Thread: heavy blades --hollow ground

For me, while a wedge is very nice, some better than others, my preference is with the big hollows, they have a great heft to them and the finesse to go with it...just the best of both worlds in my opinion.

Ive only been at it for 6 months or so and with 4 shave ready razors in my arsenal. i think the wedgier ones(at least 1/4 hollow or lower) work better for me, especially on the chin area where the whiskers are the toughest. I've even put my DD goldedge out of rotation because even after a professional honing it seems to pull. Is there really not a better razor for a particular beard type?

from my side burns down to my chin any razor will work as long as it's sharp. when it comes to my chin well the heavier blades whether it is a full hollow wide blade or 6/8 wedge or near wedge the heavier blades works better for me. I try to keep my razors shave ready so I guess it's really up to the individual.

Originally Posted by Substance

I was thinking this, this morning when doing the fools pass, thinking my heavier blades feel better and the full hollows seems to leave weepers more.

Weepers have nothing to do with the grind & everything to do with the edge &/or user...

As for wedges vs hollows read thebigspendurs reply: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ml#post1342729

Anyone that thinks a wedge shaves a heavy beard 'better' than a full hollow is arguing for their limitations. The razors are simply not equally honed or the technique is lacking. Personal preference is another kettle of fish.

a heavier blade might be tricking your senses into allowing more pressure to be applied without you really thinking about it

Just got a B J Erye off the bay that had a chip in it. Hollow ground but still fairly thick at the spine and 6/8 wide. after honing I couldn't wait to used it. now it's not as heavy as my diamond edge Wade and Butcher 7/8 but it seems to plow through the chin whiskers just like the wedge where the extra hollow ground blades tin to stop when going against the grain first pass. now the C-M0n didn't. it also went against the grain first pass but with more pressure. I guess I need to try them ALL.

Originally Posted by rhensley

Just got a B J Erye off the bay that had a chip in it. Hollow ground but still fairly thick at the spine and 6/8 wide. after honing I couldn't wait to used it. now it's not as heavy as my diamond edge Wade and Butcher 7/8 but it seems to plow through the chin whiskers just like the wedge where the extra hollow ground blades tin to stop when going against the grain first pass. now the C-M0n didn't. it also went against the grain first pass but with more pressure. I guess I need to try them ALL.

Excellent - know what you mean about the W&B Diamond Edge, I'm not usually a fan of wedges, but the Diamond Edge was fantastic, big chunk of Sheffield steel, mine is 7/8 as well, and it purred like a lion, was a fantastic blade to use, and now I have a wedge that I will use regularly. I do two ATG passes, so by the second pass, only the odd straggler is left....

Originally Posted by rhensley

Just got a B J Erye off the bay that had a chip in it. Hollow ground but still fairly thick at the spine and 6/8 wide. after honing I couldn't wait to used it. now it's not as heavy as my diamond edge Wade and Butcher 7/8 but it seems to plow through the chin whiskers just like the wedge where the extra hollow ground blades tin to stop when going against the grain first pass. now the C-M0n didn't. it also went against the grain first pass but with more pressure. I guess I need to try them ALL.

I just can't get my head around a properly honed blade of any grind being stopped by whiskers.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I just can't get my head around a properly honed blade of any grind being stopped by whiskers.

For me I like to use light pressure. my beard around the chin area is heavy and thick. If I go with the grain first then heavy blade or light works. but if i''m in a hurry and go against the grain first then the heavy blade plows right through and the extra hollow ground either stops or skips. either makes me a little uneasy. now that's just me everyone else may and very likely is different.

Originally Posted by rhensley

For me I like to use light pressure. my beard around the chin area is heavy and thick. If I go with the grain first then heavy blade or light works. but if i''m in a hurry and go against the grain first then the heavy blade plows right through and the extra hollow ground either stops or skips. either makes me a little uneasy. now that's just me everyone else may and very likely is different.

Stopping or skipping is a sign of poor lather, poor honing, or high angle of attack but I haven't seen it all so maybe I'm missing something.