Thread: Wedge vs. Hollow ground

I'm thinking of buying a wedge razor now that I have a hollow ground(Oh noes! The RAD is set in!). I've been shaving with my 5/8 Torrey for a month or so now with sucess, so I just want some opinions on the differences from experience. I don't have very tough facial hair growth as that seems to be what I'm reading(wedges are better for tougher hair).

Any particular nuances with wedges? Do's and don't's? Thanks guys.

I have a good collection of razors. Wedges are good, but alot harder to sharpen. They shave real well but a little bit more maintance. Hollow ground are alot easier to sharpen and shave a bit better. If you are good at razor sharping get yourself one of each and have fun with it.

My beard is not particularly heavy, and is sparse. However, I prefer a wedge to a hollow ground razor. I find that I use a bigger angle with the wedges than I do with a hollow ground. The sound of a wedge will be different, so you don;t get the same feedback as with the hollow ground. Watch your stropping too, as it will have less feedback there too.

I like better the feedback i get from the hollows...its easier to know that you are honing and stropping properly because of the sound they give you...they are more fun to use, if i could only have one for the rest of my life will be hollow....but i have to admit that when having 2 days growth or more, a well sharpen wedge will go through the stublle like butter, also very very smooth shave, i think is the extra metal that ads the weight that makes it shave like it does...i recently got a wedge from heavyduty135 (david) and man i am glad i did.
you should get one and judge for yourself.
be well

Hah, bought a Red Imp 132 from Jfala here at something like 2am. I find it's easier to convince myself for these purchases when it's late/early .

Thanks for the input guys, I'll post my impressions when I get the razor.

I think you'll like the wedge. It is commonly noted that the extra heft gives a smoother shave, less jumping around as you go through the thicker patches.

If I could have one razor the rest of my life, it'd be a carbon steel 8/8 wedge. They're less finicky, more robust, take a bit more abuse and shave just as close as hollows for me.

I find that I choose to shave with my wedges and 1/4 hollows far more often than full hollows. I like 7/8 the best. Hope you enjoy yours!

I've got very light facial hair as well, but that doesn't stop a wedge shave from being a lot of fun. Not a lot of fun to hone though.

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