Is a "head heavy" razor ok with you...or a complete turn off?

[Den]

I was just curious what most thought about this when buying a new or vintage razor? Personally, it's never been a concern. As long as the materials used were of quality it didn't make any difference to me. I sometimes use a plastic WWII issued Tech handle with various heads which automatically makes any razor head heavy. If I ever tried a razor that was so unbalanced that it forced me to change my grip, then I'd be concerned.

So, is it an important feature to most?

 

[Sami_Sdata]

The heavy headed razors seem to work best for me. Gem 1912 for SE and the Fatboy for DE. Those are my favorites. I think it's because the weight helps give a nice light pressure to shave. A light razor leaves the pressure up to me and all the variation I add to the mix.

 

[cooncatbob]

For me it's more about girth then actually weight.
I don't like razors with the skinny 3/8ths handles, 7/16ths and up feels better in my hand.
That being said I don't like really heavy handles even though I'm asked to make them for client.

 

[pz93c]

I have to agree, Bob.

I can use the skinnier handles, but they feel so..... fragile.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

head heavy is generally preferable, though the razor needs to be wieldable.

 

[cooncatbob]

it deppends on my feeling, i like medium wieght like supers

+1, My long handle Super Adjustable is one of my favorite razors.

 

[talibeard]

A (little) head-heavy combined with a moderate total weight makes the perfect balance for me. More factors are important as well; blade curvature and the amount of exposure of the blade, to name a few. But a handle-heavy razor is a complete turn off for me.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Double-Edged_Safety_Razors_Ranked_by_Weight

I recently bought a digital scale and have been adding to the list above. My Commie Razors came in today. They are identical but one weighs 1 gram more than the other for some reason; 64 g and 65 g. I guess it is metal quality or something. I am going to clean them up today and try one out tomorrow.

 

[Crixus]

I don't like razors with the skinny 3/8ths handles

I don't like really heavy handles even though I'm asked to make them for client.

That's what makes a horserace. I love the ball end tech with the skinny solid handle and I had to add over 1/2 oz. of #9 shot to my hollow fat handle tech to keep it in balance. It was inherently top heavy for my preference.

 

[KiltedShaver]

I prefer the heavier razors such as the Merkur HD, Slant, the Gillette Fat Boy, etc. It just feels better in my hand, and gravity does the job of shaving!

 

[Niles]

i prefer the heavier razors such as the merkur hd, slant, the gillette fat boy, etc. It just feels better in my hand, and gravity does the job of shaving!

+1.

 

[talibeard]

I prefer the heavier razors such as the Merkur HD, Slant, the Gillette Fat Boy, etc. It just feels better in my hand, and gravity does the job of shaving!

YMMV at its best; I don't like that type of razors at all. The inertia of the HD is putting me off; I can get a decent shave out of those but its characteristics are the opposite of what I seek in a razor. I want them agile and responding swiftly to my hand and not thundering down by gravity.

 

[Crixus]

I want them agile and responding swiftly to my hand and not thundering down by gravity.

But a top heavy razor doesn't seem to be agile to me. I know it's minor, but I find myself subconsciously "braking" with a reversal of my hand muscles to keep the whip action down when I change positions.

Obviously it's not "whipping around", but it is on a very minor scale. When I have at least 50% of the weight below my grip, the head stops where I stop.

 

[talibeard]

But a top heavy razor doesn't seem to be agile to me. I know it's minor, but I find myself subconsciously "braking" with a reversal of my hand muscles to keep the whip action down when I change positions.

Obviously it's not "whipping around", but it is on a very minor scale. When I have at least 50% of the weight below my grip, the head stops where I stop.

I guess everybodies hand is different. What I prefer is a light handle more than a super heavy head. For me the total weight of a razor should be moderate and most of that should be into the head. That way I find it easy to control in every direction. Though I like heavy heads, I don't like unbalanced razors so an HD head on an aluminium handle wouldn't work either.

But I do prefer the balance of a fat handled tech over a ball-end, a Merkur classic over an HD. In both cases the total weight of the razor is less and mostly so because the handle is lighter.

 

[SafetyRazorDave]

I don't really have a preference to be honest. I don't mind using a lighter razor like a Merkur 33c (classic) or a tech that both have a skinnier handle, but a fatter handle like the one on the Red Tip feels fine too. I've used a large and heavy razor like the Merkur 39c, it didn't really work for my face, but I had nothing against the weight of it! I don't have much experience trying a lot of different razors out, but I haven't really developed a bias either way. *shrug*

 

[Spencer]

I'm not very experienced, but I can safely say that I prefer my heavier headed Executive to my somewhat lighter SS.
I find that the heavier head really prevents me from applying any pressure when shaving whatsoever.

 

[buyandhold2018]

My go-to is a 100gr razor so I also like a heavy razor. I need both head weight and handle weight.

 

[El Judio Bravo]

I really like a heavier feel. But I can use any of the axes I have.

Longer handles are what I like. If my SS was an inch (2.45 cm) or so longer, I'd sleep with it under my pillow.

 

[c0ry]

Head heavy razors are very ugly feeling in the hand for me; however, I can still get a great shave with my, for example, short comb NEW with a bar handle.

 

[gearchow]

Head heavy razors are very ugly feeling in the hand for me; however, I can still get a great shave with my, for example, short comb NEW with a bar handle.

I have a NEW Deluxe with a fat bar handle and I agree, I get a great shave, but it feels a little tippy. On the other hand this week I've been using my Aristocrat Jr (flat bottom plate) and it's heavier, but the weight is distributed along the whole razor, 71grams according to the wikki. This is one of my top 10 razors.

-jim