Sharpness: Shavette vs. Straight

Hey all,

I have a question regarding the sharpness of a shavette vs. a SR. I am fairly new to SR. I started the experience with an el-cheapo shavette type razor that uses Personna DE blades. Afterwards, I purchased a shave ready Dovo Best and started using that. Well, the time has come for me to send the Dovo out for honing (probably because I killed the edge with my newbie stropping skills). Since the Dovo is away at SR rehab, I've used the shavette again, and I have to say that I got one hell of a BBS shave- without nics and burn on WTG and XTG! I had been struggling with the SR on getting a good shave (nics, cuts, burn and stubble), noticing that I was seeming to having a hard time maintaining the edge.

Long story- long… would it be fair to say the sharpness and glide of a truly shave ready SR (assuming that a proper angle, pressure and prep are used), would be equal to that of a shavette, or, is the nature of the SR going to be different animal all together as far as sharpness goes? I'm just trying to figure out a baseline on what a truly shave ready blade should feel like. The shavette just seemed to effortlessly cut the beard without any hang ups or resistance, which is what I seemed to encounter with the SR.

Thanks!

Mbg,
First off, let me preface this by saying I've never used a shavette; my basis for comparison is a DE safety razor. What I come across is that, just speaking in terms of the sharpness -- the aggressiveness -- of the blades, they are plain different creatures. My straights are all sharp and shave very well; however, none of them is anywhere near as aggressive as a DE. Whether it's in a classic Gillete-style safety razor handle or in a shavette handle, really we're still talking about factory-made razor blades of incredibly thin metal that is super sharp when you get it and when it isn't you throw it out.
But with a straight, no matter how hollow the ground you're talking a much bigger piece of metal. And it's made to last. It stands to reason it would behave very differently.
My straights are paramount to this. My straight shaves require more care, the blades aren't "as sharp" (some say "aggressive"). But my straight gives more feedback as well; took a while for me to notice the difference between feedback and "tugging". But it's safe to say that your SR is always going to be different entirely from your shavette.
Of course, if anyone with direct shavette experience disagrees...well, they've got more experience, I can only compare to DE.
Tom

Having used a Parker Shavette for a couple of weeks, I found while they shave incredibly well, they are very harsh beasts, and also very unforgiving IMO. As DarthLord said however, they are completely different animals.

I used a basic Parker with the blade that comes with it, a Shark Blade I believe.

There are other shavettes, with a myriad of different blades to choose from to find the one that suits your particular type of shave best. The Feather shavettes are known as the top of the line, along with their blades as well, and many members here use them along with straights, or on their own and they enjoy them as much as others enjoy their straights or DE's.

It really just comes down to what your preference is, do you want the additional time required for stropping and honing that comes with a straight, or the experience of a straight shave without the add on...any way is the right way as long as it's what you like.

You may want to pop into the Shavette forum as well to read some of the feedback there.

Cheers!

Shavettes are very unforgiving a little pressure at the wrong angle its a bleeder. I feel that a shavette is usually sharper then a straight IMO. A properly honed and used straight is a great shave. Like everybody has stated it all about what you enjoy doing.

Thanks for the feedback guys! "Aggressive" is the perfect word for what I was trying to convey in terms of sharpness. I was curious if I could expect a similar aggressiveness when I get my SR back from honing. It sounds like a NO.

I used a shavette for a few months and still use it on occasion. With a fresh blade in the shavette I get very good, smooth shaves. The shave drops off after a couple. One thing to remember is generally the area being shaved by a DE blade is generally less than a Straight. Saying all of that; my freshly honed straights or freshly touched up and stropped up straights are as sharp or sharper than my Feather DE blade (when new), or as sharp as my Polisilver (when new).

mbg
I too started off with a shavette (dovo) and used a few different blades in it. I enjoyed the shave I got from it but as the others said it was very aggressive in feel. Its a good idea to get your straight honed by a pro so you can then get a feel for what a truly shave ready razor feels like because a properly honed straight, although maybe not as sharp, will be as close and definitely smoother shave than a shavette. The shavettes are also very light weight and the balance is terrible so they handle differently. Even if you have a perfectly honed razor poor technique will result in razor burn and nicks. Read every article in the SRP library as it covers everything you need to know.
Another thing to consider is cost because I can guarantee you you'll get addicted to using a straight and a full set of hones, various razors from all over the world etc, etc can soon add up (I hide my credit card bills from my wife!) as opposed to a coulple of quid spent on blades.

IMO a shavette is no comparison to a straight. I get so much satisfaction from learning every aspect of straight razor shaving its worth all the time and money spent on this "hobby."

Mark

While not exactly comparing Apples and Oranges, shavettes are a different creature. More like comparing Grapefruit and Oranges. Even with experience shavettes can bite on occasion.

I started with Straights, added DEs, because I like variety, then after about 18 months of using both interchangeably during the week. DEs are great for quick and dirty and can still yield a close shave. SRs do take extra care to provide a satisfactory shave, and I would absolutely never give up the enjoyment or an SR shave.

I love the BBS shave and when first getting in to traditional wet shaving was known to shave ‘til my face was on the verge of raw. With experience I got better. Now I rarely experience even a nick with SRs or DEs.

I thought, hey maybe a shavette would be that perfect middle ground. So I picked up an inexpensive shavette like you described so I could use my existing DE blades. First two days with it were great. I saw quickly how it could be aggressive so I paid attention and gave it the respect it deserved.

BAM!!! The third day I had a bite at the top or my right cheek over an inch long that I prayed would not turn out to be a scar. I just let my attention drift for a second and that was all it took. I seems that along with the best attributes of both it also has the worst attributes of both. There is a reason DEs have safety guard built in.

I would have to say that you can potentially get a traditional Straight about as sharp as a safety blade, but the safety blade is MUCH slimmer with ever so much flex because of this. There is an inherent living on the edge quality to a shavette. The Feather Shavettes and some of the others use a slightly heavier blade. This may be why the Feathers are coveted as a Shavette over the cheaper ones.

I have used my shavette once since then, but prefer a DE shave when I'm in a hurry and a traditional Straight Razor when I have the time. I actually relish the routine of maintaining my Straights. I feel with the quality steel and length of time they will serve me they deserve it.

I know that I am just stubborn enough that I will pick up the shavette again. Probably this weekend thanks to your post. Because I am stubborn and refuse to be bested by a piece of steel. I am MAN and will overcome!

... but I will still have that cold chill when I first lay the shavette blade to my face for at least the first week.

Thanks for your post. The shavette will be coming out of the drawer because of it.

You can't compare the two. A shavette blade is a disposable blade machine made and coated designed for the ultimate in sharpness with no compromises because it is disposable. Many folks want to compare the keenness of the two when it's only the shave itself that should be compared.

Interesting comments as I have chosen the Feather artist SS to practice with for the next few months whilst acquiring the equipment for honing, stropping etc for when I do make the transition to SR. (DE will be bought in the same time frame, just love variety)

Sounds like SR should be easier to master than a Shavette because it's more forgiving, i used a el cheapo Shavette for a while to see if I can use it... Couple of nick's most times but since I changed to the Feather it's a different ball game. Just seem more in control if that makes sense and the Feather pro blades are somethin else.

Still wanna go down the "MANly" route of taking time to learn the skills to maintain a SR.