Thread: Palmera 14 vs. Novodur 14 vs. EPBD 14 ?

Here are some questions for Spanish razor aficionados who have experience with any or all of these three razors.

1. Do they all have the same steel?
2. Do they all have the same grind?
3. Do they all have the same shave quality?

I recently purchased a Palmera 14 which I absolutely love!

I would consider the Palmera 14 an extreme hollow grind razor, although I am fairly new to straight razor shaving, so that may not be a totally accurate description by other standards.

I wonder how the Novodur 14 or EPBD 14 might be different from the Palmera 14?

I have thought about looking to purchase a Novodur or EPBD, but if they are essentially the same as the Palmera, I might reconsider, especially at the current prices.

Thanks in advance for any comments

Glad your happy with the the Palmera,I believe the grind is a bit differant being bellied
No clue as to a diff in shave quality between the Palmera and the fillis.

I own a Palmera 14 and a Novodur 14. The Palmera has a noticeably thinner grind than the Novodur (or of a Doble Temple 14). As such, the Novodur feels stiffer while shaving. They both shave really well.

To me, the Palmera and Novodur offer a different shaving experience. The Novudur gives a similar shave to a Doble Temple 14. If you do not have one already, you probably could pick up a Doble Temple 14 for considerably less than a Novodur.

My experience with three #14's, the Henckels, the Filarmonica (Novodur and DT), and the Palmera is they seem to all be extremely similar razors and all are superior, superb shavers.

The Filarmonica EPBD I have is definitely a heavier razor, less hollow grind, but still superb. This is the "Barber's" version, so they heavier grind and more metal makes some sense.

I would agree that the Novodur seem "stiffer" than the others, it is a heavier razor, more steel I think, both of my Novodur's feel this way. The DT's are virtually identical to the Henckels and the Palmera. Mind you, as pixelfixed points out, the Palmera I currently have, does not appear to be bellied, so that may make a difference.

The explanation I've heard that I think makes the most sense, from Sharpton, is that these #14's may have been the same German blanks as put forward many times, and I think I agree with this now, but then the grinds of each were done by different "grinders", as in JMP for Filarmonica, Hoppe with some Henckels #14's and so on...