Thread: heavy blades --hollow ground

I really can't explain it but for some reason the heavier blades just seam to plow through the beard better than the hollow ground. both blades are very sharp and passes the dreaded hanging hair test. both blades are 6/8 in size and they both are Sheffield's.. I honed both this morning and tried them out to night. both shaved the beard but the lighter blade required more pressure. I've only been doing this for less that a year but I wonder does anyone else have the same results.

Yes, absolutely. The Hayashi's and wedges and other heavy razors will always feel like they're pulling less, they're more massive.

A smaller razor with a super light grind will be much more sensitive to sharpness.

The two lightest razors I ever used, a 4/8 Mann razor and a 5/8 Wiss razor were both small and VERY lightly ground, and very sensitive to sharpness.

The flip side of that is a fat bevel from a fat grind has more drag on the face. My favorite compromise is to have a fat razor spine and then a very light double hollow grind. That's not a common combination, and it usually shows up only on expensive razors. That gives a razor a little bit of weight to get through heavy hair, but not at the expense of having too much contact on the face nor at the expense of a little singing from the razor as it pings its way through the hairs.

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.

I'm on the other team I have a few big hollows 8/8 and 15/16 and I've also owned a few wedges Wade & Butcher and a modern Wacker wedge and found neither of those razors can match my big hollow blades in a shaving match up.

Any and all grinds works just fine for me.
That said, there is nothing like a full hollow for that "million dollar man" feeling

Difficult idea... If weight is the determining factor ; why does the Feather Straight work so well??

Your beard only sees the very edge and doesn't care about the size or grind or weight. If you experience differences it's the way you are using the razor. Sometimes little things can cause you to use the razor in a different fashion and you might not even be aware of it. Also maybe some of your razors might be sharper than others.

I'm still new and have a few full hollows and a Vincent & Peny 1/4 ground and even though I like them all, I find myself liking the 1/4 ground a little better. I'm not sure why but as thebigsendur said, I must be doing something different.

Originally Posted by rhensley

I really can't explain it but for some reason the heavier blades just seam to plow through the beard better than the hollow ground. both blades are very sharp and passes the dreaded hanging hair test. both blades are 6/8 in size and they both are Sheffield's.. I honed both this morning and tried them out to night. both shaved the beard but the lighter blade required more pressure. I've only been doing this for less that a year but I wonder does anyone else have the same results.

Since I put this in the forum I have had a chance to think and shave some more. I ordered some shaving soap from SRD and when I got it they had sent me some samples of other soaps and lotions. I tried the Jagger Sandalwood last night followed by the moisturizing aftershave lotion. as far as the sandalwood cream goes I have never seen so much lather. and the lotion was just wonderful. now saying all that leads me to this. I tried the same hollow ground Wade and Butcher last night and noticed that if I go with the grain first and then against the grain it does just fine. where as the heavy blades I can go with against or in any direction and have no problem. it seams like the heavy blades just plow through most any beard in any direction. anyway that's just my thoughts. OH YEA THANKS SRD FOR THE SAMPLES WHEN I RUN OUT OF THE OTHER I KNOW WHAT TO ORDER.

The heavier blades with their weight provide some of the pressure for you. Personally I like lighter blades. I like to control the pressure without having to "hold back" the weight of the blade. I feel that a slip of the hand with a heavier blade might also allow it to drop and cause injury whereas a light blade will just stop without cutting. Just a personal preference. I'm not a big, burly guy; if I was I might prefer the heavier blades. (I do shave with my 7/8 Hart Steel quite often, though.)