Thread: Feeling sharp: Wedge vs Hollows

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.

AND

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?"

AND

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.
*
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.

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...

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

I read somewhere on here that wedgier grinds actually require a little higher of an angle...

I will have to try that. THANKS TwistedOak.....