First shave with a wedge

I received an old Bengall wedge yesterday from ebay - supposedly shave ready, so after stropping on linen and leather last night, I gave it a try. Wow - silent but deadly - to whiskers at least. Compared to my Dovo full hollow - which is very noisy, this was really weird. Took a little adjustment to get pressure and angle just right, and I ended up with the smoothest shave with the least amount of passes ever. Felt like I was handling a meat cleaver. One problem, though, got a real nice cut - about 1" - on my right cheek that bled pretty well when I started a 3rd pass (which wan't really necessary). I wasn't paying attention like I should have. Lesson learned. I think I'm liking this razor!

Yeah, silent but deadly fits for sure, and the can cut you easily as you figured... :)

Heavier grinds are fun for sure.

I shave with a different razor each shave. When I wedge (most are around 1/4 hollow) comes to play it always takes a few strokes to get the feel of them again. I usually get a red spot or two where I shave off a bit of skin too. LOL I love the feel of a well honed wedge and the silent work they perform but what a PITA to get them honed properly when they are antique shop finds and have a wide bevel. In the end they are worth the effort but I am really glad I hone them myself.

Ahhh, so you like the wedge? The wedge, she is good, no? Me too! I feel like I am ruining the very concave razors with my wiry beard. They rattle and moan a lot! But wedges, especially the smiling variety, are my cup of tea. Nice to shave with the very old ones, gives a feeling of history to the experience as well! ......get it on........Tom

My razor is 3/4 hollow. I have a heavy beard, and though I'm improving mightily I sometimes wonder if I struggle in certain really thick patches because of the 3/4 hollow blade. Are 1/4 hollow or wedge razors "better" for heavier beards? From your experience with your first wedge shave, I'm inclined to think the bigger mass would yield a smoother cut through dense hair. How else would you compare the two?

A wedge is great. There is a distinct difference between a wedge and a full hollow. A near wedge or 1/4 hollow is fun to shave with.

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Originally Posted by U2Bono269

My razor is 3/4 hollow. I have a heavy beard, and though I'm improving mightily I sometimes wonder if I struggle in certain really thick patches because of the 3/4 hollow blade. Are 1/4 hollow or wedge razors "better" for heavier beards? From your experience with your first wedge shave, I'm inclined to think the bigger mass would yield a smoother cut through dense hair. How else would you compare the two?

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The wedge shaved the area over my (not prominent) adam's apple more closely, and made much quicker work of it, than my full hollow. I'm thinking it might be worth a try for you to get a wedge if you can find a reasonably priced one in the SRP classifieds or on Ebay..
First thing I noticed was no "scraping toast" sound. The blade on the wedge definitely has a gravity assist, and I guess one way to compare the hollow to the wedge is that the hollow is a weed-whacker, and the wedge is a bulldozer, or the hollow is a thoroughbred horse, the wedge is a Clydesdale. The thoroughbred won't pullout stumps, but the Clydesdale can (stumps = heavy beard). OK, enough of the weird descriptions...

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Ahhh, so you like the wedge? The wedge, she is good, no? Me too! I feel like I am ruining the very concave razors with my wiry beard. They rattle and moan a lot! But wedges, especially the smiling variety, are my cup of tea. Nice to shave with the very old ones, gives a feeling of history to the experience as well! ......get it on........Tom

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Yes, part of it is definitely the sense of history. I also won a Wade & Butcher on Ebay that may be pre 1895 (no country of origin on the tang, and a shorter monkey tail), and it is really cool thinking of all the faces that razor has been on. I'm a history buff anyway, so it fits right in to my sensibilities..

I'm a heavy blade fan also. While I only have a few full sized wedges most are 1/4 hollow or less. It's always weird when I use a full hollow and hear all the racket the blade thows off. I should do a few more videos of the older stuff I have been using lately :p

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Originally Posted by U2Bono269

Are 1/4 hollow or wedge razors "better" for heavier beards?

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Not according to Filarmonica. The 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras is big but very hollow.

I love a big wedge. They are like a silent bulldozer. When well honed, they just plough through anything.

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Originally Posted by johnmrson

I love a big wedge. They are like a silent bulldozer. When well honed, they just plough through anything.

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You know, I'm doing well with the 3/4 hollow, but as I learn about my beard and how to handle it, I think I need something that does just that. I think a big wedge will be my next razor purchase, but who really knows when I'll be able to actually do that.

I just got a Bengall wedge but the maker's stamp has been ground off. Any chance of a pic to compare to my humble razor?

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Not according to Filarmonica. The 14 Especial Para Barbas Duras is big but very hollow.

