Thread: difference between 5/8 and 7/8

I have noticed that some blades are wider than the others.
Is there a difference in shaving with a 7/8 vs a 5/8?

I have both...and a 6/8 in my permanent rotation. They just feel different. Difficult to explain perhaps.
But that's all really for me. They all shave just as well. As a matter of fact I had my first decent shave with a 4/8 while many people swear by blades twice that size.

Huge difference, the feel is very unique. Small razors feel more manuverable on the face, while large razors feel more substantial and IMO give a far superior shave due to weight, size, and the overall feel....its just pure heaven. I wont shave with anything less than 8/8 except for one wedge I got from Bill Ellis which is a large 7/8.

I have decided to go with a 5/8 for my first which may be a little small but atleast if this one feels a little light then i can go to a heavier one either way i shall be buying a few of this classic items

If you have a heavy beard/coarse whiskers a 5/8 full hollow (which is what most modern razors in that size are) may be a little light/flexy.

I've only been at this for just over a week, but I already know that wider and thicker blades (1/4 hollow, 1/2 hollow, wedge, etc) are going to work better for me.

If you have an average beard, the 5/8 is likely going to be perfectly fine (and they are easier to handle than a bigger blade - I notice a difference between my 5/8 and 6/8 razors). However, if you do have a heavy beard, you might consider starting with a 6/8 - just a suggestion from someone without much experience - so please take with a large grain of salt.

When you're just starting out, the larger heavier blades are easier to shave with because they're more forgiving of sloppy prep and technique. As you gain more experience this becomes less of a factor, and pretty much any sharp razor will give you a good shave, though personal preferences will of course remain.

I started out on a 6/8, then got into 7/8s and 8/8s. But lately most of my acquisitions have been 5/8, and most of the razors in my current rotation are 5/8 as well, with one 6/8 and one 7/8. I'm not a huge fan of the extra-hollow "singing" blades, but I own several and get very good shaves from them, and I've got two in my current rotation.

The 5/8 razors I have are all full hollow - I'd love to try a nice 5/8 wedge or 1/4 to compare, as I think difference between grinds is pretty signficant.

My Boker is a 6/8 1/4 or 1/2 hollow and the difference between this razor and my full hollow 5/8 is pretty significant - all I know is that I like the Boker much more and I'm not sure whether it's the width or grind (or, most likely the combination of the two).

I have another 6/8 and a couple of 7/8 razors waiting to be used, but am going to gradually work my way up from the 5/8 and 6/8 Boker - for some reason the 6/8 don't scare me, but the 7/8 seems huge - I can only imagine what an 8/8 is like!

I have a 9/16 wedge that I'll have to send out for re-grinding because it was damaged by EXTENSIVE pitting. Once I get'er all fixed up, you'd be more than welcome to try her out.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I have a 9/16 wedge that I'll have to send out for re-grinding because it was damaged by EXTENSIVE pitting. Once I get'er all fixed up, you'd be more than welcome to try her out.

What A nice guy.

Bruno, the main thing with the wider blades is that they are heavier. This translates into more momentum in the shave. Thhey are less likely to jump araound on you and seem to mow down whiskers on their own sometimes. They can be a little clumsiert o strop and even to shave wiht, but all of the differences I've mentioned are not usually too difficult to overcome.

In the end it comes down to preference.

X

I found the grind to be more of a determining factor. Stiffer grinds tend to deflect less so they mow through any resistance. However, more delicate grinds are easier to hone (less metal to remove) so you can get'em sharp enough to cut through the hair without getting deflected.