Thread: Why are newbs affraid of wedges? Try one! :)

Everything I read when I first decided to start straight razor shaving said to use a full hollow 5/8" razor. I am still most def a newb as I have only been using my straight for one month (and loving it). I decided to buy a 13/16" sheffield wedge off of Larry and it arrived today. When took it out of the wrapping the first thing I noticed was the weight of the razor and the size (compaird to my 5/8"). I couldn't wait to take it for a test a run. Well let me tell all the newbs... this was my best shave yet. It just sheared the the whiskers away during all three of the passes. The weight also seemed to help with control and pressure.

I asked a very smart man ( Larry ) what was the best razor for a newb. The reply was simple and easy to follow. He told me that; "there is no such thing as athe best kind to start with. You just have to try as many as you can". Following his advise I went against what everyone told me, had the best shave yet, the fastest shave, and the only shave where there was not one nick on my face.

So to all you newbs out there... dont be affraid to try somehting new (even if it's a wedge)

Nick

I'm fairly new; my 2nd razor was an old Bengall wedge, and it is the best shaver I have...they are definitely worth a try!

For me it wasn't a question of being afraid to shave a Wedge, it was being afraid I'd eventually have to Hone the Wedge lol. The wedges are more difficult to hone because you have to remove more metal. I"m sure it shaves nearly identically to any other type of razor, but honing for me has been the most challenging part of a standard straight.

I am not sure where you got the idea that you need to start with a full hollow...

Any blade that is truly shave ready will get you started - from there it's a matter of learning your preferances.

I've always told people that I started with two razors: a hollow and a wedge. The hollow would tear up my face for the first few attempts, meanwhile the wedge did not. I thus switched pretty exclusively to the wedge for probably my first 6 months using a straight razor. After that time, I went back to the hollow and realized that, due to much improved technique, my hollow performed a lot better.

I definitely advocate people using wedges to start with. The heft of the razor makes it much easier to master "light pressure" in my opinion.

I think your perception about newbies is wrong.

The usual recommendation that we give is that they get a 'standard' razor. Which is 5/8-6/8 full hollow or half hollow razor. What's most important is that the razor is properly honed.

Yeah, a lot of beginners find it much easier to shave with a stiffer heavier razor. That is just because of an extremely poor shaving technique. It also does not improve particularly fast with such a razor.
In order to improve your technique you need the feedback of a lighter flexible edge so that when you apply more pressure, or use the wrong angle, the razor won't shave that well.

It's a matter of preference and philosophy, but if you're after the ultimate experience and not just a mediocre, or pretty good one you need every single piece of the picture, from shave preparation, to edge quality, to shaving technique, etc. to align perfectly.

I have a thick beard and the wedge razors work best for me. They just seem to plow through wiskers much better.

But with that said it is still up to you to decide what works best

I'm not sure that I've ever read a newb posting that he was afraid to try a wedge.

Usually what happens is a typical newb is told by someone (with maybe a couple months more SR experience) that wedges are waaayyyy better than full hollows and are the true key to getting a smooth shave. The newb then becomes borderline-obsessed with buying a wedge, any wedge, thinking they will be on their way to shaving nirvana if they only had a wedge razor. They will finally find one, likely leaving their wallet quite a bit lighter, and then proclaim they are getting the best shaves of their lives. Months later they will try a full hollow again and find that technique has a lot more to contribute to a great shave than the grind of the razor.

I don't mean to sound like a-hole, but I've been here long enough to know how it goes and have enough experience to know how it is.

My vote is for the wedge for newbies. They are so much easier to tame. I found an almost wedge and I absolutely love it! I don't seem to nick myself with it and I shave must faster too. Try it!