How different is the shaving technique between 5/8 and 6/8?
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How different is the shaving technique between 5/8 and 6/8?
It's what you prefer. I personally like 6/8. It's more to hold on to. Gives me a little more control. Other wise they both shave.
I like the weight of a 6/8 better, and some of mine need a little more angle between the face and spine. Others don't.
Each has a "personality" that you should easily be able to adjust to. I switch between the 2 as well as a 7/8 occasionally. My face seems to like heavier grinds better.
Not a lot of difference, IMO between two razors that size.
Personally, I find the smaller one's take a little more guidance, more like driving a sports car, whereas a big 8/8+, you can just basically drive over everything yehaa'ing the whole way....;)
When I first started I eventually noticed I was gripping/pinching the razor often too hard and with more narrow razors, when something went amiss during a pull, I'd sometimes promote the blade flipping as my grip was too tight and once the error caused the blade to move beyond a certain point the pressure would complete the flip and that lead to a few cuts and some stress but that was about all I could ever notice as far as size related differences... 4/8" seemed to be the least stabile, 5/8" was good and stabile but would occasionally flip over whereas 6/8" was absolutely stabile and almost never gave me those issues. Once my technique improved and I relaxed my grip I had zero issues with any size and it all became preferntial such that now I like 11/16" and bigger when given the choice. :)
Almost none in my opinion. I would buy whichever you prefer the look of, the grind and tip style are probably more of a consideration but if this is your first razor you will have no real reference for comparison.
whatever you buy you will learn to use especially if you stick with one razor for the first few months.
Yes, but what about the area between upper lip and under the nose? This is kind of my week spot.
The technique will be identical for both you will just be holding the 6/8 about 3.2mm further away from your skin.Quote:
Originally Posted by ibixon
Thanks everybody, so the key word here is "when I improved my technique"
As I consider myself a newbie and still on YouTube I can't help myself but admire the elegance and skills of this Spanish guy (and I don't know Spanish) using his 6/8, or maybe even bigger
http://youtu.be/NTjZfHoGouI
3.2 mm? How in the world dud you calculate this?
For the fools pass I use pretty well the same method of the blade flat against my skin for all sizes
The only change is with wedges, I find that I need a slight angle as they don't sit as flat against the lip as the hollows do to get the edge right
One eight of an inch LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by ibixon
It is most people's weak spot when they start. Edhewitt has it right, it's just a different angle. An eight of an inch doesn't make a sharp object fit better or worse under your nose. You'll figure it out with either one.Quote:
Originally Posted by ibixon
The filarmonica in the video is probably at least 7/8, a bit hard to manoeuvre when you are starting out. I learnt with a 5/8 but 6/8 would be fine. It is all technique around that area and once you have done it a hundred times or so, it all falls in to place. Don't attempt the fool's pass until you feel competent.
And then there this guy, Willi(?) who got me interested and obsessed with straight shaving until I finally dove in, turns out he is a member here/was as well...he's the man, takes it all the way and keeps it simple.
I still find this the best straight shave video I've ever seen personally, enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q4IRoaJH34
I prefer a 6/8" razor over anything smaller, but I agree that there's very little difference between the 5/8" and 6/8" sizes.
Having said this, I find that the larger razor has some advantages, especially when one is first starting out; here are a few:
- Wider razors are easier to strop. It's easy to lift the spine of a narrow razor off your strop, and you want to avoid doing that at all costs!
- It's easier to judge blade angle. Blade angle is critical to achieving a close shave, AND to avoiding bloodletting!
- They generally weigh more. A heavier blade can do more of the work for you, lightening your touch in the process.
- They hold more lather. Trivial, perhaps. But less rinsing or wiping means more shaving.
YMMV.
25 and a bit mm divided by 8 :)Quote:
Originally Posted by ibixon
For me it depends on the razor. I have some 5/8 that shave great while others not so good. the same with 4/8 6/8 . I've noticed that the for me the extra hollow grind you have pay more attention to the angle of the blade to the face with the 5/8 but if the blade is sharp and the angle is right there should be very little difference.
When you begin searching vendor sites for new razors, the 7/8's and 6/8's always sell out first. Razor size does matter, male perception and this doesn't always translate to a better shaving experience. I must confess, I'll always purchase a 7/8's or 6/8's first even if a 5/8's is available in the same model.
Damn! It takes me longer than that to shave with an electric :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Phrank
I don't feel like there's much of a difference. 6/8 can hold more lather so there may be less rinsing but barely.
