Thread: Shaving with a Thiers-Issard full hollow singing?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

TBH, I have never been able to identify the "singing razor" as anything but a meaningless slogan…

+1
I agree 100%

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Well, it's close. Kind of like fishing. Ever fish? If I get a few nibbles on this bank of the pond, mabye I need to move to a different spot and try there, or even different ponds if I'm not getting what I might be looking for. I'm a member of 2 other forums on Straight Razors, and I have posted similar over at those ponds...er.. forums. The previous query was kind of in a hardware section, Razors, where this one is more "Shaving Techniques" where I hope to get better bites on the "hands on" of those who have actually used singing - aka - Full or Extra Hollow razors by these makers. As far as I know, these are the only ones, except for maybe some vintage razors, that give a blade so thin that some have expressed it is almost like shaving with a DE on a handle. One guy even mentioned slicing off a little chin because of it's different characteristics, and that was a guy that had been shaving with straights for quite a while, 10 years I think.

I think I looked at that review, but what I was looking for was actual users that have a love OR hate for these Extra-Hollow Ground razors.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be malicious or call you out. Just confused I guess. After reading that review I noticed there wasn't much detail as well. And what kind of Minnesotan would I be if I didn't fish? best of luck

Hey, does anyone know when that city in central MN became canonized? As for singing razors, some of mine chant, but most seem to grumble.

No worries, MNstCloud.

I get kind of confused myself. You all have lakes, land of 10,000 lakes. We, in Michigan have potholes...land of 1million potholes (cars show it too!)

Whetether it is a gimick or not, or whether they are any harder to hone, I don't know. They seem to be very nice for experienced shavers and acording to others give a remarkable shave. Some seem to like Thiers-Issard better than Dovo, but I think they are a close call.

As I posted before, if TI is currently making extra hollow ground razor, I haven't seen it. Their 'singing' razor is stiffer than the standard Dovo grind (unless they have terrible quality control which would be worse).
I have shaved with these and then I sold them because they were not what I wanted. I highly recommend you find out yourself - it cost me $40-$50 since it turned out a brand new version is that much more expensive than one that's been properly honed and used handful of times.

As far as cutting yourself with an extra hollow razor, I suppose using poor shaving technique would do that. And it doesn't matter the grind, a wedge would do far worse damage just because of the extra inertia.
Using correct angle and light touch is always the key with straight razor shaving.
The only two differences between an extra hollow and a wedge are (1) the weight (2) how they react when the edge is dull or the angle/pressure is bad - a wedge may still severe the hair, while an extra hollow grind razor will require correcting the problem and would be more easily damaged (common enough problem that it's noted on some manufacturers' paperwork).

Originally Posted by Bruce

Hey, does anyone know when that city in central MN became canonized? As for singing razors, some of mine chant, but most seem to grumble.

Not sure I understand completely what your talking about? Are you referring to St. Paul or St. Cloud

St. Paul: Paul was never formally canonized. The procedure for canonization did not exist until about the 12th century. He was proclaimed a saint by popular acclamation.

St. Cloud: St. Clodoald (french) died in the year 560
MORE INFO HERE: St. Cloud - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

Originally Posted by MNstCloud

Not sure I understand completely what your talking about? Are you referring to St. Paul or St. Cloud

St. Paul: Paul was never formally canonized. The procedure for canonization did not exist until about the 12th century. He was proclaimed a saint by popular acclamation.

St. Cloud: St. Clodoald (french) died in the year 560
MORE INFO HERE: St. Cloud - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

St. Paul is a state eastern edge phenomenon and St Cloud is more centrally fixed so it is that metropolis to which I referred. Thanks for the update. While I'll have trouble genuflecting when driving past St. Cloud I will doff my cap when motoring by.

Originally Posted by Bruce

St. Paul is a state eastern edge phenomenon and St Cloud is more centrally fixed so it is that metropolis to which I referred. Thanks for the update. While I'll have trouble genuflecting when driving past St. Cloud I will doff my cap when motoring by.

I don't mean to "thread jack" so ill be brief

If I may ask Bruce, for what rational prior to my post, was your deterrent to not doff your cap?

I have 8 of them from 5/8 to 7/8. They are wonderful. You do need to be diligent and careful honing them. The metal is rather hard so you can get a wire edge on them really easily. Once you get a solid edge that holds they are very nice blades to use.

I get rid of wire edges using an old knife sharpening trick. Take a gum rubber eraser or a synthetic cork and CAREFULLY go down the blade on the rubber. It grabs that wire edge and let's you go onto the next level without fighting that. I have seen it come off in sunlight and it's so small it looks like a slight glimmer as it falls away.