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Probably been talked about before.
I am really starting to like shaving with hollow ground razors. My favorites are the 5/8 and 6/8's.
I don't know, I love the popping sound of those whiskers getting cut.
I have a couple of wedges that shave nicely, and at first I really liked them, but more and more lately, I am gravitating to the hollow ground steel, the thinner the better.
Anyone else feel the same way?
Just thought it might be fun to talk about.
I believe you will find fans of both hollow ground and wedge blades. Purely personal preference based more upon results than anything else. But also the term 'hollow ground' covers just almost anything that is not a full wedge. I have moved away from extra full hollow ground 'singing razors' as I receive a better shave with a 1/4 or 1/2 hollow. Actually, I've never tried a full wedge, perhaps I would like it.
Hey is that a Gold Bug in your Avatar?
Yes it is.
I've handled a lot of razors, and I've never actually handled a pure wedge. Every one had a bit of hollow, even if it wasn't much. Most of us "old timers" call a single concave (particularly 1/4 hollow or less) a wedge.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkeye5
I've got a Sheffield Silver Steel pure wedge that honed up and used a couple of weeks ago. Horn handles, it was part of a junk lot, but it is a nice hunk of steel.
It shaves very nicely, and is silent but deadly.
The good thing about it? I dropped it, actually accidentally flipped it in the air. It fell a good 6 feet to land on hard tile, and no damage whatsoever.
The bad thing about it? Honing those 1/4" wide bevels, yowsa, make sure you have a flat stone and get ready for a long evening.
For some reason I find it easy to get a nick with a wedge, and I miss the popping sound of my 6/8 full hollows.
I get in different moods - some days I want to use a hollow, others a wedge. I really like using wedges on my head, actually - the extra weight makes it feel easier to get through the thicker hair at the back.
James.
Ouch!!! And you shave in public?!? I'm never ever going anywhere near you when you shave...Quote:
Originally Posted by toolarts
Not sure myself - they are different, but if I'm to pick only one razor out of my collection the one I will is a hollow (although it's 6/8 and not particularily flexible).
i,m new to this forum
i make razors but dont have that much knowlege about them
i always thought because i could hollow grind thinner than flat grind that hollow always shaved better
is this not so??
whats thew difference in in the
6/8 and 5/8ths??
what diameter hollow
on all iv e made so far i use an 8 in wheel for the first grind then go back in w a 3 in wheel for the final grind
ive attached a pic i modeled it after and old english razor i had
i know i,m showing my ignorance
so help me get rid of it:)
harley
I'm with you James. Before I started working at home, I had to shave every morning. When you're just shaving stubble, the wedges are a bit too much and don't give you enough feedback. So, Tuesday-Friday, I 'd go with the full hollows. On Saturday night or Monday morning, the heavier blades are my weed-wacker of choice. I have a bunch of different grinds and love them all!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Jordan
that's some beautiful razors you're putting together there..larry harley
I definitely fall to the side of hollow grinds, if not Singing razors, I love that sound when shaving... I just recently honed my first wedge that I intend on keeping, and actually shaving with, a DD Satinwedge... I have not yet used it, maybe next week....
I'm a extra hollow ground type. I feel I get a better shave with them with less effort.
It's a matter of personal preference, some like the thin hollow grinds, other like the heavier grinds. Same goes for the width of the blade. 5/8ths and 6/8ths seem to be the most common, but there's a group of people here on the forums who like the larger blades (7/8, 8/8).Quote:
Originally Posted by larry harley
In my opinion, and I'm sure most will agree, there is no "best" when it comes to grind and size., any well-honed quality razor will shave well. The feel you prefer is just personal preference.
i would not feel good about makeing a flat ground razorQuote:
Originally Posted by bjrn
the deep hollow allows for a thiner edge, further up the side of the blade
no one that makes razors has answered my question
what size wheels do u other guys grind on??
is the 5/8 and 6/8 etc the widith of the blade or how far up the side of blade is ground
(help me w my ignorence)
harley
Talk about a complicated answer, well here goes. When I do a regrind I'm looking to maintain and even distance between the spine and the edge. The 5/8, 6/8, 7/8 etc. is the height of the blade from the top of the spine to the bottom of the edge. On very heavy blades I usually grind to a 1/4 hollow. On other smaller blades I just figure out what would look best. If I have to decrease the distance from top to bottom I gently adjust the thickness of the spine. I do the majority of my grinding on a 1" belt sander with a 3" wheel. I will then fine tune with flap wheels on a Dremel. I will test hone on a 220 stone or 1K stone to check angle of the bevel, width of the bevel and the shape of the bevel, also is it even with the geometry of the spine that is it the same shape and does the side of the spine correctly sit on a hone. I can eyeball a lot of the large adjustments but I will then take a closer look as I get closer to the finish. The optimum angle for the bevel is 17°. Sometimes I will adjust this angle depending on the steels ability take an edge. Once I get the correct angle set and I'm satisfied with the bevel, I will then polish out the blade. Then I do the final hone.Quote:
Originally Posted by larry harley
I have one wedge in use at the moment, I do like it, but it's a heavy formidable beast of a razor, and it ain't 'arf sharp!
As everyone says, they shave silently.
I have two "classic" type hollow ground razors, well, they are bi-concave really, they have a little belly half way down, a bit like me really:)
My John Watt's razor has a bigish belly and my Kropp has a less prenounced belly, they are both really good to use, the Watts being quite heavy for a hollow.
A question, Was the wedge superceded by the hollow ground, was the round point hollow ground the last of the razor design (first time around:D)?
^ Now I know what you've been snapping up from Steve!
Nice razors.
I have a 5/8 Ti singing and a Ragg 7/8 hollow. I find the Ti feels like a toy in comparison with the Ragg, btu both are capable of excellent shaves when proerly honed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Beard
:o And the Genco Headbarber:o:D I can't help myself. Women think they can shop, well The Master can show them:w
These are certainly personal preference, as I'm headed the other direction!Quote:
Originally Posted by toolarts
For my face and tastes, a full hollow seems to "catch" on my whiskers more than a fuller grind. It will give me the same close BBS shave, but feels scratchier during the shave. So, I've sold off my full hollows, and am shaving with fuller grinds for now. Actually my best shaver at the moment is my Dovo Renaissance. It's a hollow grind, but not a full hollow like my Frodurs were. I'm also digging the 1/4 grind LeGrelot, but the Renaissance really seems to hit the sweet spot for me.
A couple of months from now I'll probably like full hollows better than the thicker grinds...I'm a fickle bitch, I know!:hmmm: