Thread: Hollow ground vs. non-hollow ground.

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.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

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!

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.

Originally Posted by Rawaz

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.

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)

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.

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

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:



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.

Originally Posted by cotdt

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:



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 too!