New Razor Purchase Advise

[Obiwan]

Hello,
I'd like to make a purchase and looking for advise/opinions. First let me say that I'm new to straight shaving (a couple of weeks with moderate/acceptable results with a vintage razor bought here on the BST). I've already been bitten by the bug of acquiring additional razors. While I'm likely to buy many vintage razors in the future, I'd like to purchase a new production first. I've been trying to decide between the Dovo Special - Imitation Tortoise 5/8 and the Prima Klang 5/8 (both are on sale right now). While atheistically I like both very much, I'm concerned that if I pick the Prima Klang I may have issues based on the fact that it is an extra full hollow ground.

My question is:
As a newbie, am I better off getting the stiffer blade?

The difference in price isn't a huge concern at this point, I just don’t want to pick something not well suited for my lack of experience. In the same token, if the learning curve isn't that steep between the two types, I don’t want to kick myself a few months from now not for spending a bit more.

Any thoughts anyone may have would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Oglethorpe]

Obiwan-

Speaking from experience, I don't think you'll have any issues with a full-hollow blade versus a quarter or half hollow. I started with, and almost exclusively use, full hollow blades. The shave is a little more effortless, provided you work on your technique, and you get a lot more feedback from the full-hollow (i.e. you can hear it working).

Quarter/half hollows are more quiet on the strop and during the shave, but many guys swear by them. Maybe somebody from the other side of the fence will chime in with the pros for going the "stiff" blade route.

Either way, you should try both at some point to figure out what you like.

Cheers,

Ogie

 

[TChewy]

I got a full hollow W&B a while back on BST as my first straight and have not looked back. I like the noise it makes so I know when it's cutting and not cutting any hairs. Seems to work fine for me and I have a pretty thick, stiff, beard. Good luck in your hunt.

 

[Obiwan]

Thanks for the responses. I’m currently using a full hollow ground blade. I guess my question might be better phrased as: Is there a big difference between “Full Hollow Ground” blade and one that is “Extra Full Hollow Ground.”

If possible, I’d love to solicit feedback from someone who owned/used a Dovo Prima Klang with little prior straight shaving experience.

Thanks again!

 

[Drubbing]

FWIW, I'm not straight expert, but to be honest, as a newb to this too, full or half hollow is going to be the least of your concerns IMO.

I got the Dovo Special in 6/8 after a false start with a vintage blade that I simply couldn't shave with - even after a professional hone. The Dovo is easily superior, but learning to wield a straight at all is a far greater challenge - the degree of sharpness/stiffness means nought as a newb, it's hard enough to find and maintain that optimum angle, regardless of grind, I would have thought.

Your question may fall more into the realm of preference, only revealed as significant with a degree of experience, and a little expertise.

 

[TChewy]

FWIW, I'm not straight expert, but to be honest, as a newb to this too, full or half hollow is going to be the least of your concerns IMO.

I got the Dovo Special in 6/8 after a false start with a vintage blade that I simply couldn't shave with - even after a professional hone. The Dovo is easily superior, but learning to wield a straight at all is a far greater challenge - the degree of sharpness/stiffness means nought as a newb, it's hard enough to find and maintain that optimum angle, regardless of grind, I would have thought.

Your question may fall more into the realm of preference, only revealed as significant with a degree of experience, and a little expertise.

+1. I have to agree with this. For us newbs, I don't think we'd even really be able to tell the differences. My only razor is a full hollow W&B and the thing I do like about it is it holds a lot of lather before I have to wash it off.

 

[bonusmarple]

The extra hollow blade will have a bit more flex than the standard hollow. I do not own a PK, but I do own a 5/8 special and it is a good razor.

 

[Oglethorpe]

...the degree of sharpness/stiffness means nought as a newb, it's hard enough to find and maintain that optimum angle, regardless of grind, I would have thought.

Your question may fall more into the realm of preference, only revealed as significant with a degree of experience, and a little expertise.

While grind is definitely a matter of preference, I don't think you can disregard it altogether when picking out a razor. If you're new, I'd suggest picking up a full hollow (which the OP already has) and a quarter hollow. 95% of us who've been bit by the SR "bug" buy several razors anyway, so you might as well cast a wide net to see what you like. If you don't like something, you have the BST.

+1. I have to agree with this. For us newbs, I don't think we'd even really be able to tell the differences. My only razor is a full hollow W&B and the thing I do like about it is it holds a lot of lather before I have to wash it off.

Even as a newb, you'll definitely be able to tell the difference between a full hollow and a quarter hollow, both on the strop and on your face. And I'm not disagreeing with your lather comment, but "lather holding" is typically attributed to blade width versus grind (i.e. 8/8 versus 5/8, not full versus quarter hollow).

Thanks for the responses. I’m currently using a full hollow ground blade. I guess my question might be better phrased as: Is there a big difference between “Full Hollow Ground” blade and one that is “Extra Full Hollow Ground.”

For proper citation, this image is taken from the straight razor place wiki under "The Straight Razor". You'll notice that there's not much difference between an extra full and a full hollow. Just a little bit more grinding.

Hope this helps. I've never owned/shaved with a Prima Klang, but I have used all the grinds and the above are my experiences.

Enjoy!

 

[Drubbing]

My unusable vintage was a full hollow 5/8, and my Dovo 6/8 is also hollow, but I've no idea how much more or less than the vintage. But it looks very much the same going on the graphic you posted.

I find the extra size and weight far more of a difference anyway.

These things are all academic til you try something for yourself. For example, I heard all sorts of things about a Land Rover I was lusting after a few years ago, and was sure it was just was I was looking for. I boosted my confirmation bias by reading everything I could about the specs, power, layout and options, as well as masses of user and trade reviews.

Then I actually got to drive it, and try as I might to justify my raging, out of control bias, I couldn't. It felt like a bus to drive, was noisy, and even with a good idea of where everything was on the dash from my research, my hands couldn't fall to them easily.

So experiences like that have taught me to place little stock in specs and numbers.

 

[Obiwan]

Thank you all very much for your detailed comments. It was quite helpful in my purchase decision.