Thread: Balancing razor / new scales

When I use a razor to shave I find that I don't like what it feels like when the blade is so much heavier than the scales. I feel like it's about to slip out of my fingers. So, for me, the reason for balance is a practical one. If I where scaling one for another person and they didn't care then I wouldn't worry much

Ed - how do you hold the razor when you shave? Most people grip the shank with a thumb on the underside, a couple or three fingers on the top and the little (or ring) finger on the tang - the handle passing between ltlle and ring finger at somewhere less than 90 degrees or so to the blade. All the weight of the scales is then thrown forward to around the pivot point, forcing the centre of balance up somewhere into the spine. I would have thought that the scales against the fingers provided more benefit grip-wise than any weight they had.

Regards,
Neil

Neil, sorry to butt-in here but, it’s not just the actual shaving stroke, it is also when not doing anything with the razor at the moment, or moving to shave the other side of your face, or holding the razor under the running water to rinse, or rotating the blade to start a stroke… maybe up to 50% of the shaving time are those “in between” actions when the razor is comfortably “balanced” between those fingers that matters… it is a very subtle balance… but one appreciated even by barbers of yesterday.

And with all that said… it doesn’t matter much to me either because I have gone accustomed to using a Wapi with its original stainless steel scales, as well as razors with scales so thin and light they could be considered nonexistent... but i guess we are all different.

Hello Smythe - no problem, what you say makes sense. Especially about it being subtle. All I'm really getting at is that if you have a long metal thing to shave with, and want it to pivot into a protective sleeve, then the centre of balance is naturally going to fall somewhere along the shank - if you balance it on a pivot and have the scales at 180 degrees to the blade. Any movement in the hand, any movement of the scales relative to the blade, and the centre of balance is somewhere else entirely - usually favouring throwing it further along the shank and into the spine.

I'm glad that we both agree that it doesn't matter to either of us!

Regards,
Neil