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My wedge barely passes all the traditional sharpness tests while my extra hollow passes with flying colors. However, the wedge is actually a more comfortable shaver. Has anyone else had this experience? Does anyone have any explanation to this? Thanks.
Heavier grinds tend to be more forgiving shavers in general. They have more inertia, so they are less jumpy, and they don't flex, so they are less likely to bite.
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There is more to a great shave than sharpness, let alone HHT. This is why the vets will always ask, in response to any HHT issues, "how does it shave?"
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Is your heavy grind from a different country than your full hollow? Different steels are, well, different.
I have a puma wedge that does not pass the hanging hair test with flying colours but still shaves comfortably. I have always preferred the arm hair test over the hanging hair test. The best test of course is to actually shave your face.
Hey, Wayne.
Holli tells ya right. They can also be every bit as sharp as any extra hollow (I think there's an exception, but don't want to pull everyone's pin). With the extra meat that has to be made uniform, they can take alot more time to get a bevel really set. This is one reason full or extra hollows are good for someone learning to hone - they respond quickly 'cause there's less metal involved.
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I tediously argued w/ the good men here that the heavy grind was better for a first pass on a heavy beard. They responded that the extra hollow would do every bit as well. I must agree with them, but would maintain that for reasons Holli mentions - they're easier for a new guy to learn with and use. That's not true for everyone, but there's alot of guys for whom its true, myself included. Its also true that the fondness for the heavy grind doesn't always disappear as your skills increase. It can be an enduring preference. The heavies made from hard steel that give good feedback remain favorites for me. This morning was a Henckels 1/4h that just talks its head off while leaving only smoothness behind. While its likely still the useability factor - I agree that the heavy grind still delivers even w/ an edge that would make me want to touch-up a full hollow.
Enjoy those heavies. If your tastes change over time, hang on to your favorite heavies. The love of that friendly shave will probably not step aside for long.
I go through periods where I like the hollows, then drift back to heavies, then drift back to hollows. But I've never "evolved away" from heavies over the years; they're a big part of why I started straight shaving in the first place. Heavies have a certain inherent charm because of their age, heft, design extravagance, and ninja-like silent shaving efficiency. They're never boring to me, in the way that some hollows can be. I especially like the few heavies I have that Holli has honed. He has a Real Feel for that Heavy Steel. :D
I've got an old Sheffield Mappin Brothers razor with a heavy grind that also never seems to get scary sharp but shaves fine. Comparing it to a more modern German production razor I suspect the steel plays as large a part in the different performance as the grind.
Beyond that the biggest factor in performance is honing & stropping. Did both blades get the same prep? You may simply be preferring one honing job over an other.....
Wedges never 'feel' as sharp as hollow blades but shave quality is every bit as good. I can't explain exactly why that is, I suspect that the edge of a hollow is actually sharper than a the edge of a wedge but there are many degrees of sharpness that are over and above what is 'shave ready'. As long you are getting a comfortable shave then that's really all that matters.
I Am Leaning Away From My Heavy Grind. I KNOW it Is Shave Ready CauseI Glen Hone It For Me.
My Face Seems To Like The Hollow Grind Better. I Am Thinking I Just HaveTo Get Used To The Heavy Grind?
Is There a Different Angle I Need To Be Using? I Just Can't Seem To Get A Close Shave With The Heavy.... :(
I read somewhere on here that wedgier grinds actually require a little higher of an angle...
I will have to try that. THANKS TwistedOak.....Quote:
Originally Posted by TwistedOak
I've read that, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by TwistedOak
...And the opposite
IMO all the geometry is the same, so it shouldn't matter...
...YMMV?
Oh GREAT! :gaah:Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
Could it be my face just "likes" the hollows better? :thinking:
I am finding that quarter hollow is my goldilocks grind. Still stiff and heavy, but the edge is relatively fine.
I'd explain it as this: Personal experience and preference.
Even reading through everyone's posts, that's the overarching theme.
That is the conclusion I have come to using various grinds, it is all personal preference.Quote:
Originally Posted by regularjoe
Bob
I've only shaved with a couple of full hollows. Have a half hollow I'm restoring now and can't wait to find a wedge to fix up and shave with as well. What brands should I be looking for when trying to pick up a cheapish ebay wedge? I know the list of good/bad makers, but who makes most of the wedges?
I guess I'd rather hone a full hollow, but I'd prefer shaving with a 1/4, 1/2 hollow or wedge ..... assuming equal shave readiness. There is something about the stability of the heavier grind that I like. I was talking with a honemeister who has been shaving with straight razors and honing them for 30 years.
This topic came up and I told him I preferred heavier grinds and he said, "REALLY ?" I guess it is a matter of personal preference ....... and subject to change at any time. :thinking:
Also full hollows are easier to get really sharp, as there is considerably less steel to remove. Because of the flex on full hollows, they are more likely to really dig into the skin at a higher angle. The closer to a wedge a razor gets, the more forgiving it is in that respect, so a higher angle is less of a problem. I find that because of this flex it is easier to get a really smooth result compared to heavier grinds.
And there is also more to different steel than just country of origin. I personally find it very hard to tell how steel differs as I'm not a metallurgist and there's no way I could analyze the steel on my razors, but I do notice rough differences.
Just not exclusively based on country of origin, I find there's difference amongst English razors and amongst Solingen razors. Some Solingen razors at some point were made out of Sheffield steel and vice versa as well, I think. Regarding Swedish razors I notice less fluctuation.