Does a blade make that much of a difference?

[Joe Edson]

So today I had straight shave #3. The first two days I was using my henckels 4/8 and on day 2 the square point kind of got me twice. So today I pulled out my Wostenholm Peerless 5/8 with a rounded tip to avoid any slicing and dicing.

I immediately noticed a difference in just the overall feel of the blade. I was kind of struggling with the Henckels and it was not so smooth. The wostenholm just ran over my face so smooth. It was night and day. I had a DFS, with just my chin still providing a struggle. In fact my cheeks are BBS. I'm really, really stoked about this.

My question though is: Does the blade make THIS much of a difference (Sheffield vs. Solingen steel)? Could it be just getter better technique? Could the wostenholm just be sharper? They were both honed by the same person at the same time so I'm inclined to think it might just be the steel.

Whatever it is, I am now more than intrigued to try my other 2 razors that I got honed at the same time. However, I think I'm going to give the Wostenholm some more loving as I never enjoyed a shave more.

Also gives me more reason to feed my SRAD as if I already didn't have it. BTW, I'm pretty sure both blades are roughly 1/4 hollow so I don't think the grind had anything to do with it. Could it just be blade width?

Anyway, I'm loving my straight journey so far!

 

[wrl]

All of those factors and more play a role. At just three shaves, it could even be the leaps and bounds in your technique's progress from day to day. Keep at it; you'll narrow it down with experience.

 

[W_B_K]

Those are both very fine steels; the steel itself is not making a difference in your shave. 4/8 can be a little more tricky for a beginner to find the right angle. On top of that you are trying not to nick yourself with the point. Stick with the round 5/8 for now and once your technique improves check out that 4/8 again... I think you'll find that it is a fine shaver. .

 

[Slash McCoy]

Beginners generally do better with the round tip. But the Wosties are very nice, that's a fact. They do seem to take a supernaturally fine edge, and they respond well to a good stropping, in my experience. Round or spike, the Henckels are quite good, too, but I do put the Wostenholms generally over the Henkies. The biggest factor, though, is your skill level improving. The first shave you were glad to merely survive. The second one gave you more to think about. The third one is where maybe it all sort of came together for you, and with no spike point to be 'noid about.

 

[Joe Edson]

Thanks for all the opinions guys! I think not worrying about the spike point was a big deal. Didn't worry too much about it the first shave as it didn't affect anything and I was taking it nice and slow. The second shave it bit me twice and I decided to try out the Wosty round point. On the third shave I went nice and slow and didn't have to worry about the spike, so maybe that combined with my technique slowly improving did it. I think I'll stick with the wostenholm for awhile and revisit the Henckels in the future.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

I started with a spike, now I'm up to two razors and they both have spikes. I am drawn to them because of their asthetics, but also as a new straight shaver I get immediate feedback in the form of a cut if my techNique is not 'on point'. I also dig on the spikes for their uncanny ability to seek out and destroy select hairs, for instance the ones that grow right under my nose that would be otherwise difficult to eradicate. That said I have never tried a different style of tip, so I am probably not qualified to voice my opinion on the matter of points anyway!

 

[gugi]

usually henckels are full hollow ground.