And I, as a beginner always have paid attention to the line of the blade and the scales: always wanted either horn or bone. Last two days i have tried new Boker silver steel 6/8; the difference is quite significant comparing to 5/8, also Boker (Edelweiss with bone handle). Definitely prefer 6/8, but would rather have a non plastic handle. Bias probably (or maybe just being snobbish)
Do you have 5/8ths of an inch between your nose and your mustache? If not, any size will fit the same as a 5/8.Quote:
Originally Posted by ibixon
Love me my 6/8ths.
Ever touch your nose with the spine of a hot straight?
Dont lie, I run mine under HOT water and it shaves great. Hot metal to the nose and I jump everytime.
5/8ths misses by a smidge.
I have shaved with everything from 4/8 to 6/8, and everything in between. I like them all, but I much prefer 6/8. They all feel different in my hands, and the only adjustment I have ever needed to make is getting used to the feel of the different sizes, not in technique while wielding them.
One thing, however. I have a 6/8 wedge that has no jimps. The tang is thick enough and substantial enough that it isn't an issue. On a 4/8, no jimps is a deal breaker, as I cannot hold onto the thing. MHO and YMMV.
My comfort zone is 9/16" - 7/8", I like 6/8" best, but I hardly notice any difference with a 5/8" and most of my razors are 5/8"
I have 5/8 to 8/8 razors in my rotation, but most are 6/8. I get a good shave with all, but I am most comfortable using the 6/8 width.
As a rookie I find that all of the above applies to me. The wider blades feel more balanced in my hand and I use less pressure. As my technique slowly improves I'm learning to appreciate the smaller blades but I still have more trouble stropping them than the wider ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dzanda
Not a Rookie, although there are guys on here that have shaved for many, many more years than me with a straight. But I do find this to be true for smaller blades. I don't have trouble with them, per say, but they do require a really solid technique to strop them without lifting the spine off of the strop. Not a problem for me now, but I'm sure glad I started with a 6/8, LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveA
To nitpick on something that is practically not significant the correct geometry is slightly different (well depending on the meaning of nose in the 'between the nose and mustache' measurement).Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesman7
The proper quantity to compare to the razor width is the 'hypotenuse' of the nose length and the distance between the nose and mustache (for non orthogonal noses use the law of cosine); all razors larger than that would 'fit' the same, razors smaller than that would fit better.
Here's a diagram where that magical length is in red - bigger than that like the blue fits just the same because it is 'over the nose', but smaller than that can fit 'under the nose'.
Attachment 208499
I guess a better phrasing would be 'between the mustache and the nose protrusion (or the tangent point to the nose?)'; I'd want to say the tip of the nose, but the tip is usually considered further up.
Does it have practical significance? Not to my face, but YMMV.
Bingo , plus the nice cut on his chin, Bumgo
Ignoring the finer points of geometry, I find that, even in the nose/mustache area my comfort with the razor in general, its balance, my grip and the sharpness is more significant than an eighth or 2 of an inch. If the blade is sharp and smooth enough, and it fits my hand well (and is well balanced) I can maneuver it into most places that it needs to go on my face. I actually prefer blades larger than 5/8 and heavier than hollow ground, I'm finding over the course of time. That said, I have a 5/8 I'm using in my rotation now that I love.
It's all about how you adapt to the blade size. And in time you make the decision on which sized blade you like or not. Everyone is different. The grind of the blade makes a difference too.
Surely the diagram posted showing angles under the nose is obsolete the moment you stretch the area, either by lifting your nose slightly or by moving your top lip? I suppose it depends how individually flexible you are. Anyway, irrelevant for me as I have a goatee and 'tash. Most of my blades are 5 or 6/8ths. I find next to no difference between them. I also have a 7/8 Heiffor wedge. That one is completely different from the others so I don't use it much, although it does get occasional use. At the other end of the scale, I also have a number of 4/8ths Union Spikes. They see the cream occasionally. The hardest to shave with IMHO, is the 7/8. You really won't know which you prefer until you've used them all regularly. Good luck.
when I started out straight edge shaving the only thing different I noticed between a 5/8 and 6/8 blade shaving was with a 6/8 I got less razor burn and thus I thought it was a better shave. in hindsight I realize that because the 6/8 is heavier and has more heft I probably wasn't putting as much pressure on the 6/8 blade and thus less razor burn. But I agree, you have to find what size and Grind of blade works best on your face. My daily shaver is a 7/8 ralf Aust.
Greg
This has been some interesting reading, and valuable too. I recently got my first vintage off eBay, and it ended up being a 4/8 hollow ground. I was at first ready to give it away, now I am considering giving the smaller razor a shot.
