Le Grelot and Heavy/Coarse Beards

Lucius · 07-31-2008, 02:56 PM

I'm considering picking up a Le Grelot in the next couple of weeks, a quarter hollow grind. Wondering if any of you with coarse beards have any experience with them and how well they perform. I've never had a 6/8. I've got a 5/8 dovo special and Wapis that shave *ok* but not great, and two 7/8s that I'm waiting to be have sharpened if the post office ever finds the package.

ProfessorChaos! · 07-31-2008, 03:00 PM

They shave with the best of them. I have a pretty heavy beard also and find 5/8s just okay. My Le Grelot quarter hollow took a wonderful edge and one of my best shavers, if not the best.

Bruce · 07-31-2008, 03:18 PM

How does one figure out if he has a coarse beard? What constitutes a coarse beard? Do we need to count the number of hairs per square unit and/or and couple that somehow with the diameter of the typical strand of hair? Do we use the hanging hair test? What if we've shaved off all our hair and have no hairs to hang?

These questions are, of course, somewhat tongue in cheek, but every time I see the statement, "I have a coarse beard", I wonder how does he know that and by what standards do the others of us shavers rate our stubble so we too can select the proper tonsorial tools for our own marvelous shaves.

Seraphim · 07-31-2008, 03:25 PM

If you can dul a razors edge on your chest hair, then you have a tough beard.

And the LeGrelot 1/4 grind is a fine razor to handle it.

Lucius · 07-31-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce

How does one figure out if he has a coarse beard? What constitutes a coarse beard? Do we need to count the number of hairs per square unit and/or and couple that somehow with the diameter of the typical strand of hair? Do we use the hanging hair test? What if we've shaved off all our hair and have no hairs to hang?

These questions are, of course, somewhat tongue in cheek, but every time I see the statement, "I have a coarse beard", I wonder how does he know that and by what standards do the others of us shavers rate our stubble so we too can select the proper tonsorial tools for our own marvelous shaves.

Ah Bruce, while you were being partially TIC, I've had the same thoughts. And while I'm relatively new to both straights and DEs (~6 months now), I'm pretty sure I have quite a coarse beard for a number of reasons I won't bother to go into. That, or my prep and technique are absolutely atrocious. But considering I can get a fabulous shave with minor to no irritation (more so with the straight than the DE actually), I'm guessing it's the former and not the latter.

Thanks for the responses guys.

loueedacat · 07-31-2008, 03:50 PM

I got the basic Le Grelot with plastic scales from rasurpur and it's great on my course beard, is smooth to shave with, and is easy as pie to hone. So I'd highly recommend it. I think they still have some of the plastic scaled ones at rasurpur, as well as some really nice high quality scale options. Martin is awesome to deal with.

Ockham · 07-31-2008, 04:37 PM

I've the great pleasure to own a Le Grelot 6/8 1/4 grind - also bought from Martin, who is a really nice guy to deal with - and I am really happy. It was my first straight and it get me hooked (I think I don't need to give more praise than that)...

Bruce · 07-31-2008, 05:05 PM

Lucius,

Tongue not in cheek and razor no longer in hand today, I can only say that I concur with the others' comments about the Le Grelots from Martin at rasurpur.de. I have a couple of them (bad, bad RAD) and they are my favorite razors. I have others I also like muchly and plenty, but the Le Grelots are the favorites.

good luck, good shaving,

Leon · 07-31-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce

but the Le Grelots are the favorites.

Don't say that!

I've been looking for a Le Grelot for sometime now, I got to get one.

Seraphim · 07-31-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Don't say that!

I've been looking for a Le Grelot for sometime now, I got to get one.

Then go buy one at Rasurpur before they are all gone!

Lucius · 07-31-2008, 06:13 PM

Well I'm certainly sold. My next razor will certainly be a Le Grelot. Thanks guys.

blade13 · 08-01-2008, 10:45 AM

I got mine a couple of months ago. Get it while they are around. You will not regret it.

randydance062449 · 08-01-2008, 02:31 PM

The Le Grelot is one fine razor and can handle any beard type.
One smooth shaving razor!

riooso · 08-01-2008, 04:48 PM

I have become minimalistic in that once I got a Le Grelot I now never seem to get around to shaving with another razor, for a couple of months now. I ended up buying another and that one shave the same way...awesome!

