Hello all and Happy New Year!! Tried a new razor today. Udall 5/8”. when cleaning and honing, I noticed the blade was lighter than my Double Duck. Wondered if it would be easier to nick the skin. And it was. A few actually. Is this because it’s too light? Not allowing the weight of the blade to do the job? Anyone else notice this?
For my world.....lighter blades call for what I label as 'controlled/forced momentum'. Not unlike shaving with a DE shavette one day, then a quarter hollow heavier blade the next. The DE shavette I have to control, almost force it through a stroke to work (even with a brand spanking new blade). At the same time, control it not to nick me. A quarter hollow, shaving sharp, heavier blade just seems to need guidance through the exact same stroke.
I find that when I don't shave for more than several days a heavier-bladed razor seems to give more comfortable shave. If I shave every day a lighter blade does the trick. I've got several 4/8 blades that are good shavers on every day shaves, but I wouldn't consider them for heavier stubble.
If you have tree stump stubble like I seem to have, yeah, heavy stouter blade definitely makes the strokes less troublesome if the growth is 36+ hours. Shavette style tools almost feel like they've encountered one of those wooden power poles and 'dig in'. Deliberate shallow angle and momentum required for edge touch down.
