Thread: Does Size Matter??

If I look at the razors I have to choose from and then to what actually gets chosen and used, I would have to say it would show I prefer a 6/8 to 8/8 1/2 hollow to near wedge. I do not use a lot of full hollows, with a few exceptions. I probably use a frame back less often than any other style of blade. I do like the look of full hollow heal less razors. They look so darn nice, it is too had about the noise they make while shaving. It would have been handy if I could have gone to a meet and looked at and sampled a few more blades before I bought everything in sight. My advice would be go slow and perhaps buy more second hand shave ready blades than new ones. It is more likely that you will be able to sell a secondhand blade for the same as you paid for it.

Originally Posted by rolodave

I've shaved with blades from 2/8 to 8/8.

As BobH says, it is all in the edge.

Razors that are 2/8s and 3/8s were never meant to be standard shavers. They were made for trim work. Sure you can use them to shave they work fine but personally I simply can't use the 2/8s I have. It's too small and is hard to control.

I mainly use 5/8s and 6/8s. I've pretty much sold off all my larger razors. Those are the classic sizes. The big meat choppers of the 19th century had to be big because that's how they knew to make razors. Once hollow grinds were developed size shrank and few folks looked back (except here of course-har har).

The vast majority of used vintage razors are between 9/16"-13/16" because they are just easier to use. Below 4/8" and above 7/8" it takes more technique and practice. The smaller razors can be a bit hard to control the angle and the bigger ones can be hard to control in tight areas such as under the nose and upper lip. All will work fine with practice.

Size does matter. It doesn't matter to the whisker. It matters to you. One size may feel more natural in your hand than another size. One size may be more maneuverable. One size may be ideal for your shaving style. Unfortunately, that's going to be different for everybody. The only way to tell what size you will like best is to use them, because they do feel different and nobody else is going to be able to tell you what you will like best. We can only say with a certainty what each of us likes best -- if we can decide. However, of the two sizes you're thinking about, I would suggest going up 1/8" rather than 1/4" in a single jump, because that would be a really big difference, whereas 1/8 -- not so much. Once you are used to the 6/8 and decide you want to go up another 1/8, then again it won't be a huge jump from what you're used to. You wouldn't think 1/8" difference would matter, but it does.

You're eventually going to get a third, so get a 6/8 for #2. It'll be different than your 5/8, but not wildly so. You'll learn your way with that, and may like it so much, you never get a 3d...

Like others i lean toward the larger heavier blades. I started with the 5/8 hollow grind but soon went to 6/8 then to 7/8. The extra hollow grind that are very thin i try to stay away from. Like Rezdog I prefer and mostly use 1/4 hollow to near or full wedge. I find that the heavier grind blades to be more forgiving than the really thin blades. I also would suggest to try the shave ready used blades until you find the ones you prefer. The ones you don't like you can always sell. That's what i do.