Thread: Heavier Razor = Easier to Use???

Originally Posted by mparker762

There is definitely a tendency for beginners to prefer the heavier razors, but this is much less pronounced among experienced straight razor shavers. Sharpness counts for much more than mass or rigidity, but mass and rigidity help compensate for a lack of technique, experience, and confidence, and this is of great help to the newbie. This is not the only reason someone may prefer them, but it does seem to be a factor for their extreme popularity among relative newcomers. There have been an awful lot of guys that dissed the little full hollows as inferior to the heavier razors for months and then with a year or so of experience under their belts wind up trying some little 5/8 Solingen and fall in love.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

Watch the "Rules" in razordom

There really are very very few..

In the old days of the forum people with heavy beards, were told to get heavier grinds it was pretty well that simple... Later on as people gained more and more experience they found that even with a heavy beard that they could use a singing hollow...

The only fact that is true is the heavier blade has less flex, which means that for a newer guy that is one less thing he has to deal with... There are singing hollows with less flex too so again the rules are fuzzy in razordom...

The more razors you use the more you will narrow down what works for you the best...

As too the customs that gets a little harder to answer, more steel seems to mean more value to people, so most of the guys are doing larger heavier grinds... At least that is what I see....

There is truth in the statment that new users like heavy grinds, not to be confused with heavy razors, although these two items are not mutually exclusive.

I use smaller 11/16ths wedges and love them. I really like my 11/16ths quarter hollow, I have several 6/8ths half hollow and quarter hollow razors that are excellent, and the same with full hollow.

I really like 13/16ths full hollows, such as the Filly 13s and a pair of Weltmeister's, and one 7/8ths full hollow.

I had a 7/8ths full hollow that was a heavy razor that I didn't care for, but I think it was because it had a longer blade than I like. I've not tried a 8/8ths or larger razor, but I expect I will, if for no other reason than to try one.

So, use what you like that gives you, at your experience level, a great shave. Expect the menu to expand or even change as time passes.

I know at least one old timer who has been around here since the beginning who has always said that he has 4/8 blades that shave as well as any other out there and that they would always be in his collection.......



Now there certainly is a lot of personal preference in this sport too.

Lynn

I too prefer the heavier razors. They feel more substantial in the hand, and I like the rigidity. It has more to do with personal preference than experience IMHO.

Originally Posted by Lynn

I know at least one old timer who has been around here since the beginning who has always said that he has 4/8 blades that shave as well as any other out there and that they would always be in his collection.......



Now there certainly is a lot of personal preference in this sport too.

Lynn

One of my very best razors is a 4/8 Puma. I like it so much I got another one. It shaves like a dream!

Originally Posted by Tolly

Since I have posted this thread I have been reading all around the forums about different size razors. What I have found is that anytime someone mentions that a bigger, heavier razor worked better for them, or was easier to use, they were told that it was because their technique wasn't up to par yet. I must say, this has me puzzled a bit.

So, am I to believe that all of these custom 7/8 and 8/8 wedges costing $600-$1000 are being made for newbies with bad technique ? Something just isn't adding up here fellas.

I admit, that I am obviously a rank newbie with only one shave under my belt, therefore I am certainly not in any position to argue with the pros here, but can there not ever be a situation where a heavier razor worked better because the face/beard type called for it??? Or, is a bigger, heavier razor only more comfortable to those with poor technique?

I am probably going to get flamed for this, but I'm not buying it. Convince me.

I promise I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ guys, I just don't get it. Those big razors are were made for somebody, and I am having a hard time believing it's only for newbies and guys with bad technique.

I think you're missing what we're saying - it's not that hollow ground razors shave better than heavier grind razors, it is only that it usually takes a bit longer to be really proficient with a hollow ground razor vs. its heavier brothers. Thus, new users tend to prefer heavier grinds, until they learn that they can in fact get a good shave off any kind of razor - 4/8, 8/8, singing hollow, full wedge, etc. One is not neccessarily better than another, it is only personal preference. I think this great post by mparker really says it all:

Originally Posted by mparker762

There is definitely a tendency for beginners to prefer the heavier razors, but this is much less pronounced among experienced straight razor shavers. Sharpness counts for much more than mass or rigidity, but mass and rigidity help compensate for a lack of technique, experience, and confidence, and this is of great help to the newbie. This is not the only reason someone may prefer them, but it does seem to be a factor for their extreme popularity among relative newcomers. There have been an awful lot of guys that dissed the little full hollows as inferior to the heavier razors for months and then with a year or so of experience under their belts wind up trying some little 5/8 Solingen and fall in love.

As to the customs thing, I too have wondered why there are not more full hollow customs, but I believe that it is because full hollow razors are more common, and therefore when ordering a $700 razor people would like something a little more unique.

Originally Posted by huntmol

As to the customs thing, I too have wondered why there are not more full hollow customs, but I believe that it is because full hollow razors are more common, and therefore when ordering a $700 razor people would like something a little more unique.

I think part of it has to do with the difficulty in grinding a full hollow without the proper equipment... plus it's hard to make them look as cool as the monsters that get cranked out by these artists.

I have been using a straight for almost a year-a dovo 5/8 special being my first razor. My second was a W&B 1/4 hollow, which I thought was the greatest thing in the world.

As echoed by previous posters, I realized the w&b was just really masking my lack of technique. I'm no expert, but I'm getting good shaves now. My razor of choice would be a 5/8 to 11/16 full hollow with a round point.

That being said, tonight I purchased a W&B Bow off of ebay.

Due to RAD I now have over 30 razors ( I realize that would be a travel kit for many here) and one of the things I like best is having the option to choose from a variety of razors to choose from every morning.

Originally Posted by huntmol

As to the customs thing, I too have wondered why there are not more full hollow customs, but I believe that it is because full hollow razors are more common, and therefore when ordering a $700 razor people would like something a little more unique.

AFAIK most of the Livi's are full hollow, or I should say that I've seen very few that weren't. But you see relatively few from the other makers though they do make them. I think it's partly a style thing, and partly the extra difficulty in making them, and partly the mass=value conception.