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That's true. +1.

I mostly own wedges, have thick and coarse whiskers and can "conquer" them better with a wedge or 1/4 hollow grind. But a lot of people prefer full hollow grinds for a heavy beard. Not only does Filarmonica, Dovo too offers a 6/8 with extra hollow grind for heavy beards; especially designed for them.

Sorry, but you have to try yourself:)

I love wedges; silent and deadly is a great description. They are such a pleasure to use compared to a full hollow. They are hard to find but worth all the effort.

I wanna join this big wedge love-fest! I have never tried a 1/4 hollow, but I did the full hollow thing while I was learning. Wasn't until I contracted the Wade and Butcher Virus that I got into the choppers and they consistently give me the smoothest, most comfortable shave. I'll jump back to my Boker every once in a while, but its never the same. I'm a smily wedge fan!

im looking forward to my first wedge shave :) good to hear you loved yours

Something to ponder, since the most common heavy grinds are Sheffields. Not all wedges are silent. Sheffields, most likely, will be. Even some Soligen & US makers are non-communicators. If you get a wedge that talks to you, its just wonderful. They'll sing baritone, rather than soprano, but the heavies and the extra hollows are my weakness. Heck, heavy razors period - regardless of grind. 'Feel solid & stable in the hand. If its not a heavy grind, it must be a heavy razor for me.

Kind of fond of the heavies myself
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...eavies003s.jpg

L-R
Frederick Reynolds 8/8
Frederick Reynolds 7/8
W&B 7/8
Harrison Bros & Howe 6/8
George Wostenholm & Son, Washington Works 7/8

Having never used a wedge what exactly is the difference? I have about thirty or so razors but haven't come across a wedge,are they that much different from a hollow grind?Most of my razors are shave ready and give great shaves but I can't imagine what the difference is,other than maybe the stiffness of the blade itself.Anyone?

I don't know. I have been shaving with a 7/8 Hart for maybe about six weeks now and I love it!. I also shave with a couple Holhzauer & Sons in 6/8 and 5/8 and very much love shaving with those two as well. The reason I mention those two is that they're real singers; I mean, really loud and outstanding shavers both. If I had to choose I would be hard pressed. For example, I can tell you for a fact I'm able to get the most outstanding of edges on the 6/8 Holzhauer and I probably get one of the closest shaves around; the type of shave that lasts more than a day in its length (everyones' goal, I should think) I can also tell you that after shaving with my big old Hart that my face feels smooth as a baby's tooshy. To reiterate: I really don't know. One thing to think about is this: if you're the sort of person that finds changing razors is not for you then you probably shouldn't. The gentleman that [kind of] introduced me to straight shaving in the early '90s, he used only one razor. That razor belonged to his grandfather. He (I should think) never heard of a pasted strop and only honed his razors on [his grandfather's also] barber's hone. However, he shaved masterfully. I don't ever recall a cut on his face. In fact, when I would ask him about shaving with the straight, he would just answer very matter of fact; almost as if, he just expected everyone to be able to understand how this is done. Well, thank God for the internet, the gentlemen here, and all the fine videos, for they've cut the learning curve way down.

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Originally Posted by Grizzley1

Having never used a wedge what exactly is the difference? I have about thirty or so razors but haven't come across a wedge,are they that much different from a hollow grind?Most of my razors are shave ready and give great shaves but I can't imagine what the difference is,other than maybe the stiffness of the blade itself.Anyone?

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The end result is the same. My take is that they are heavier. For me, they aren't as prone to hang, they just slice right on through the lip, bump, whisker or whatever is in their way. Just kidding, but they will take a chunk if you let them. Don't ask me how I know. ;)

Wedges are definitely stiffer in the edge area than a full hollow. You won't deflect the edge at all on a wedge.

The wedges are definitely quieter. They don't make little high pitched noises when they cut. That is a plus from my personal standpoint as I wear hearing aids to offset high frequency hearing loss. I usually have my hearing aids on when I shave and when those things get though amplifying and distorting the racket it isn't enjoyable for me.

I shaved with a KROPP 6/8 full hollow last night. It was OK but tonight, I got out my big Frederick Reynolds and enjoyed myself.

I'd say it is just another personal choice. Kind of like driving a pick up versus a car.

Yeah, I couldn't find a wedge in my price range that was in decent shape, so I found a terrible one, and restored it, just to experience the amazing wedge shave. I've shaved with it twice I think. Another vote goes for it's all just individual preference.

The fact that you got one, saved it and put it back to use to your liking, makes it that much better!
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...shit/COWIE.jpg