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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.
When I started I found 6/8 to be much easier to use. YMMV
Most razor edges are around 2.75". This seems like it would be too long but in practice the length helps as you are only dealing with one end at a time since your face is mostly convex.
Great amounts wind up being personal preference. Either will make a great first straight how ever the key is making sure that it comes shave ready is of the utmost importance. It is often handy if you get one that hits high on your cool scale as well, it helps to keep you going if you hit a tough spot on the learning curve.
A wider blade will hold more shave cream which means less rinsing.
Just kidding, but not really, they do hold more cream, but I shave half my face and switch sides so it does not matter.
The little bit more weight of the blade may be a bit easier to learn on, it is much more personal preference, than anything else. I think grind may matter more than blade size.
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.
I started with a square point instead of a round point and went on to slice my face quite a few times.
Luckily I'm not scarred. My beauty is preserved ;)
As normal for me I went way off base and learned with a Parker Shavette. Instead of all the advice of doing your dominate hand cheek I did my complete face. I think my profile pic was from that day. But I'm still here and now have two straights. My first proper one was a 4/8 from Whipped Dog. Matter of fact I just used it this morning and got a wonderful shave from it. I also have a 6/8 Col Conk Dovo that still has the factory edge on it.
Now do I prefer one over the other? I think the 6/8 would be easier to learn on for the simple fact that it would be harder to roll into a bad angle. The blade is wider and easier to tell the angle on. So if I was starting out now and knew what I do now I would go with the 6/8.
I hope this helps a little.
Cheers,
John
I saw a 5/8 I liked already, go figure...
I won't rule them out. Now the 4/8 I dunno...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
Edit: Should I be thinking about grind? Don't you lay tape across the back and that will be your angle when sharp? (I don't plan to sharpen myself in the next year or so)
Not sure about the lefty thing when shaving other side. Maybe I will try with the DE...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Euclid440
Electrical tape protects the spine from wear during honing. This is particularly important when starting out, as you are more likely to make more passes on the hone as you develop your technique.
I wouldn't worry too much about grind. Round point, 5/8 or 6/8, and you'll be set.
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.:thinking:
Attachment 212272
Bigger can be cooler for some people, but IMO I like to see my face beyond the blade.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
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...;)
Here is my laAttachment 212290Attachment 212291test 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Matheus
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. :p Anyway, you will eventually find your preference. Whatever floats your boat.:gl:
Mike
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 doQuote:
Originally Posted by gflight
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.
