I think the reason the custom guys like these big blades is pure aesthetic. :)

5/8, because that's all I have :shrug:

Voted 8/8 only because thats what most of my blades are.I have nothing under 7/8 and only one that is.
I have three 10/8s that are a joy to shave with but at that size become a PITA to strop.

I use, and like, anything from a 5/8 to a 10/8.
My vote was 7/8 though, as that is a middle ground of sorts:)

As I am 6'5" I reckon a 7/8 to me is like a 5/8 to all those guys situated a bit closer to mother earth;)

Jimmy

I think you are right in your OP. My fav is a 6/8 but 5/8 will do nicely too. Custom razors seem to be all about exaggeration these days and size is but one aspect. I think that is to make them stand visually apart from productions razors the huge majority of which are under 7/8 in size.

Bob

5/8 seems to be my preference at the moment. I've wondered if the custom guys get orders for the bigger blades in part because of the fact that the other producers don't offer the large blades too much.

My thoery is that the prouction 5/8 or 6/8 razors are to a certain extent, made to a price point, and are simply commercial goods. Whereas customs are one offs, meant to be heirlooms passed down through generations, and having that extra metal will let them survive a while longer, sort of like the ole Barber's use razors.

Personally, I like anywhere from5/8 to 7/8, but voted 7/8.

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!

I am fond of insane logic.

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Originally Posted by Birnando

I use, and like, anything from a 5/8 to a 10/8.
My vote was 7/8 though, as that is a middle ground of sorts:)

As I am 6'5" I reckon a 7/8 to me is like a 5/8 to all those guys situated a bit closer to mother earth;)

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4/8 for me. They are more fun to shave with, IMO. They're agile, nimble.


I think that if production razors were 8/8 to 10/8, the custom guys would be getting orders for 14/8. We are wired to want something bigger than the other guy has.

I'm an average 6' tall guy, but i love 7/8.
Not so heavy as 8/8 or more.
A little more weight of a 6/8. A lot more of charisma!! :cool:

started shaving with a straight about a year ago. I started with a 5/8 boker that I got from SRD, and loved it. Then I got a Mistro Levi New Grind at 6/8, and loved it more. Then I got a restored Geldmacher 7/8 wedge on ebay from lax1mxr and i loved it even more! So I voted 7/8. I would love to try bigger blades 8/8+ but I could see it being cumbersome to use. 7/8 seems perfect for me. Plus, the razor budget doesnt allow for anymore blades at the moment!

I choose 10/8, because I'm a little guy & a 10/8 makes me feel like a big guy. :)

Maybe I'm one of the few, but I have over 30 straights & I have never measured any of them. I like all the sizes, but favor large wedge style blades for collecting. Then again, my best shaves come from razors about half the size of my large razors.

My two best shavers are
15/16 carbo-magnetic
And my 8/8 henckels with a Spanish point
I believe the first one is a 3/4 hollow because the blade is pretty rigid. The henckels is a bit softer but just as sharp. At first I hated the scraping sound of the hollow grinds, but now I have come to expect it. Both of the razor because of the grind make superb sounds when stropping and shaving.

I do think that larger razors might present a a.c.and cost problem for production manufacturers like dovo, thiers issard, etc. specially when they are hollow grinds. Now most custom jobs that I have seen here have very mild grinds, add that to the ability to control your product quality makes an 8/8 a viable choice for production.

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.

6/8 for me, especially a half to full hollow because the weight, thickness and size feel just right. 5/8 is great, but too thin most of the time and a 7/8 or 6/8 1/4 hollow feels like a sword to me. I want a blade I can comfortably hold and finesse, not a sickle.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.
:idea:

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. :)

This was a tough one as my three favourites (at the moment) are a 6/8 Wheatley Bros, a 7/8 J Wostenholme EBRO, and a 17/16 W&B FBU. So I too split the difference and went with 7/8.

I think there is a lot to support the notion that the Custom makers might be getting orders for bigger and more extreme designs not only because some of us who are willing to pay a fair price for such things prefer the bigger sizes, but also simply because they are able to accommodate different designs with a flexibility that the big producers simply can't match.

I like 6/8 but a 5/8 is fine also. I have both sizes in my rotation.

A sporty 7/8 for me. Although, I'd say I would get the closest shave from a half hollow smiling 5/8.

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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.
:idea:

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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 love the razors whit a little more weight,7/8 or 8/8. But the most razors that i have and use are 6/8.

it seems that when i take a 5/8 or less i have constant nicks, so i dont use the smaller blades anymore.

