Thread: Should I switch from the feather?

Joe,

Once again, I could not disagree with you more. Obviously this is your ongoing opinion, but I have found that although a Feather is sharp, it is a very unforgiving instrument, no matter how careful or experienced you get with it. I get a much nicer shave and experience with a real straight razor and my face is always smoother with the straight. The feather always leaves my face with a much more dry feeling.

There are many brands of absolutely great shavers out there. The few you mention are certainly among them.

Lynn

Originally Posted by adjustme69

Once again, I could not disagree with you more. Obviously this is your ongoing opinion, but I have found that although a Feather is sharp, it is a very unforgiving instrument, no matter how careful or experienced you get with it. I get a much nicer shave and experience with a real straight razor and my face is always smoother with the straight. The feather always leaves my face with a much more dry feeling.

There are many brands of absolutely great shavers out there. The few you mention are certainly among them.

I don't want to be misunderstood. I love my str8s and I shave with them more than anything else, but DEs are still in there and so is the Feather str8. And my collection is growing all the time.

Of course, what's the best shave is always subjective. And being a constant user of both, I'm just trying to give an objective comparison. Thanks in large part to you shaving with conventional str8s has become an important part of my life. But I think a guy contemplating going to str8 shaving just for the shave may be disappointed if he is currently a competent DE shaver. Since there's so much more to str8 shaving than just the shave, I think they need to understand the whole picture from their perspective.

From experience, I've found competent DE shavers to be bad prospects for str8 shaving if they're only interested in the shave. During a learning period, their str8 shaving skills are si inferior (as mine were) that the shaving experience becomes frustrating, and I'm not even discussing sharpening. So, the shave didn't motivate me to keep at it, but all the other great aspects that I mention did. This is the perspective I'm trying to bring to the poster. If I'm an example, he'll come over to str8 shaving, because of everything it has to offer and not IMO because of the expectation of a highly improve shave, which the experienced Feather shaver is not likely to get.

From what I've seen first hand, no razor sharpened by even the best honesman is as sharp as a laser cut Feather blade. For the experienced Feather user, that's what makes the shave great. There's a saying among them that when their blade becomes as sharp as a str8, they change the blade.and like a str8. It takes time to learn the touch so it's not unforgiving. Admittedly, some guys won't get there, just like some never make it with a str8 or a DE. It's an individual thing. For me, certainly, there's no contest between the two razor types, I'm devoted to both.

Joe,

As you indicated, it is an individual thing. And as you indicated, it is just your opinion. My opinion remains just as strong on the opposite end of yours. As you have been a DE shaver for 30 years and a Straight Shaver for around a year, I have shaved with Straights, DE's and almost everything other than a sea shell for 30+ years and find the Straight Razor as the closest, most comfortable shave out there.

Have fun.

Lynn

Man, I though you were talking to me for a minute there. I was feeling a bit sheepish.

Originally Posted by adjustme69

... almost everything other than a sea shell ...

Now that I'll have to try, just because Lynn hasn't. What do you guys think the best way to put a shaving edge on a sea shell is.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Now that I'll have to try, just because Lynn hasn't. What do you guys think the best way to put a shaving edge on a sea shell is.

X

You don't have to sharpen it, just use it like tweezers... Caesar style

Nenad

Let me know on the Sea Shell. Gonna use pastes........??? LOL!!! Have fun. Lynn