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A Razor Cannot Be "Efficient"
- Thread starter Bogeyman
- Start date
Yes it would in fact shave better, or at least more consistently. And the reason is physics not magic. More mass would translate to less deflection of the edge while cutting.
Think of this, when you shave you can hear the hairs being cut. Some razors/blades are louder than others which actually means the are deflecting more when the encounter a hair and the sound is produced as it pops through the hair and returns to its normal place for the most part. This is also why the edges dulls over time.
If you can find an edge so perfectly sharp that it cuts silently then in that case mass no longer matters.
The reason hollow razors shave "better" than a wedge is geometry making up for the flex. The edge is finer and so has less resistance while cutting but also defects more, which is why many need refreshing a little more often. The fineness of the edge when fresh can make up for the lack of mass.
In this case nothing is being cut so it doesn't matter how heavy the blade is as long as the wielder can hold it steady.
woodpusher
TSC’s International Man of Meh
Like I said..... Magic! 
Deflecto-slicertorius
Deflecto-slicertorius
Bogeyman
Shave Member
The weight of the razor IMO is far less important than blade rigidity and the edge quality, i.e., sputter/coating quality.. Sure, a cutthroat razor has more mass to "horse" its way through hairs, but blade sharpness factors in as well as prep. DE blades are another matter as they compensate with hardened edge stainless blades, but what is actually perceived as sharpness is not, it's smoothness. The senses are playing tricks on a shaver as our ability to sense such minute degrees of sharpness is not as acute as many believe. Gillette discovered as such in the 1950's when they first introd coated blades (albeit carbon steel at that time).
I’ll buy your explanation... it may or may not be 100% but it sounds pretty well reasoned. One area that both makes sense AND potentially goes astray is the idea that sound is the manifestation of resistance (deflection). Your explanation of hollow ground vs wedge sounds perfectly plausible (mostly because edge geometry really IS magic) but there is another, much simpler reason a hollow ground blade would be louder than a wedge and that is resonation. A hollow ground or thin blade will resonate more noticeably as a result of interaction with whiskers than a thick or wedge shaped blade. Likewise a heavier or more dense three piece razor (safety) might not shave as loudly as a lighter design or TTO.
All of that said, I have shaved with many different razors and blades and sometimes it sounds like I’m scraping burnt toast. I haven’t had any of my blades ‘ring’ or ‘sing’ but I understand some of the hollow ground straight razors are known to produce such a sound.
FarmerTan
Sr. Shave Member
Excellent explanation! Or is it only excellent because I agree with it?
Bogeyman
Shave Member
FarmerTan
Sr. Shave Member
@NurseDave , looks like the heavy lifting has been done for ya!
Come back Shane! I mean.... Come back Dave!
Come back Shane! I mean.... Come back Dave!
If you are sensing one blade is smoother than another, it is probably because you are sensing it is sharper. More so if you have tough wiry whiskers. The sharper blade will cut with less resistance making it feel smoother. So you are feeling that one blade is sharper than another.
Also Gillette "discovered" it was a good idea to put dull blades in between sharp blades in their cartridge razors making for a miserable shave for many, which led us back to the single blade.
That, and to save money.
If you’d like a razor that holds the blade very rigid and won’t break the bank look for a vintage Gillette Short Comb. If you’d like to try one if you haven’t already I can send mine out for you to take a few spins with it.
I am a night shaver as well and have a sensitive neck.
I use a Merker 34C, a personna blade (both USA and Russian made), then need a good soap with skin goodies. After that some witch hazel, AS, and then some balm.
I have also used Astra SP and Gillette Yellows with the same success.
And I have had to learn to use zero pressure on my lower neck or it gets really angry with me and displays a nice shade of pinkish red... And I don't chase the BBS even though I want to!
I also have a Gillette New short comb that I use if I have a couple of days growth. That is a wonderful razor.
Bogeyman
Shave Member
I have owned and used all the Gillette OC razors years ago and despise OC razors on the whole. I would make my grandma work double shifts in a Hong Kong brothel. before using another one.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Mr Boogyman and what razors suit your fancy? I’m curious.
mrdoug
"TSC's Shave Sales Deal Finder"
I'm with @Bogeyman on OC razors not being my cup of tea. Even the mild ones, like the Merkur 1904 (?) Just don't feel right to me.
If my grandmother's virtue were on the line, I'd probably reluctantly shave with one. But that could be among the few cavets. Lol.
On a side note, you'll be happy to know that comment nearly sent beer through my nose. Well done sir. [emoji106]
If my grandmother's virtue were on the line, I'd probably reluctantly shave with one. But that could be among the few cavets. Lol.
On a side note, you'll be happy to know that comment nearly sent beer through my nose. Well done sir. [emoji106]
View attachment 14995
Totally disagree.
Efficiency can be properly used as a term within the subject of traditional shaving, whether a technique, a brush, a razor, a blade, or what have you. Something that enables one to achieve desirable results with less expended effort/resources.
A razor is an important piece of the operation of shaving. The razor can hold the blade in a more efficient manner or a less efficient manner, in regard to angle, exposure, blade gap, etc, as you mention. So efficiency can be a trait assigned to a razor.
I don’t follow lawn mowing with the same enthusiasm as I do traditional shaving...so I can’t comment if there is or isn’t a lingo. Efficiency could also be properly in that area also however.
Definition of EFFICIENCY
the quality or degree of being efficient; efficient operation; effective operation as measured by a comparison of production with cost (as in energy, time, and money)… See the full definitionwww.merriam-webster.com
No need for multiple posts here gentlemen as GearNoir got it correct on post 3 ... game set match
when has that ever stopped anyone around here? lol