I cast my vote for 6/8" blade-width razors. Here's why: You didn't give me the option of any /16" blade widths. If you had done so...

• 4/8" Just too small. I suppose a 4/8" wedge be just the thing for trimming a moustache or goatee, but certainly not for keeping my cheeks, jaw, or neck clean-shaven.
• 9/16" I have five razors of this size: two AE Berg's, two Union spikes, and one "Case's Ace" (the first four are near-wedges/quarter-hollow, while the last is full-hollow ground). I often turn to either of the AE Berg (Eskilstuna) razors, and find that their very stiff grind more than compensates for their lighter weight -- provided that I don't go more than two days without shaving.
• 5/8" I have thirteen razors of this size, of which five are near-wedges/quarter-hollow, and the other eight are full-hollow ground. I regularly use the stiffer grinds, but rarely pick up any of the others; my reluctance to use the hollow-ground razors is due wholly to a preoccupation with getting cut by them (this is totally absent with the stiffer grinds).
• 11/16" I own eight razors in this size, and seven of them are among my finest shavers. Here, too, I prefer the stiffer grinds, and one of these can easily handle four days-worth of unshaven beard. This is my favorite size.
• 6/8" I own six in this size, of which only one is a stiffer grind -- my Wheatly Bros. Wheat Sheaf. This is my favorite razor. The other five don't get used very much.
• 13/16" Only one of these -- an F.W. Engels Leader -- and most definitely a full-hollow razor. In too many instances, it's an unwieldy size, which very quickly takes me back to that "getting cut" place. It rarely gets handled, and I haven't shaved with it in at least five years.

One other factor is the blade tip: I have come to learn that spike/square tips do not play nicely with a "meatier" neck, while round/French tips are quite accommodating.

Conclusions:

1. Grind, size, and weight are a triangle, in which any two can generally compensate for the third.
2. Beard prep, #-of-days-growth, and honing influence that compensation.
3. Visceral feedback accentuates any fear of getting cut, increasing the likelihood that you will.
4. For me, with minimal beard prep, mediocre honing skills, and a track-tested tendency to go 3-4 days between shaves, a 6/8" near-wedge/quarter-hollow ground, hunk of patinated Sheffield steel is the ticket.

Interesting. As I've written this, I've come to realize that those full-hollow, square/spike-tipped razors ought to be in the hands of others, who will use them...

I voted for the 4/8 full hollow!I have a thin beard on the sides and neck and that's all I shave.

Anything over 5/8 is fine. Wider is good to. I have a couple 4/8 and even though they shave well they are not my favorites
Ben

I voted for 7/8. I own razors from 9/16 - 9/8, from extra-hollow to full wedge and "in my life I love them all":).

But when it comes to the razors, I use most, it's 7/8s or 13/16s.

Well with the poll at its current status the 6/8 leads by double the votes of its closest contender, the 7/8. The 5/8 is in third place but far behind. I'm a bit surprised at that.

So why do the larger straight razor manufacturers make more 5/8 than anything else ? I think because new straight razor users are more likely to want to save the ten or twenty bucks they'll pay buying the cheaper offering. Also it is probably less intimidating to a neophyte that its larger and more expensive cousin. Same reason that round points are the most common.

The results of this poll, IMHO, reflect the views of experienced straight razor shavers, who've tried the various sizes and know what they like. I think the reason most custom orders are for 7 and 8/8s is because the experienced user, who is willing to pay the big bucks, wants something 'special' in size, as well as, material and workmanship. Not a size that he can buy factory made all day long.

As the young folks say, "its all good." Thanks to everyone who participated in the poll. It was very interesting AFAIC. :tu

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I think the reason most custom orders are for 7 and 8/8s is because the experienced user, who is willing to pay the big bucks, wants something 'special' in size, as well as, material and workmanship. Not a size that he can buy factory made all day long.

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I'm with you Jimmy and some of the others in regards to the "special" part of a custom razor being ordered in the larger sizes. They aren't used every day & have more "cool factor/appeal". When I make them, I order 1" x .25" flat ground stock to start with as it just seems logical. The handful of razors that I have made are all 1/4 hollow ground. The steel doesn't cost that much more, but you do use more time and belts/materials making larger razors if you do the stock removal method. I have a small razor that was made for a lady that I got back from MikeBlue for HT & to be honest it was harder grinding it out than a 8/8...but finishing will be a different story I am sure. The more hollow on a large razor, the easier it is to ruin the HT on it and/or end up with a "potato chip razor" if you try to take too much material off before HT.

For me, I literally have a rotation in my display case that I pull from 4/8-9/8...most of them are 6/8-7/8 though.