Thread: Blade width/grind matters?

Hi, Gents.

I've been shaving with straight razors for about a year now, rotating a Filarmonica 12, two heljestrands (MK1 and MK31) and a Dovo Fritz Brach 42. My beard is pretty dense, with hard and thick hair. My best shaver is, without doubt, the MK31, but I really have a lot of resistence shaving the below-to-back of my mouth corners, where the whiskers are denser.
I saw some models specially-purposed for tough beards ("especial para barbas duras", some french "special pour barbe très dure" etc.) and I realized these models are all wide-bladed.
Would I benefit from a wider bladed straight razor, like a #14 or a MK33 (men, I love this steel)? Kind of grind also matters?

the wider blades have more mass behind them which helps it to get through the hair easier. same can go for the heavier grinds and if you get a blade with a wider blade and heavier grind even moreso. It is all about momentum.

Different grinds/widths/steels will feel different to you, but all quality edges feel the same to the whiskers.

I'd say all that "for _____ beards" is marketing and nothing more.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Different grinds/widths/steels will feel different to you, but all quality edges feel the same to the whiskers.

I'd say all that "for _____ beards" is marketing and nothing more.

I would go along with that too. Been using everything from extra hollow to near wedges and found the ease of shaving depends more on technique and how sharp the blade is more than anything else.

Bob

Also Matheus, you have likely opened a can of worms with this one. It is a question that i have seen debated many times since i joined the forum earlier this year. The best way for you to decide it to try the different widths and grinds and see what works best for you. all ours beards are different and every razor is different. I have found i like a heavier blade but for me it is more about the weight in my hand helps me to keep the pressure lighter than with a lighter blade.

And i would agree that the most important thing is a properly honed edge. beyond that is all personal preference.

My universal reply to this subject is to look at the old time barbers. Back in the day most used either a 5/8s or 6/8s hollow grind razor and they used these to shave everyone who came into the shop no matter what kind of beard they had. So, if they could give everyone the best shave in the world then that pretty much is a proof in the pudding case.

I think as you use different razors of differing sizes and grinds and with different scales these factors introduce variables which cause you to use your razors a tad differently which can give you different results. That assumes of course they are all equally proper sharp.

Of course barbers approached each customer the same knowing how to map out the beard and used the same few razors all the time.

Wow, men... you all gave me lots of factors to think about... I see mass, honing, angle, skill... all taking its part on this process.
UAcowboy definition is nice, really a bucket of worms to deal with.

Ok, let's endure testing more stuff.

Thank you all.

Originally Posted by Matheus

Ok, let's endure testing more stuff.

Thank you all.

Yes but enduring testing more stuff is such sweet misery. Enjoy the ride.

Bob

Yes, Mattheus.

And, as you get better and better, go back to those troubled razors and figure out why it was such a resistant POS in the first place.

I've been down that road a little. And still, for reasons that are somewhat beyond me, I still have issues with certain razors. They are dust collectors, ATM.

Regards,

Simon

Thank you all, guys. I learned a lot on this thread.