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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:D )
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
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshEarl
Yes you did. wow you found that fast...i wonder <putting your name on another thread*>
*Just kidding
I just saw "Feather" and thought I'd be able to contribute. :) Always looking to keep a newbie from skinning himself with one of these things. :D
Josh
Most guys here warned me about it, and I think they were right
The problem isn't the fear of the Feather, but the waste of $, and I am not talking about buying blades, but buying a REAL straight
I mean that if I had been buying the Feather, I will be soon after that be buying what I really WANT - a real straight
So
Why waste your $ on a Feather when you can get the real thing?
:D
Do most people just do one pass with the Feather?
And how does the Feather compare to the Dovo Shavette --as far as "skinning alive" factor is concerned? (I guess it depends on the blade)
Justin
I can do two passes plus some touch-ups, but that's after six months of practice with a traditional straight. I'd recommend doing one pass for a couple of weeks before trying for BBS.
I haven't tried a Shavette, but I think the Feather is less likely to nick because the blade's corners are nicely rounded. The Feather has a nice heft to it, which helps with control, while I've heard the Shavette is really light and cheap feeling. (With a name like "Shavette," what do you expect? :) A real, barbed-wire flossing, bear wrasslin' man would never shave with anything that ended in "ette." Right, Justin?)
Josh
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshEarl
Thanks for the info Josh --- AC Feather sounds a little light in the loafers too -- but I get your point. ;)
I think I've set myself up (by all this manly talk) to one day have my obituary read:
"He died from shaving with a chainsaw --- he was a good man, but "manliness became his anthem and ultimate demise." --- rest in pieces , you manly man.
But then again, the AC Feather costs a pretty good chunk of cash (I do dig them though) so limited funds kind of trumps manliness.
Justin
I usually do two passes and that gets me a bbs shave.
I think it is better get the "REAL" stuffQuote:
Originally Posted by jaegerhund
if you want straight, why settle down for less?
Get a nice start pack like Tony sells, it cost less and you sure to love it
I think of the Feather as more of a travel razor
Yeah -- personally I already have a straight razor and stuff --- but my eyes are always looking for other things to try out ---- it's all fun and good.Quote:
Originally Posted by EAD
Justin
Actually one of the problems with the feather is the blade is too sharp for the weight of the holder (or the holder is too heavy for the sharpness of the edge). The mass and sharpness means it doesn't follow your face like a straight does, it just cuts right through, and makes it prone to unexplained nicks and weepers and little razor-burned patches. It's like a 6/8 wedge with the keenness of a Wonderedge. If the holder were made of something like aluminum it would be much easier to use.Quote:
Originally Posted by jaegerhund
I get ya ---- but I was just pointing out that "AC Feather" doesn't sound anymore manly than "Shavette" -- just a follow up on Josh's friendly jab --- but appreciate the info.Quote:
Originally Posted by mparker762
Justin
That's why I nicknamed mine "Killer". "Killer" AC.Quote:
Originally Posted by jaegerhund
United we stand brotherman :tu.Quote:
Originally Posted by mparker762
Justin
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaegerhund
http://extremeshaving.com/ExtremePhotos/34.jpg
Brendon strikes again --- that's freaken hilarious :D. (A Stihl to boot)
Justin
Have you ever tried the Dovo Shavette? If you have, what are your thoughts?Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshEarl
Uhm, this thread is about 4 years old and all of the posters haven't been active for some time....Quote:
Originally Posted by salazch
Holy thread bumpage batman!
I can help you a little with your question because I am currently in a relationship with a Shavette, a sometimes stormy relationship, that may terminate at any point when I dump "her" and run off with a proper straight razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by salazch
That hasn't happened yet, however, because after eleven shaves I'm just starting to get fairly good ones with the Shavette. I wish it was heavier so I could let the razor do the work like I can with a DE. It certainly is an inexpensive entry into straight shaving. However, I think it is possible to find Vintage straights in any flea market and get them "shave ready" for $20.
I'm fairly happy with it, I suppose. You will cut yourself at first, even if you are an experienced DE shaver. My first few shaves were bloodbaths, but I didn't mind that too much. My family thought it was a scream! I'm looking forward to moving on to proper straight razors, but am postponing that transition until I can be sure I've got my chops and technique down with the Shavette first.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by mbleck636
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.
The Feather open razor is a good razor. I used mine today.Quote:
Originally Posted by mbleck636
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.
Thanks for the advise. I think I'm gonna take the plunge and get the Feather....well, as soon as I can afford it otherwise my wife will use it to make me into fish food. :tameshigiri:Quote:
Originally Posted by niftyshaving
Are there any other tamer blades that fit the Feather AC from another manufacturer? I have been too scared to try feather blades in my DE yet!
I figure that I'll just pretend that I'm learning how to use a straight razor all over again and take it really slow, just the cheeks WTG, just like a total noob for a couple weeks and clean up the reset of the shave with my DE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by salazch
The Artist club blades are only from Feather.
By all means try the feather blades in your DE!
If you hate feather in a DE the Artist club open blade
solutions will be a bigger risk. The DE world is
interesting. There is a large range of blades to try
so try a bunch.
I can say that tinkering with good and bad DE blades gave me
a whole new perspective on how to hone a straight edge.
And more importantly what I like to shave with....
Back to the AC feather... If you like it you will want
a 'real' steel blade.
I do recommend that you look at the classified.
A $90 or less shave ready blade from the classified or the AC
feather is about the same cost after a year if you
send your razor out to a honemaster as needed.
i.e.
I think a 20 pack of AC blades is about $20
and sending a razor to a honemaster is also
about $20... A 20 pack gives me about two
months of shaves and a well honed blade correctly
stropped will also serve for two or three months.
The advantage of the AC is that you do not need
to learn to strop or invest in a strop.
The advantage of a str8 is that once you master
honing and stropping you can get the edge you
like not the edge you get. That does take time,
rocks and practice...
I never regretted getting my AC feather but it
sits mostly idle at this point now that I have
a worthy rotation of steel.