Thread: Blade Width

Ok, so I'm about to buy my 2nd razor and need some advice. A month ago, I started with the Dovo Best Quality 6/8 and have been having a great time but is there a good reason for moving to 5/8? 9/8? What's the advantage or disadvantages?

I searched the Wikis and FAQ but couldn't find anything. Thoughts anyone?


Thanks in advance!

Haakon

They just handle differently. The only way to know if you'll like a razor of a given size is to try it.

IME a 5/8 will be a little more agile and get into tight spots more easily. A 7/8 a bit less so than the 6/8 but still quite nice to shave with. If you have any facial hair, goatee, beard, mustache you might find the smaller widths more useful. For shaving the whole face one is as good as another once you get used to it.

I have a goatee - so that's good to know! Thanks!

Robert

Originally Posted by Haakon

I have a goatee - so that's good to know! Thanks!

Robert

I used to wear a mustache for many years. Back then I had a 4/8 Wester Bros that I would use to trim above it. I don't care for 4/8 blades personally but they are even more agile than the 5/8. Harder to shave the whole face with though IME, especially if they don't have jimps.

Personally, I think if you have any corners at all on your face, you should try something smaller than 5/8 at least once. Under the neck, especially, can be handled quite nicely by a 4/8.

I have a gold krone 4/8s and it's a really great shaver, very maneuverable and real precision. I also have a mercur 2/8s which I can't use. The thing just moves around in my hand, it's very hard to control because of the size. The only issue I have with the bigger razors like an 8/8s are the scales. They get in the way as you shave and you need to be repositioning them all the time.

I have both goatee and sideburns. while I do own a 4/8 razor I hardly use it. I like the bigger blades and have adapted to working with them around my facial hair.

I don't play much with sizes of razors, but it seems a shame to me that smaller razors, blade width, are also smaller in shank dimensions.

Maybe, just maybe, I'd like a 4/8 razor with a 4/8 shank, ya know? They do feel different shaving, but if we were talking, say, about toothbrush sizes you'd probably relate to the overall importance in the grand scheme of things.

Extremes like 2/8, 3/8, and 12/8, 9/8, etc. not withstanding.

I have a goatee and moustache, and enjoy the 4/8's for trimming right under my chin, as well as inside, where that little piece is under your bottom lip. I can do it with a 7/8, but it just takes a little more positioning and concentration.

My favourite size for day to day is 5/8. A good weight to it, but still agile for the tight spots.