Thread: Thickness and Width

I don’t switch hands, switch sides of the blade and use a knife hold, scales straight with the blade, shaving backhand with my dominant hand.

I too learned with a square point and prefer them, the points are handy and take getting used too. You can have the point muted and later revived once you get the hang of it, or just learn to pay attention.

I have blades of all sizes from big Sheffield’s to thin trimmers, and they all give great shaves, there is something about a thin razor that does make it easy to get around my face.

If you can find a 6/8 in a hollow grind, I think you will be happy. Bottom line they all shave.

I find a 5/8 or 6/8 blade a bit easier to manuever than larger blades. These sizes also don't obscure my vision like larger blades do when I am working around the sideburns. As a glasses wearer I'm already experiencing some blocked sight due to the earpieces. I also get more feedback from the blade with hollow grounds than quarter hollows or near wedges.

I too started with a Merkur 34C. I quickly moved to 5/8 Boker. It doesn't take very long to learn to shave with a straight since you get immediate feedback on your mistakes. My biggest mistake was forgetting that there are two ends to the blade... If you are of average or better intelligence, you will only make a given mistake once. There is, however, a big difference between learning to shave with a straight and getting a good shave with the straight. The later will take a few months... But the satisfaction you get using the blade, that can't be replicated with any other shave tool.

A square point, by definition, is pretty much already muted. A square point is rounded over at the corner, while a spike point is square (90 degrees) at the corner.

I know, it can seem a little confusing.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Historically the most commonly manufactured blade size was the 5/8, so many of our shaving forebears got by with that size just fine. Recently there seems to be an overreaction to the bigger is better concept. Don't make the mistake of ruling out all of the great options at the 4/8 and 5/8 sizes.

Bigger can be cooler for some people, but IMO I like to see my face beyond the blade.
I shave more skillfully with 5/8s rather than 6/8s.

If you were learning to drive would you want to start out in a big truck or a smart car? You would probably want a mid sized car. A mid sized razor like a 5/8s or 6/8s is a good starting point.

In reality the size doesn't really matter as a beginner. It's just that a 7/8s or 8/8s is bigger, clumsier and less maneuverable and a really small one like a 3/8s can be harder to hold on to especially if you have big hands.

Once you start mid sized you can then go up or down depending on what you like.

I think that the advice given pretty well covers it, choose a quality brand that you like the look of, I have or have had/used razors in sizes from 4/8 to 17/16 mostly with rounded or slightly muted points, I have also tried various grinds.
Personally I now have a 5/8 or just over, a 7/8 and a 17/16, they all shave well but differently, the 2 smaller razors are much easier to shave with than the larger one, but that one is still fun to use.
I prefer thinner grinds to wedges and smiling blades to straight blades.

I honestly don't think you will see a huge difference between the two sizes assuming that they are the same grind.
Pick the one you like and persevere with it, don't fall into the trap of buying a pile of different razors until you are comfortable with the one you have and have an idea of what you would like to change. You might get advice to buy a second razor as a back up for when your main razor is out to be honed but I would just use the D/E that you have in this circumstance.

I suggest that you practice your stopping technique prior to getting your razor it will make life easier for you. As a practice tool all you need is something like a butter knife and a belt. You can also use a layer or two of newspaper in a bulldog clip, if you pull the paper out of the clip you are stropping with too much pressure.

Thanks much for the info. I am honing in on my preference...

Originally Posted by Matheus

Bigger can be cooler for some people, but IMO I like to see my face beyond the blade.
I shave more skillfully with 5/8s rather than 6/8s.

Here is my latest acquisition, for those who like big hefty 9/8 blades, I am one of them that does, but also use 7/8, 6/8, 5/8, and have one razor with a nice 4/8 blade, all in the eye of the happy shaver.

All good advice above. Shaving for a year and a half and I have acquired 20+ razors in that time with the largest being a 7/8. Not going larger than that as I feel that is a bit cumbersome for me. A 5/8 works for me although I now find that I really enjoy a 6/8 the most. A round point you will find is the most forgiving although I did start with a spike and now love the french point just because I love the classy look of it. I still have my earlobes and nose so I must have been doing something right. Anyway, you will eventually find your preference. Whatever floats your boat.


Mike