Thread: 6/8 or 5/8 ?

Is there an advantage to a 6/8 blade over the 5/8 blade, especially for a beginner?

The Wiki link at the top has some great information, this was taken straight from it:

What makes a good starter razor?

Size = 6/8
A wider blade is easier to keep flat on the strop, which is very important for a beginner. 6/8 is also dead center on the size chart, so you can decide which direction to go on your second razor. Finally, it has some heft for those less than confident first strokes, and is still easy to handle.
Grind = Half hollow
Again dead center on the chart, so you can decide which direction to go after your first razor. A half hollow grind offers enough heft for beginner shaving, yet also has some flexibility for comfort.
Round point
A round point is a little safer, anyway, not a lot but every little bit helps at first.

A 6/8 is slightly easier to keep flat on a strop though IME this is negligible (stops being at 4/8 though, again IME). 6/8 is in the middle in terms of size which can give a beginner an idea of which way they'd like to go in terms of future acquisitions. An advantage? Depends on your bank balance I suppose.

They are ever so slightly easier to strop...but aside from that it's all personal preference.

5/8 are everywhere, you have to look a little harder for anything bigger. (Not hard to find, but "harder" to find.)

I wouldn't let it sway a decision on what to buy either way.

I'm not ignoring you P.M. ...I'm just wasn't sure what/if you where asking.

I have a preference for 6/8 as a good shaver. It has a little heft to it. I think the idea of buying a mid-sized razor as a baseline for your next razor is false logic. I find full hollows shave better and I think your first razor should be a good razor over any other characteristic. I think the advice in the Wiki is just dumb.

I like razors with good shank size, that is important as well as balance and heft.

Otherwise, if you think it makes sense to buy your first razor to help you determine what you want as a second razor, that's cool too. I'm just not sure you'll know what to buy second. Would you use the same logic to buy a car? Buy a 4 door sedan so you can decide what kind of car to buy next?

5/8 razors are really nice too.

I think my sense of how important the grind is leads me more concern than size really.

All my best shavers are 6/8, and I would recommend a really good shaver, even for a beginner.

There is nothing wrong with the thousands of guys who have started out with a vintage blade of whatever size they could walk in the door with. I'd argue that more guys have failed at straight shaving because they took too much evaluating meaningless variables and failed to focus on the actual skills.

I think the guidelines in the Wiki are as good as anything for a newbie who has no points of reference and comes here looking for them. Sure, to say, "just get a good shaver" is a correct answer but it doesn't really give them a lot to go on. I agree that ultimately it's down to the individual to make up their own mind and acquire good technique, as I did from my first (5/8 full hollow) razor but don't really see how that makes the advice in the Wiki, dumb or even an addition of meaningless variables.

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Is there an advantage to a 6/8 blade over the 5/8 blade, especially for a beginner?

Maybe yes & maybe no. As a beginner has no real point of reference for comparison it is hard to say.

Maybe if you have large hands a 6/8 is more comfortable to manipulate but maybe not. Ergonomics is a consideration tho.

I find the thin tangs on some 4/8 very awkward in my stubby hands. I also dislike large wide scales for the same reason... But 5/8 or 6/8 I really can't argue for one over the other. I'm not a beginner so maybe my opinion is not appropriate but if it feels manageable in your hand at least that's one problem solved.

I'm a newb and I have a range of razors from 3/8 to 7/8.

I find the smaller razors to be more agile and more precise. The 3/8 is one that I'd use if I had facial hair and needed to trim specific areas. Apart from that I find my 4/8s to be best for me, and I have no problems with my 5/8. I find my 6/8 and 7/8s are too cumbersome for a comfortable shave, and I will sell them off and consolidate my collection into the smaller sizes.

I'm using quality 'name' razors (Wostenholm, Joseph Rogers, Henckels, Wester Bros, Giesen & Forsthoff) so I don't think I'm being biased by different quality in manufacture.

Caveat: I am a chef and I have had a lot of experience with using sharp blades for fine manipulation before starting shaving with cut throats.

Edit: As Oz says nothing beats holding a blade in your hands and finding which is more comfortable for you.

There isn't a world of difference between 5/8 and 6/8, they are the 2 most common sizes. Once you get to 4/8 or as high as 13/16+, there is a a noticeable difference.

Remember the grind will affect the shave more. I'd personally go for the 5/8.

Well, I have a line on 2 new DOVO razors the 5/8 full hollow ground is $69.95 and the 6/8 is $74.95. They say double hollow ground, but I think for the purpose we can figure that they are full hollow ground. The also had some other DOVO razors that are half-hollow ground. These are both new with black or white handles.

I have 2 razors I bought at a local antique store for $17.00 each. The Wadwsworth is slightly above 5/8 but not so big as 6/8 it is 0.718" and the WISS is 0.588" not quite 5/8, but close.
5/8= 0.625"
7/8= 0.750" (or 3/4")

Either of these feel fine in my hands. The Wadsworth XLNT is perhaps the better of the two. Both have good scales and both fit inside without any drag, looseness or catching on either side of the scales.

I also bought a A.J. Henkels on ebay for starting bid. It was listed as a "Henkles" with the "le" transposed, which might have thrown off the searchers a bit, and got it for $29.99, so it wasn't bad price and blade and scales look nice.

Neither of the two I bought at the antique store are, what I could consider, shave ready. But, I'll get some hones soon and see what can be done. I would like to get one shave ready razor and sometimes bidding and getting 2-3 razors on ebay is, well, about the same money spent on one brand new DOVO razor that will have a lifetime of use and then some in it. I did hone (with the Norton HS4) my Wadsworth and strop it the other day. I shaved most of my face, but it was kind of draggy. It certainly grabs my chest hair about 1/2" above the root and cuts it when pulled across it, but I'm not shaving my chest or belly (although I seem to have good luck there!) HA!

Below are the two "antique" store finds of mine. For 17.00 and tax I'm not out a lot on them. WISS is the bottom one and smaller of the 2 blades.



The Henkels that is to come yet....



Thank you ALL for the insights and suggestions to a newcomer!! I much appreciate it!