Thread: Wedge vs. Hollow - question about the feel

I've been straight shaving for about a year now. I have a few hollow ground razors and had been using those up until today. I figured it made more sense to buy a barber's hone then buy a new razor whenever the one I was using needed sharpening so I bought a Pike Swaty. I've had an old wedge here for a while but it had a small nick in the blade. It has water spots and isn't very pretty so for practice honing honed out the chip on the blade. Then I figured why not strop it and try a shave?

Is it just me or does a wedge have a very different feel then a hollow ground razor? It didn't have as fine an edge as I'm used to, there was more stubble left on the first pass for example, but the comfort level was way up there. If I shave with a hollow that leaves that much stubble it feels like a ran sandpaper across my cheek. I only did a WTG and XTG pass, I didn't try ATG. Maybe next time.

Yes a wedge has less feedback than a hollow grind however if you are getting an uncomfortable shave from the hollow or are not getting a close shave it's not an issue with grinds. Either your technique needs some honing or your razor needs some honing. One type of razor be it size or grind should not give a better shave than another all other things being equal.

Many prefer one size or grind over another for many reasons but the ability or lack of it to get equally good shaves should not be one of them.

The technique would be the same for both razors, I assume the sharpness is also the same based on how they each cut the hair on my face.

So let me rephrase the question, is a wedge easier on your face in some way, perhaps due to less flexing of the edge or something? Or maybe to say easier on my face isn't right either, it felt smoother somehow, the edge did, like the difference between the blade of a butter knife and the back of a butter knife. Using the wedge the edge almost felt round. Is that because it's fatter? Is my cheek feeling that extra thickness? Seems weird since only the edge of the blade which should be the same based on how it cuts the hair is what's touching my skin, isn't it?

There should be no difference in how well a wedge shaves compared to a full hollow and both should not leave your face feeling like sand paper was run over it. The wedge because of the heavier grind gives less feed back than a full hollow.

There are a number of reasons a full hollow will make you feel like you have used sandpaper on your face. The blade could be too dull, your angle could be wrong, you could be using too much pressure and your lather might not be the best. Any combination of those could leave you feeling a little sandpapery.

Bob

Originally Posted by thuktunflishithy

... it made more sense to buy a barber's hone then buy a new razor whenever the one I was using needed sharpening ...

Don't tell my wife!

Well I'm talking about a case where I know the blade isn't as sharp as it should be, I know why the hollow feels rough, it's the dullness. What I'm asking is why doesn't the wedge when based on how they shave the edge is the same sharpness?

What exactly is meant by the phrase "less feedback?"

Originally Posted by thuktunflishithy

What exactly is meant by the phrase "less feedback?"

The way I understand the phrase, it means less transfer of a tactile response from the blade to your hand. In other words, the difference between walking over a loose gravel road in thin soled moccasins vs work boots. Both are shoes, both have soles, but the difference in thickness in the soles allows for different transfer of feeling gravel to feet.

I don't know if that makes sense, or if my understanding is way off the mark, but that's what it means to me.

My understanding of feedback is the same as Oscar's but we both could be way off the mark. Maybe the difference you are feeling is that the full hollow is dull and has a rough edge and the wedge is dull but has a smoother edge?

Bob

Originally Posted by thuktunflishithy

What exactly is meant by the phrase "less feedback?"

Feedback: humm, lets see; when shaving with a full hollow you will feel and hear as the razor cuts the stubble due to the thinness of the razor...the razors sings to you; whereas the wedge does not, just think of the wedge razor is a hollow razor with a silencer. The reason your face is left with stubble is due to a dull blade, you need to hone the razor by first establishing a new bevel. HOG