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.

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.

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

Originally Posted by gflight

I have been researching and I get the impression that a 5/8 or 6/8 is more forgiving for a first timer. The 6/8 has more heft and the DE I bought a few weeks ago was the short heavy duty Murker 34 so I am leaning toward a 6/8. Is this valid and would there be other reasons to go heavier vs lighter or vice versa?

I haven't seen anything about length of the cutting surface, what implications could that have for a beginner? I did read the info on round points and think that is in my best interest.

personally found for my very coarse and thick beard a heavy grind work best and a bigger is better. Having said that though I have only used three different razors. I would go with a 6/8 as it is in the middle. As for details I wouldn't pay much attention and would use a shavette as I normally do

I'm still learning all this and so far the biggest difference for me between the 5/8 and 6/8 is when stropping. I find the 6/8 much easier to strop than the 5/8. But then again, my stropping sucks so take that for what it's worth

A wider blade will be easier to strop if you are excessively torquing the blade. If you eliminate most of that torquing, then the 5/8 will be just as easy as the 6/8.