Thread: Razor grind

To me half hollow with some heft work best. 13/16 -7/8 with thicker spines fit the bill great for me. Hollow ground 8/8 also fall in my preferred weight range but they are harder to maneuver on some areas of the face. I also appreciate 13/16- 7/8 Japanese frameback razors. They combine the stiffness of a wedge with the thinness of a hollow ground blade.

I have always preferred a near-wedge or quarter-hollow grind, with a blade height of 9/16 or 5/8. A more-hollowed grind makes me nervous, and a larger blade size is awkward. Good examples of what I like are American-made razors, such as Union Cutlery Spike and Gold Aro, and similar models from Geneva Cutlery/Genco.

Disclaimer: Due to a shoulder issue, I haven't shaved with a straight razor since late-May of 2015

I have roughly a dozen razors in my collection and I'm still picking up different grinds and styles to see how they differ. Most I own are full hollow grinds with a half hollow and an extra hollow thrown in for good measure, with blades measuring between 4/8 and 6/8. The little suckers are great when it comes to maneuverability but the 6/8 blades feel best in my hands (which aren't all that large, truth to tell).

Picking a favorite is tough to do. I like the audible and tactile feedback of my F.W.E. Special but some mornings I crave the relative quiet heft of my 6/8 W&B. Mostly I'm one of those guys who ignores the idea of a rotation and simply grabs the razor, brush, soap and splash combination that appeals to me at the moment.

Right now I want the rattler I ordered last night to show up so that I can put it through its paces! As far too many guys have pointed out, my favorite razor is the next one that is due to show up in the mail!

Full hollow 13/16 is my gold. A little each way is ok too. Got everything from near wedge to extra hollow and 2/8 to 8/8. I pick a choose a different every day. Keeps my on my toes.

Anything from 6/8 to 8/8. Grind doesn't matter but I do prefer an edge with a smile and either a coticule or translucent Arkie finish.

Got most all grinds covered in my rotation of razors and a range of sizes from 4/8 to 8/8 but not in all grinds. They all shave just fine for me. If pushed to pick a favourite grind and size it would be an extra full or bellied hollow in a 5/8 - 6/8 size.

Bob

When I started, I was very partial to hollow grinds, but now, love them all, and I will shave with whatever I decide to pick up.

My preference is for the bigger Sheffields, and since so many of them met street grinders, I've got them in near wedge, 1/4 hollow, 1/2 hollow and full hollow, and with the same FBU designation.

As per BobH, if I was pushed to pick one, it would specifically be a Sheffield 8/8 or 9/8 hollow ground razor, but wouldn't turn my nose up at a Sheffield 1/2 or 1/4 either.....

I prefer the larger, 7/8 - 1 1/4 wedge or near wedge blades I have. Now I do use the smaller hollow ground blades in my collection as well.
But the heft and grind on the larger blades does it for me. I also don't care for the audible feedback of the hollow ground blades.

So to me, It's a wedge or near wedge most days