Thread: Different pressure and different angle on each razor?

I've been at wet shaving for a few months now, but I started to notice that some razors work better than the other with different angle/pressure. I have a razor that doesn't cut great, but once you lay the razor right at the honing angle, it cuts beautifully. I tend to notice that the more wedge shape, the more angle sensitive they are. While hollower grounds are less sensitive.

Now the kicker here is that is the angle-sensitive is a product of bad honing? The weird thing is that this razor pass HHT pretty well across the blade....and you'd think it'd grab hair well at any angle, but it's pretty angle sensitive.

Originally Posted by toovira

I have a razor that doesn't cut great, but once you lay the razor right at the honing angle, it cuts beautifully. I tend to notice that the more wedge shape, the more angle sensitive they are. While hollower grounds are less sensitive.

There's a few things to keep in mind. First, pressure and angle should remain consistent no matter what type of razor you're using, as in relatively zero pressure and low angle. If you find you have to use additional pressure with some razors chances are your technique needs work, the razor isn't as sharp as it could be, or both. Second, angle is relative to the size and grind of the razor itself; the standard 30 degree mark will look different in the mirror when using a 4/8 hollow compared to a 8/8 wedge. This may account for the angle discrepancy you're describing.

I do find it interesting that you find heavy grind razors seem less forgiving of angle, which is fine as we are all entitled to our opinions. The common consensus is that hollow razors are more sensitive to angle, technique and pressure. It's the same reason that many newbies claim that they prefer wedges at the beginning (more forgiving of technique), and later come to prefer full hollows as their technique improves.

I agree the angle should make no difference. With a kamisori you use a different angle but that's a radically different instrument. I think when folks talk about all the differences between a big and small razor they are really holding the thing differently without even realizing it.

bigspendur...I agree totally with your take on the Kamisori. I've shaved with mine a few times (just prove to myself that it is indeed doable), but honing and ultimately sharpeneing it was certainly challenging. Once I got it it e fairly easily. But if given the choice, I would always chooose my RW Purist hands down. I've only had it for less than a week but I do think in the evolution of things I think it's a step further along than he Kamisori, sort of where the Japanese left off, RW took over - though there is a sense of pride in knowing you can hone one [kamisori] and finally, shave with it successfully.

Well, that is my uninformed opinion about the heavier ground. Some looked heavier ground than others, but I didn't measure them. I also have a Wade and Butcher true wedge too, but I have yet to hone it to make it usable. Thanks for the inputs guys. I obviously have more to learn.

In thinking about it, I often tend to use differing amount of pressure depending on the results I aim to achieve. When I'm really cutting, I dig it hard and fast; and when I'm polishing, I gently glide the blade repeatedly.

Originally Posted by cflaageriv

bigspendur...I agree totally with your take on the Kamisori. I've shaved with mine a few times (just prove to myself that it is indeed doable), but honing and ultimately sharpeneing it was certainly challenging. Once I got it it e fairly easily. But if given the choice, I would always chooose my RW Purist hands down. I've only had it for less than a week but I do think in the evolution of things I think it's a step further along than he Kamisori, sort of where the Japanese left off, RW took over - though there is a sense of pride in knowing you can hone one [kamisori] and finally, shave with it successfully.

I think the traditional kamisori was designed very thoroughly and does exactly what it was designed to do. With the asymmetrical geometry you can attain heights of sharpness above what you can with a symmetrical blade. I'm not knocking the purist but it simply is not a kamisori.

Originally Posted by cflaageriv

bigspendur...I agree totally with your take on the Kamisori. I've shaved with mine a few times (just prove to myself that it is indeed doable), but honing and ultimately sharpeneing it was certainly challenging. Once I got it it e fairly easily. But if given the choice, I would always chooose my RW Purist hands down. I've only had it for less than a week but I do think in the evolution of things I think it's a step further along than he Kamisori, sort of where the Japanese left off, RW took over - though there is a sense of pride in knowing you can hone one [kamisori] and finally, shave with it successfully.

wow...used a kamisori a few times...had a purist for less than a week...
it seems pretty wild to be proclaiming that the purist is the kamisori evolved into something better.
kamisori have been around 800 years...
but i guess i'm glad you are happy with your purist

Don't get me wrong fellas, I am able to get quite an edge on my Kamisori, and shaves wonderfully. But I just think that RW really fits my hand like a dream; it hones up really, really sharp. I also think that he has studied the metallurgy of razor creation and how to build on it in order to to not only make a "hard" steel razor, but one that in addition, can be honed to a most glorious edge. And like I said, it fits my hand like a dream and I really love it. So while I have this well built up collection of razors - some for simply sentimental reasons, i.e., my Hibbard Spencer & Bartlett, Co - and a select few that I use day in and day out - such as my Hart, my 5/8 & 6/8 Holzhauers and my RW Purist.

I may be wrong, and not having true Kamisori experience, but the grind is different per side used. I should like to think many standard(equal) grinds an angle must be felt, and should be adjusted accordingly. No two blades(nor grinds on either side) are exactly the same, if measured exactly.