Thread: Quarter Hollow/Near Wedge vs Full Hollow

So the other day I had my first full SR shave using a quarter hollow/near wedge Wostenholm. The shave was nice and smooth and I was able to do three passes with no pulling or tugging. Today however, I used a full hollow for my shave. It did not seem near as smooth and there were places that I had to touch up with my DE.

I know both razors are equally sharp and in good order, so I know its not that the hollow wasn't sharp enough. My WTG pass went very well, it was only when I tried a XTG and ATG passes that it seemed to not go as well.

So my question is, is there a different learning curve for using a full hollow blade as oppose to a quarter hollow blade?

I had the exact same thing happen to me and my observation was that with full hollows angle is significantly more important then with 1/4 hollows. If my angle is even slightly off with my full hollow it jams and stops shaving. Since I can get BBS shaves with my 1/4 hollow I never felt any urgent need to master the full hollow but that hasn't stopped me from trying. Every week I pull out my full hollow and give it another go. Currently I'm stuck on ATG with my goatee area. I can do WTG and XTG just fine on my whole face thankfully.

Thank god! I was a bit worried that it was just me. I'll be completely honest, it made me a little disheartened that I didnt get a good shave from just the straight this morning. I think that part of me may have been a little nervous as the razor I was using this morning was more of a square point and the CoTD thread has made me weary of them. I did figure that angles would be alot more important though, as everything I've read says full hollows are alot less forgiving. Im going to be buying the 1/4 hollow Wostenholm so I will probably use it more often than my full hollows for the time being, and then once a week or so throw in a full hollow to get some good practice in with them so I will be able to use them better in the future.

Yea, there is a difference in the way a heavier grind shaves than a full hollow. In the beginning I leaned more to the heavier grinds for the same reasons you do. I now really enjoy full hollows and probably because my technique has improved enough to let me use them more or less successfully. In order to learn the full hollow you might just want to use it more than once a week and put up with some sub par shaves for a bit. Yea, spike points you do have to watch a little more carefully too.

Bob

Well I only shave about 3 times a week. Im hoping that with enough practice with a heavier grind it will improve my technique to the point of allowing me to become more proficient with a full hollow. Although I am working on a rotation that will include the quarter grind as well as two full hollows, so I may end up using the full hollows more often and just have to settle for touching up with my double edge for the time being a couple days a week.

Wedges are a little more forgiving of bad technique & full hollows will force you to improve said technique.
A simple approach is to shave with the FH flat on your face. The correct angle is not far from there.

Originally Posted by TexasShaver

So my question is, is there a different learning curve for using a full hollow blade as oppose to a quarter hollow blade?

I would not go as far to say they are different learning curves, it's just angle and light presure to dial in the full hollow.
Try using the full hollow only for the next few weeks and put the DE away. you will learn quicker if you use the straight for touch ups.

Yea, only shaving 3 times a week stretches out the learning curve quite a bit. Me, I need to shave every day as I can't stand stubble. It is easier now that I enjoy the act of shaving more to do that. I would really agree that with a full hollow you only need about 1 spine width gap between face and the spine of the razor. Darn near flat going against the the grain. Couple that with light pressure and short strokes. Anyway I'm sure you will get on to it.

Bob

Awesome. Thanks for all the informative replies. I wont shave again until Friday but when I do, I will use the full hollow again and try again with less angle and much lighter strokes. I think my biggest problem today was too much angle. I will try basically laying it flat and slowly increase the angle until I can get a smooth shave.

Be sure and let us know how that works out for you.

Bob