Thread: different grinds - advantages and disadvantages?

I have both wedges and hollow grounds and both shave just as well as each other. There are differences in honing, but as long as you have a good edge they will all shave as well as each other. Then its just personal preference and what you like!

Personal preference is a big part of what grind is your favorite and any perceived advantages. But this is an informed preference developed through experience. I didn't really come to like hollow ground razors until I had been shaving with a straight for somewhere around two years and had the technique down. I also think blade weight plays a role. I really like the larger Solingen full hollow razors that have some heft, but I can take or leave most of the small, light full hollow razors. I just prefer a larger heavy razor over a smaller lightweight razor of the same grind.

Unfortunately the only way to discover some of these things is to experiment with lots of razors.

In my oppinion from first hand:

Full hollow-when I was newbie I start with full hollow razors. Main reason was honing (it's way easier to hone out full hollow than wedge).
After 2 years when I collect some experience in honing full hollows I decide to bought my first wedge razor and now I can say that's wedge razors way better shavers. Why? For me, main thing is their weight which is enough to shave smooth without adding additional pressure (or as little as possible). Full hollow razors especially 4/8 or 5/8 do not have such weight as wedge razors so some pressure have to be aplied during shave and that pressure sometimes can cause irritation or razor burn.
But, all in all, as other members said everithyng is in personal preference.
Someone like wedge or near wedge over full hollow someone like full hollow, just personal preference.
As for honing matter, when you collect enough experience it's the same, full hollow or wedge. These days I need almost same time to hone out wedge or full hollow.

As others have said, it all comes down to trying lots of blades and developing your preference. You can rest assured that, regardless of grind, a properly-honed razor will give you a good shave.

A big reason I started making razors was to experiment with different grind styles. It was more convenient to just make what I wanted to try out, rather than try to find one for sale. So far, I've developed a preference for big wedges with abit of a smiling edge. The weight is nice, and the smile maneuvers around my face easily. Kinda tricky to hone, though.

Then you get "exotic" grinds like Japanese kamisori. I've made a few of these in an effort to understand them (maybe I'll try to pick up an Iwasaki, too). There's something strange about an asymmetrical razor. They are harder to use than Western grinds, but somehow make for a really great shave. More testing is in order; I suppose there are worse things than testing out great shavers.

I hope this encourages you to try out a few different blades. Just be confident that you can't really make a "wrong" choice. I really messed up the grind on one of my projects (it's all asymmetrical and wonky) and it still shaves well.

Phillip