Thread: Sharpness of Straight vs DE & SE

As you mentioned, on the Feathers the PFTE / teflon coating helps, as does the second micro-bevel (which your pictures illustrate well).

I wonder, though, if there isn't something also to the thinness (or thickness) of the width of the sharpened object -- like the difference between a full hollow and a wedge. It isn't sharpness, per se, but the object's ability to cut, such that something thinner will cut something easier.

I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I've been pondering the edge difference between hollows and wedges.

cass

Originally Posted by Seraphim

One comparrison, by yours truly.

Post #26, and post #33 show the Feather edge and my honed edge.


What a DE blade has over a straight egde is a PFTE friction reducing coating that really helps give it "glide" over your skin. It is not any sharper IMHO.

I am always astounded by how smooth a Feather DE blades shaves.

I am coming to believe more and more from all the evidence being presented here and elsewhere that the differences between a straight and commercial blades in the area of keenness are nil. From everything I'm reading the so-called pulling etc with a straight is due to shaving technique and lather quality. The commercial blades compensate or avoid the possibility of pulling through the use of coatings. Any pulling is not so much a result of keenness or a lack thereof but of the blade catching the follicle - I believe. I could be wrong.

With edges keened on a Belgian only and good lather I get no pulling sensation which has always lead me to believe that people who do get it are doing something wrong. Some have even talked of getting a pulling sensation with a Feather shavette contraption. I just have to believe that's due to technique as I'm guessing even the open blades from Feather are coated.

Anyway, those are great pics and they say a lot. Those Feathers look absolutely jagged next to your blade and yet some people report them to be smoother than traditional straights. It's gotta be the coating. The pictures say it all.

Regards,
EL

I have never used a double edge (DE) but the other night, Don was talking straights vs DEs with a bunch of people and he said that you cannot get a straight to be as sharp as a DE. Fact or fiction?

Al raz.

Originally Posted by Alraz

I have never used a double edge (DE) but the other night, Don was talking straights vs DEs with a bunch of people and he said that you cannot get a straight to be as sharp as a DE. Fact or fiction?

Al raz.

Fiction.


You may not be able to get it as smooth feling on the skine, as per the mention of PTFE films. But it can certainly get as SHARP.

I hope mparker chimes in here as he read the Verhoven paper closer than I did. If my memory serves me right Professor Verhoven found that in terms of keenness as defined by edge thickness commercial blades and straights are virtually the same. The coatings put on commercial blades prevent them from grabbing the skin as much if at all. This suggest the possibility that greater pressure can be used which may account in some cases for perceived differences in keenness. I'm just speculating.

In general though I am of the opinion that you can get straights as keen as commercial blades. I've been of that opinion for a long time. Even the old Arthur Boon literature mentions that straights can be made sharper than a DE (if I recall correctly) using modern pastes and hones etc.

I also think that there will always be divergent opinions on this matter. Ce la vie.

Regards,
EL

Here's a pic I took of the Merkur DE blade. same 200x magnification.

I never liked how they felt on my face....

Originally Posted by JimR

I don't know, guys...I honestly think there is no physical way for a straight to be that much better than a DE. I mean, I have never gotten a good straight shave, but after a good DE shave I am BBS for an entire work day, and I am smooth enough for work for a solid 20 hours...I have a fairly coarse, fast growing beard, too. Before, when I was using an electric, my beard grew back in about 6 hours. Unless a straight will keep me hairless for days, it's just not conceivable for the shave to be greatly superior.

I'm not arguing that straights are inferior to DE, not at all, I just don't think that Straights are as superior to DEs as is often argued. Taking the reduced learning curve and reduced maintenance into account, you shouldn't discount DE shaving. I will never give up my Futur...no matter how good my straight shaves get.

Don't hate on them...they're an excellent option.

I used to feel as you do. That all the "fuss" about how long lasting a straight shave was compared to even a good DE shave was a bunch of hype/wishful thinking.

But after a while, the closeness of a straight shave really does significantly exceed that of a DE.

I also have a Futur. It is an awesome razor, especially when loaded with a Feather!





I haven't used it since July......

I'm kinda interested in an idea I just got. I remember reading a thread about possibly making ceramic straight blades, but that it would be a horrible idea because it would be TOO sharp, to the point where it would be hard to shave with and not cut into your skin.

So this makes me wonder if it really matters if DE is sharper, because that might not necessarily mean better results or less irritation.

Do any of you guys know if it would be possible to coat a straight in any way to make it glide like a DE blade?

Originally Posted by flyboy

Do any of you guys know if it would be possible to coat a straight in any way to make it glide like a DE blade?

This is where the skill of lathering comes into play. If you learn how to lather to make thick dense wet foam (but not pasty) then you don't need a coating. Besides you'd have to re-coat the blade after every touch up. That might be a pain.

Regards,
EL