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I know this may be a simplistic question but what is the benefit of a hollow ground? I notice that my dovo is hg and I can hear it cutting whiskers while my wade & butcher isn't and gives a silent shave.
Rich
Always acknowledge a fault frankly. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.” – Mark Twain
A hollower razor requires the removal of less metal to hone and maintain, so it is quicker and easier. Hollow blades are lighter and may feel more agile while a heavier blade is... heavier. When it comes to the feel, that's personal preference.
Personally, I think a full hollow requires a better shaving technique while a fuller grind is more forgiving.
What he said!Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
I once asked this same question and was told: "a full hollow is like a sports car and a wedge is like a station wagon" this was in connection to what has already been said above.
Personal preference lol. I feel like my full hollows are sharper (finer edge?) and therefore ditto on the technique. I think they can also get closer on the first pass (but this could be my technique). After two passes its much of a muchness. Personal preference.
What I FEEL (not facts, feelings):
Hollow- very sharp, very efficient, wipes hair off, one good pass and you're (technically) good to go.
not-hollow- still very sharp (just not quite AS sharp), very smooth feeling and comfortable, much more forgiving I think
I have a Friodur and a Sheffield full hollow razor that has a bevel thinner than the width of human hair (30-50 microns) so the thinness of the blade helps cut hair more aggressively. These indeed feel like aggressive razors. This is my daily shaver, it is full hollow ground with a 14° inclusive angle, yet you can't see the edge bevel with the naked eye:
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6843/friodur.jpg
Most full hollow razors have bevels that you CAN see with the naked eye, in this case it will not cut better than a wedge as the cutting edge would be the same. It's just more flexible and lighter. I prefer the more rigid action of the wedge, and the better weight balance. My wedges are some of my best shavers.
Ya, Ya! What he said! I would have said that. But noooooooooooo, I didn't get too. <LOL>Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
I believe a less than full hollow can be honed to an equal edge. I think one factor in the decision is the wireness of your beard. A full hollow razor flexes ever so slightly and IMHO this interferes with a smooth shave of a very heavy beard. I would recommend a stiffer razor for a heavier beard. Having said that - the width (size of the blade), can make up in stiffness. I would recommend a larger full hollow for the same reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by khaos
Ya, YA! What he said too!Quote:
Originally Posted by cotdt
Thanks guys! This really helps. My dovo is a full hollow ground but it just isn't giving me the comfort to use it daily. Honing isn't the problem because my wade & butcher and my geneva, which I bought second, give me a more comfortalbe shave. I guess I just need to keep trying and comparing. R. J. Torrey gives me an excellent shave but I pick them up on e-bay and don't know if the are full or half hollow ground. Plus I restore and sell them as fast as I put them on line. Think I'll keep the next one!
Rich
“Always do right. This will gratify some people & astonish the rest” – Mark Twain
Nah. A full hollow is more like a double edged razorblade (light, flimsy, noisy) and a wedge is more like a real straight razor (beefy, sturdy, silent)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rawaz
Once again, personal preferences ;)
Most of my razors are hollow grinds, but I find my favorits are less hollow blades. Quarter and half hollow seem to have grabbed ahold of me lately and making their pressence known.
Why all these grinds have fallen away from the "modern" razor style is not fully known to me, a guess whould be standardized mass production issues. But I'm likeing the smoother feel of a wedge, or heavier blade, shave.
All the posts above have pretty much covered what the grind is like. It's all about the individual useing the edge that matters. Until you try razors with different grinds it's hard to judge what you will like more.
Oddly enough, I find that I'm the opposite - I've tried larger blades, and I've tried wedges and quarter hollows, and I find I now much prefer the feel & feedback of a smaller 5/8 or 6/8 full hollow. I really can't stand razors that don't make that great noise when you shave with them, it's one of my favorite part of straight shaving!
In that vein, I would argue that a full hollow is like a stick shift, and a wedge is like an automatic - sure, that SUV is easy to drive, but give me the performance of a vintage sports car any day! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by hoglahoo
P.S. That is one gorgeous razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by cotdt
A Friodur in that condition is definitely on my list of buy-before-I-die razors
I must say that I have come full circle in my own preferences .
In the last 3 years I have owned & used most of the types of grind that are easily available from a Maestro livi 7/8 , which was my first custom, down to a Puma 3/8 full hollow.
i am now in the process of getting a custom Japanese razor made for me & have come to the conclusion that I prefer stiffer grinds & one of my own all time favorites is my Kinfolks wedge that I got from Max.
I do have a collection of different grinds But I will be getting rid of the full hollows & the 6/8 razors as I prefer the feel& feedback from the small stiff blades that I own.
As usual the Maestro Livi was more like a 8/8 blade , the only razor type of razor that is doing the rounds in the vintage makers i havent tried yet is a frame back. So that may well be another blade to try.Paul
Quote:
Originally Posted by cotdt
I usually really like big, wide blades.
But that razor is pure class! The inlay on the scales seals the deal!:tu
Thanks for posting it!
Both get the job done well. The hollow ground makes more noise shaving (feedback) is lighter, and flexes a little.
It always comes down to the following: does it easily take an edge and does it give you a great BBS shave.
Pabster