Thread: How much difference does the blade width and grind make to how a razor shaves?

You guys may remember that I was struggling a while back with a Western style ground kamisori that I just couldn't get sharp. I finally figured that out. Or, at least I can say that it's now at hht 3 or 4.

But, it's still an uncomfortable shave. It feels "scratchy" and is very unpleasant on the first wtg pass if I haven't shaved in a couple of days. On Saturday I took this razor and a Dovo and resharpened them both on the same known good jnat using the same progression. Both came to HHT4 after stropping.

I didn't shave Saturday or Sunday. On Monday, the kamisori got the left side and the Dovo got the right. The kamisori was painful on the first wtg pass, the Dovo barely noticed the hair. I shave w/one wtg pass, and one atg pass and done. BOTH were comfortable on the ATG pass. The Dovo very slightly more so, the kamisori was more effective as the short length allows better access to the neck hollows.

I also have Jorco which is basically the same geometry as the Dovo, and it feels the same and shaves the same. So now I'm wondering if the discomfort I have with this kamisori would be the same with any kamisori, or with any wide bladed near wedge, etc.

Thoughts?

Blade width and grind have nothing to do with how it shaves unless you are wielding it differently because of it's particular characteristics. Different grinds feel different as most razors tend to have slight variations in feel because they are all a bit different. However as they say where the rubber meets the road "the shave" the end result should be the same.

The problem with your Kamisori is either it isn't sharp enough or your technique is off or maybe both.

So how do I go about distinguishing a sharp problem from a technique problem?

The issue may also be that you have gone to far with the kamisori, you may want to give it a close look. The edge may be fuzzy. It is what I often refer to as a prickly shave.

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

So how do I go about distinguishing a sharp problem from a technique problem?

Get in touch with someone who has experience with them, see if they will try it for you and give an opinion.

Originally Posted by jgjgjg

So how do I go about distinguishing a sharp problem from a technique problem?

Try some arm hair shaving and see how easily it mows down the hair.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Try some arm hair shaving and see how easily it mows down the hair.

Can you expand on that a little bit? I often use a patch of my arm/leg as a test area because if a blade won't shave there I'm certainly not taking it to my face. But at the same time, I have had edges that cut arm/leg hair just as smooth and close as you please, but pull hair or just leave a god awful burn on my face and require another trip to the stones (about 4000 on up) to get to proper shaving order. Is there perhaps something I'm missing that will allow me to tell from the way a blade shaves arm/leg hair?

Well, most any reasonably sharp razor will shave arm or leg hair but it's the way it does it that gives you the clue. I can't describe it but it should effortlessly pile up the hair like a bulldozer. I find if it can do that either it's shave ready or very close to it.

Not a grind problem in this case, but something wrong at the edge of the kamisori. If it's overhard and making tiny chips as you finish sharpening or stropping, then it would feel like you're describing, but no guarantee that's it.

They certainly feel different than an extra hollow western razor, but the way the hair feels being cut shoudn't be much different, just how the razor feels in your fingers and how firmly you have to grip it.