Thread: Help with a Feather "No-Sharpen" Straight Razor

My parents gave me a Feather razor for Easter, I've contacted classicshaving.com and they've given me instructions on how to use it. They were very helpful and made it sound easy, but the razor looks intimidating. Has anyone dealt with them or used a feather?

Yes, quite a few of us have them. All open-blade razors look intimidating, but it helps to remember that men were shaving with them for thousands of years before the safety razor was invented; if they could master the open razor then so can you.

What specific questions do you have?

If this is your first time using a straight razor I would recomend going slowly... the speed comes with time.

I learnt using the Feather AC so it can be done! (and I have the manual dexterity of a diseased sloth )

What blades are you using in the feather?

Regards
Tristan

Just make sure you use no pressure. It should just glide over your skin and wipe the hair off your face. Mind the blade angle (about 30 degrees) and go slowly.

Joshearl just started is shaving with a feather in recent days. you might want to get in contact with him and maybe go into flashchat so you can IM your questions and stuff...just a thought. I've found Josh to be friendly and helpful.


hope that helps

Did I hear my name?

I'm available to answer your questions, either via PM or here on the forum.

I really like my Feather, as it's helped me get through some problems I've been struggling with for a long time.

Most of the same rules that apply to traditional straights also apply to the Feather. Of course, there's no honing or stropping to worry about.

The no pressure thing is absolutely true, though. The blade is a bit heavier than a typical straight, so you almost need to hold its weight off your skin. One thing that helped me was imagining that I was tickling my face with a feather.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll probably want to use shallower angles, i.e., keep the spine of the blade closer to your face. With a regular straight, a good guideline is to keep the blade angled two spine widths from your face. With the Feather, you should probably start off with the blade almost flat against your face and work from there. Too steep of an angle and it'll give you a nice case of razor burn in a hurry.

Let us know what specific questions you have.

Good luck,
Josh

Originally Posted by mbleck636

My parents gave me a Feather razor for Easter, I've contacted classicshaving.com and they've given me instructions on how to use it. They were very helpful and made it sound easy, but the razor looks intimidating. Has anyone dealt with them or used a feather?

I cut myself nearly every day with the feather for two years. The cuts were actually more iike weepers. In fairness, it was my first straight-type razor. I believe my grip on it was unbalanced, my pressure eccessive. Be that as may be, when I shifted to a DOVO straight (full hollow) a couple of months ago, my weepers have gone away. However, I've recently begun to cut myself a little. I'll have to re-examine my grip.

just wanted to mention that with my artist club.. i find that using just my index and thumb to hold the razor really helps with my light touch.. my middle finger stays on the tang to help with control and my ring and pinky just float.. i'm classy like that..

also.. corking the blades helps quite a bit.

Originally Posted by mbleck636

My parents gave me a Feather razor for Easter, I've contacted classicshaving.com and they've given me instructions on how to use it. They were very helpful and made it sound easy, but the razor looks intimidating. Has anyone dealt with them or used a feather?

The Feather open razor is a good razor. I used mine today.

Feather blades come in three styles (four if you add the guarded ones).
One or all may be to your liking the small changes in size
and edge exposure make them feel different.

They are as sharp as can be. Almost too sharp on the first day.
The second, third, fourth....your shave will get smoother then the
blade will get dull and be unpleasant like any dull blade.

Like any open blade razor use a very light touch with no sideways
slicing motion. Use short 1/4inch strokes to start.
If you imagine that you are wiping the lather <--(more on lather below)
from your face with a touch that is light as a feather you are on the
right track.

Learning to shave the entire face takes time and practice.
You can continue to use another blade to shave the difficult
bits... eventually you will not need to switch. If you are
switching from electric I recommend yellow handle BiC
tossables for the hard bits while learning.


Time for my LATHERING promo. Any bladed razor profits
from a good latherin. A brush and a decent shave
soap is so very important. Take a full three min preparing
your skin, whiskers and the lather. If the lather drys
pick up the brush drip some water on it and revisit your
face. If you are new to "latherin" take an inexpensive
puck of shave soap and play... too much soap, too little,
hot, cold splash drip. i.e. make both good and bad
lather so you can feel the difference.

It can help if you tell us what you shave with now....

As always have fun....

I haven't used my str8's for a while; no honing experience and cant afford the honing gear, and cant afford to send them in for honing. i'd love to try the feather AC, but again the cost. The blades seem more expensive than DE blades too.
I used a cheap barber's disposable str8 when i started and it was scary, way harsher than my dovo. I'm terrified to put the feather to my face, especially ATG like my dovo.