I am starting to take pictures to sell off most of the razors that I have that I acquired looking for that really great razor.

Later,
Richard

Lucius · 08-02-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riooso

I have become minimalistic in that once I got a Le Grelot I now never seem to get around to shaving with another razor, for a couple of months now. I ended up buying another and that one shave the same way...awesome!

I am starting to take pictures to sell off most of the razors that I have that I acquired looking for that really great razor.

Later,
Richard

Maybe I should start saving up for two then?

Bruce · 08-02-2008, 03:43 AM

Two is a good starting point ;^)

Garry · 08-02-2008, 01:28 PM

Just like the others .. I got mine from Martin and it's up there with some of my customs ... it's a fantastic shaver also excellent value for your money .

Garry

Kees · 08-02-2008, 09:58 PM

It is my best shaver at the moment. It is the only razor I have that gives me nick-free shaves.

thebigspendur · 08-02-2008, 10:29 PM

Personally, I find it amusing when guys fret over the fact they have so and so type of beard and think or are told they need to buy a certain size or a certain grind in order to get a great shave. If you like using a particular size or grind that's one thing but to think you need to buy a certain size or grind that's another. I don't care if you have a steel wool pad for a beard a properly honed 4/8s hollow grind will dispatch it.

Realize that if you went into a barbers shop in the 1940s (when barbers shaved people on a daily and continuous basis) and looked at their razors you would see 5/8s and 6/8s razors of the hollow grind variety. Maybe some of the old timers used wedges or part hollows because that's what they learned on but as those guys started retiring in the 40s and 50s seeing some meatchopper at a barber would be a rare occurrence. if you supposedly need a certain type razor to be matched with a certain beard type how did the old barbers do it? It should be impossible eh?

Ockham · 08-02-2008, 10:56 PM

I don't think thebigspendur's post was answering my post (I didn't say anything about beard and razor matching it), but I'd like to add a few comments:

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Personally, I find it amusing when guys fret over the fact they have so and so type of beard

I am happy you can have fun with other people questions or interest... nothing is better than a good laugh. I just wanted to say that people have indeed different type of beard: for instance, even with a BBS shave in the morning, I have my beard back in the evening-night and have to shave everyday; the whiskers are thick and dark black; my best man, for instance, can shave with a BBS shave and still look clean three days after (he only have to shave generally twice a week); so I think some people can have a coarser beard than other.

Quote:

and think or are told they need to buy a certain size or a certain grind in order to get a great shave. If you like using a particular size or grind that's one thing but to think you need to buy a certain size or grind that's another. I don't care if you have a steel wool pad for a beard a properly honed 4/8s hollow grind will dispatch it.

I keep reading the thread but cannot find a post where somebody says that only a 1/4 grind - or else - is necessary or required to shave a certain type of beard. What I can read is more like: I like more x or y, or I like the Le Grelot

Quote:

Realize that if you went into a barbers shop in the 1940s (when barbers shaved people on a daily and continuous basis) and looked at their razors you would see 5/8s and 6/8s razors of the hollow grind variety. Maybe some of the old timers used wedges or part hollows because that's what they learned on but as those guys started retiring in the 40s and 50s seeing some meatchopper at a barber would be a rare occurrence. if you supposedly need a certain type razor to be matched with a certain beard type how did the old barbers do it? It should be impossible eh?

True, and I may add that you could also be shaved by a barber with a 4/8 blade - as was doing one near my home. I think - like you - what we have here is - almost - only a matter of likes and dislikes... but, and I must add here only my 2 cents, that when I begun straight shaving, I felt more comfortable with a 1/4 grind than a full hollow ground because I felt less feedback from the blade with the 1/4 (the 1/4 seems to me stiffer) and was less scared to cut myself. So maybe I am a sissy, or a loony, but I think that anybody can recommend to somebody else what worked well for him, according on how he thinks his beard is, safe the personal preferences. I don't think there is much amusement here, maybe only the reason for such a forum to exist.