Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 20 of 23
Like Tree29Likes

Thread: Thickness and Width

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Diamond Bar, CA
    Posts
    6,553
    Thanked: 3215

    Default

    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.

  2. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth Leatherstockiings's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Rural Missouri
    Posts
    4,981
    Thanked: 972

    Default

    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.
    gflight likes this.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Matheus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Goiânia, Brasil
    Posts
    530
    Thanked: 159

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Utopian View Post
    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.
    Pithor and gflight like this.

  4. #4
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    33,155
    Thanked: 5025
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    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.
    gflight likes this.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  5. #5
    Member pundi6446's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Thailand
    Posts
    78
    Thanked: 2

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Matheus View Post
    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 laName:  $_57.jpg
Views: 135
Size:  23.2 KBName:  $_57.jpg
Views: 133
Size:  13.3 KBtest 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.
    Matheus and gflight like this.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Bryan, TX
    Posts
    1,251
    Thanked: 228

    Default

    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
    gflight likes this.

  7. #7
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    13
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gflight View Post
    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

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    60
    Thanked: 6

    Default

    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
    gflight likes this.

  9. #9
    illegitimum non carborundum Utopian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Rochester, MN
    Posts
    11,552
    Thanked: 3795
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    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.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •