1/4 grind vs. full hollow expectations

Hello all,

any difference that I should expect between 1/4 grinds and full hollows?Although I know it could be a question of sharpness, do full hollows generally give you a closer and more effortless shave? In comparing my three new 1/4 grinds (two LeGrelot's from Martin and 1 new Wacker from Shaving Shop) up against my full hollows it seems that way.

I still get BBS with my new 1/4 grinds but it seems like I have to work just a little bit harder to achieve it. Objective will be to get my 1/4's to shave like my full hollows. Almost there..
thanks

It's harder to hone as the grind gets heavier. But you should get great shaves from any grind. So no, full hollows don't give better shaves, nor do 1/4 grinds, they're all great.

There is clearly a different feel - the 1/4 grinds for me feel smoother and almost rubbery as the mow the hair down, probably not flexing much. The full hollow is a different, equally cool sensation. So play around with all of them because they are all enduring fun. Be sure you hare fully honing the 1/4 grinds - they are a lot easier to hone than wedges, but harder than hollows.

Take a look at this thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ifference.html There are clearly differences between the two grinds, mainly in the area of feel. Unless you are very adept at honing a variety of razors it might be interesting for you to send two comparable (other than grind) razors to the same Honemeister and compare the shaving results. There really shouldn't be much difference in terms of the sharpness of the edge so you could remove that variable from your evaluation of what is right for you.

The end result is, or should be, the same. The journey to get to that end is somewhat different. Mostly technique, sound and feel. I like and use quarter, half, and full hollow razors. Early on I was a big fan of heavy grinds but as my experience and technique improved I've come to appriciate the full range of blade grinds.

There is a difference in technique, with a full hollow requiring a more experienced hand or refined technique in my opinion. I'm not even sure I can explain this as it just seemed to evolve with the passage of time.

I find that the 1/4 is more comfortable and smoother because I have a heavy beard and full hollows tend to "catch" when I am shaving. You can get just as good a shave from both. I discovered something a while back about how I was using full hollows. I shave with short strokes and then a cleanup stroke, which is probably the way a lot of people shave, and I ended up doing more strokes with the full. I could hear the hair being cut and would do a cleanup stroke only when I heard no more hair being cut on the short strokes. With a 1/4 you do not get that feedback so you think you are done but give it a couple more strokes and you have a BBS going for you.

Take Care,
Richard

thanks for the input gang......The whole straight razor experience has helped turn a rather mundane, routine task into a great ritual that I look forward to every morning. You guys know what I'm talking about!! The whole experience is oddly contagious. RAD, HAD, SAD, etc., etc, etc

I like hollows and 1/4 hollows. I have some fun with a wedge every now and then too.

Its just a different journey, as has been stated.

Wedges and 1/4's make little noise compared to alot of the others some people dont like the sound of hair being cut. When I shave my wifes legs (wich aint often) I use a wedge or sometimes a 1/4 just because she dont like the sound of a full hollow it makes her nervous wich in turn ruins the whole experience.:D

I have a Dovo 5/8 full hollow and a Wacker 6/8 1/4 hollow (probably the same one you have-- is it a french point?). I love them both-- the contrast between the two razors keeps things interesting. I really like the heft of the 1/4 hollow in my hand. Plus I can cut onions with it when I cook.

-Chief

yes Chief, its a french point

The heavier the blade, the more natural momentum it has in the shave and it can seem like it takes less effort. Another thing is that the full hollow blade will make more noise as it clips the hairs whereas the 1/4 hollow will be much quieter.

X

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gags

Hello all,

any difference that I should expect between 1/4 grinds and full hollows?Although I know it could be a question of sharpness, do full hollows generally give you a closer and more effortless shave? In comparing my three new 1/4 grinds (two LeGrelot's from Martin and 1 new Wacker from Shaving Shop) up against my full hollows it seems that way.

I still get BBS with my new 1/4 grinds but it seems like I have to work just a little bit harder to achieve it. Objective will be to get my 1/4's to shave like my full hollows. Almost there..
thanks

---

Ultimately, I feel it is a matter of taste. I shave with a full hollow or a 1/4 grind equally well. This should be the case if they have equally shave-ready edges. However, I just happen to like the feel of the 1/4 grind when shaving. The additional stiffness just seems a bit more comfortable for me. YMMV and all of that...

I may be confused,but to me its the thickness of the metal behind the bevel edge effects the weight of the razor and the feel.That is why i dislike Boker razors which seem too light for me and like Thiers Issard which have a heavier grind, but with the same grind description full hollow etc.Mind you the Boker 4/8 is something else,it might be the best razor ever made,and i dont know why ,as i hate all the other Bokers,its a shame you cant buy one with ironwood scales,only plastic or horn which i broke trying to tighten,the new scales i put on are a bit wobbly.I just like Thiers Issard and use their razor pretty much exclusively.Bought a horrible thin grind Alf Aus 7/8
shaved once with it dont want to shave with it again.Used to get on ok with thin extra hollows when i started.

I used to favor full hollow grinds, but recently gotten a 1/4 and put an amazing edge on it, for my personal preference the 1/4 is very hard to beat; it's like a bulldozer, doesn't catch and just plows through the beard without effort.

I tried 1/4s before, but I think I didn't put the edge on it that I preferred and thought for a long time 1/4 wasn't for me, until recently.
Put a sharp but smoooth edge on it and it shaved like a dream, I don't think I've had a better shave before.

1/4s is easily my favorite grind