Thread: Beginner question on full hollow blades

So - noob question. I've been shaving with straight razors for about a year now, using a wedge and also a half-hollow. I got past the blood-drawing phase after a few weeks and for the past few months I've gotten very good shaves out of the razors.

I recently saw and bought a very nice Ralf Aust razor - it turns out to be a full hollow grind, and I'm not getting great shaves from it so far. If I apply my normal amount of pressure, I don't get a good shave, and if I bear down a bit more I get a little skipping and what feels like the blade flexing, especially against the grain. I even managed to nick myself for the first time in months. Am I just messing up? I've been trying to grasp the blade a little further toward the edge to keep it from flexing, but that feels wrong. Are full hollows not recommended for tough stubble?

Are you sure the razor has a good edge? If the edge is Ok, I'm going to suggest you change the angle of attack. Keep the blade spine much closer to your face, maybe 2 spine widths up from your face. Take short strokes and repeat the same stroke more than once. I only use full-hollows and they shave like a dream when properly honed. Good luck, finding your way, but you should do fine.

I agree with Dan, although i havent been sha ing with a straight as long as him. I find one to two spine widths from the skin works well as long as your razor is honed properly. The sharpness is going to make all the d8fference. I think a hollow blade shaves easier than a wedge. And if your getting the skipping its ether too much angle, not shave ready or your soap is not slick enough. Wet is one thing but slick is another when it comes to soap.
Good luck and keep trying. And no preasure. If you have to use preasure then its just not sharp enough!

Yup, a full hollow with a shave ready edge should shave any beard. I shave with the spine 1-2 spine widths between face and spine. Going ATG the razor is almost flat on my face, very little gap. So I agree with what Dan said right down to using no pressure.

Bob

Like already asked, Does the razor have a good edge? I had a Ralf Aust and it shaved very well.

Getting the angle right at first is very hard. Start with the blade flat on your face and slowly raise it until you find the sweet spot, usually 1-2 spine width off your face as others have said

I agree with the other comments. I'd have your razor professionally honed to make sure it's not the edge. A Ralf Aust is a very good razor and should give you an excellent shave if honed properly, and if your technique is sound. I don't think it has anything to do with it being a full hollow grind.

If you're using just enough pressure to remove the lather from your face, a sharp full hollow will easily remove your whiskers. The quality of the edge would be my first suspect.

Did you buy the razor new? If so the factory edge might not be up to par. You have been doing this for a while and getting good results so I would suspect the edge.

In my experience (I have now +20 Austs), Aust razors are the exception in so far that they tend to leave his workshop shave-ready.

As this seems to be your first full hollow, I would thus concentrate on the angle.
Generally, the already mentioned 1-2 spine width would be a good starting point.
Much flatter carries the risk that the edge may skip and catch in your skin (which from your description, I suspect is what is happening in your case), much steeper makes for an ineffective cutting angle.
Like many things in straight shaving, it is somewhat difficult to explain the theory behind it and the outcome depends more on trial and error to find the optimum solution.

During a shave fingers have no business on the blade, stick to the standard grip with fingers on the shank and tail (some matter of preference here: thumb below shank, 3 (or 2) fingers on top, 1 (or 2) fingers on top of tail).

Full hollow razors quickly overtook wedges and ½ hollows when they became available and in my opinion you just need some more time to come to grips whith the new style of blade.


Good luck and do persevere.


B.