The Grind

[wolfmanxiii]

I currently own two full-hollow ground Dovo's and have some other razors that need restoration, but have been thinking about getting a wedge or near wedge if I can find one. How do those shave in comparison to full hollows? My big thing right now is I want a blade that won't be as easily damaged as a full hollow, so I was hoping a wedge would be the solution.

[LarryAndro]

I don't think there is that much more danger for hollow grounds to be damaged than wedges. Yes, technically they crack more easily. That is obvious. But, I haven't seen that many cracked hollow ground razors.

Hit a sharp edge with a blunt object and the edge is damaged, without significant difference between a wedge and a hollow ground. Again, there is a slight difference, but not a significant difference.

Speaking of the shave experience with wedges, in one sense unrelated to weight, they "shave heavier." There is no way to describe what it means to "shave heavy." Even more, wedges seem to me to feel softer, the metal feels softer than hollow grounds also. And, don't ask me to explain!

[wolfmanxiii]

Interesting...thanks Larry!

My big thing is I get VERY paranoid about my stropping technique so I tend to strop really slowly and pay a lot of attention to my technique...I'm pretty sure I'm overly critical of myself as well. I have a couple hollow grounds that went dull after about 3 months of use. I even tried to refresh the edges with 12000 grit naniwa stone, then wool felt with .05 diamond spray, then plain wool felt, then rough leather, then smooth leather to no avail. They shave a little better, but not much. I'm starting to wonder if my stropping technique is dulling them, but I would think I would have had these problems much earlier on if it was the issue, I'm thinking maybe my beard is just that heavy that it dulled them that quickly. So I've been thinking maybe a wedge would be helpful in figuring this out, that and maybe a wedge would hold up to my beard better.

[LarryAndro]

... I have a couple hollow grounds that went dull after about 3 months of use....
... I'm thinking maybe my beard is just that heavy that it dulled them...

How did your hollow grounds shave at the beginning of the 3 months of use?

You seem to imply that the razors slowly dulled over 3 months, and then couldn't be resurrected with your honing attempts.

[wolfmanxiii]

How did your hollow grounds shave at the beginning of the 3 months of use?

You seem to imply that the razors slowly dulled over 3 months, and then couldn't be resurrected with your honing attempts.


Correct!

It shaved great in the beginning (it was shave ready honed by Lynn).

[drifwood]

All of my razors were sharpened by me. In principle they should be equally sharp. The toughest one to shave with for me is my ERN "Reliable" full hollow. It feels like I'm shaving with an aluminium pie plate - sounds kinda like that too.

All things being equal (my sharpening), I find a more rigid razor more controllable. I don't know if the extra mass accounts for anything, but I think more support behind the cutting edge means less deflection and smoother strokes. Bear in mind that I'm a novice.

I bet a supremely sharpened singing razor is probably a joy to shave with. But for a hack like me, the old cabbage cutter seems like a better idea. YMMV

Cheers,
Ian

[CraigJ]

Interesting...thanks Larry!

My big thing is I get VERY paranoid about my stropping technique so I tend to strop really slowly and pay a lot of attention to my technique....

There is a study out there floating around comparing fast stropping vs. slow stropping. The results were that slow stropping made the blade edge rough after just a few days. As soon as they started stropping normal speed again the blades smoothed out.

I have been using straights for over 20 years and I hear and feel imperfect strokes on a regular basis while I am stropping. My stroke is not always perfect but it is good enough to get a smooth edge. If I were you I might not focus on a perfect stropping stroke, a good stroke is all you need. :thumbup1:

[kg4ghn]

There is a study out there floating around comparing fast stropping vs. slow stropping. The results were that slow stropping made the blade edge rough after just a few days. As soon as they started stropping normal speed again the blades smoothed out.

I have been using straights for over 20 years and I hear and feel imperfect strokes on a regular basis while I am stropping. My stroke is not always perfect but it is good enough to get a smooth edge. If I were you I might not focus on a perfect stropping stroke, a good stroke is all you need. :thumbup1:

Very interesting and informative post!

I always like to hear from the guys with years of use.

[Luc]

A wedge will be used like a normal full hollow. I find it a bit difficult to get the right angle at first but then, you get used to it and it shaves the same. I currently have no problems using a Wedge vs. Hollow.

[LarryAndro]

For the time being, you might consider laying your hanging strop on the edge of a table while stropping. That might give you the confidence to strop more rapidly. Basically, you turn it into a paddle strop.

[wolfmanxiii]

For the time being, you might consider laying your hanging strop on the edge of a table while stropping. That might give you the confidence to strop more rapidly. Basically, you turn it into a paddle strop.

I actually have upgraded to the modular paddle strop recently. The only problem I found with it though is that with it being completely flat and for it to have resistance causes me issues when I get towards the heel of the blade with my X stroke because the double stabilizer sticks out so far that if I try to get the whole heel edge stropped the stabilizer will actually lift the blade if it comes in contact with anything. I have the same issue with honing. Not sure if this is just a Dovo characteristic or a full hollow characteristic, but I would think that they would want the stabilizer to follow the general contour of the blade for the purpose of keeping the edge true.

[Thebigspendur]

I find with 15-20 shaves most razors need to be touched up on the hone otherwise the comfort factor starts to deteriorate. A few razors I have I've been using a very long time without the need for a touchup but they are the exception. I know guys say they use the same razor months and months but that doesn't work for me.

[LarryAndro]

Carrying on with TheBigSpendur's thoughts, I experience the same variance in the frequency that I have to return razors to the hone. I have some razors that hold an edge very well. Oddly, they are not usually my favorite razors.

The best feeling razor that I ever shaved with was a Spike razor, a smallish near wedge. I never have been able to hone it as sharp as most of my other razors. And, I have to rehone it more often. But, for some reason the metal of the blade feels soft while shaving. Very mild.

(Wedges are harder to hone. The possibility exists that I never properly honed the Spike in the first place!)