Thread: Should I switch from the feather?

Well, I've been using a feather and dovo shavette for a while now, but I'm thinking of switching to a true straight razor. I've read many of the posts here and it seems to me the majority prefer true straights as opposed to the feathers. My main reason for choosing the feather in the first place was to save time, as I assumed all straight razors were the same, and why strop and hone if you don't have to? However, I am willing to put in the time necessary if I truly can get a better shave. That said, I have a two quick questions:

1. Why is a true straight shave better than a feather or shavette?

2. Is one brand of razor better than another, or is it more in the materials the razor is made out of?


Many thanks in advance for all the help.

Jordan

1) don't know.
2) really depends on your preference. It's a personal thing really. But Thiers Issard do have a good name.

We've just had a few new guys turn over from those disposable alternatives and hopefully they'll chime in with personal experiences for you. I went straight to straight (lol, ahhhh I slay me) but near as I can figure;

1. Straight razors have man made edges (psycho Burr King owners excluded) which are comfortable to the skin whereas Shavettes and Feathers have machine made edges which can be challenging as far as comfort goes. Also, the straight will last about 100,000 times as long. Not kidding. I think that's better.

2. There are better blades. Thwo things to watch for are Sheffield Steel or Solingen Steel. Those two towns have the highest quality steel bylaws to ensure quality. There are many considerations so it'd probably be easier if you told us what you were thinking about getting and we could tell you if you're off base.

X

I am by no means at all qualified to give any advice on using a razor and I won't do that. I did however just trade my feather to Joe, and I'll share my reasons.

I'm just learning how to use a straight and the feather is crazy sharp... sharper than a normal straight razor. I cut myself almost every single time I used it, sometimes all it took was just a microsecond of inattention and the very lightest touch of pressure and I was bleeding. Since switching to regular straights I've found them much more forgiving.

The feather is a little large. For those who prefer larger razors it's probably about right, but I have a fairly small face with a goatee and moustache and maneuvering a larger razor around my face when I don't know what I'm doing yet is... tricky. Add to that the fact that if you give yourself the merest brush you'll cut yourself again.

Shaving with the feather required a zen level of concentration that I just don't always have. When I did slip into that "zone" and managed to shave without any nicks or cuts the shave was remarkable, incredibly smooth. I found myself stroking my face constantly when I didn't realize it, while I was sitting at work I'd catch myself doing it. In experienced hands the feather gives a remarkable shave, but I'm far from experienced.

Finally, there's the whole ecological thing. One of the reasons I like the idea of straights and am willing to learn to use them is to avoid tossing more stuff into the landfill. The feather kind of defeated the purpose for me. I also like fiddly things that require a lot of attention to detail, so I'm keen (pun intended) to learn to properly care for my razors. I also know that I'm using old razors that have some history behind them and hopefully I'll pass that history along to the next guy down the line along with the razors when I go to the barbershop in the sky. It's nice knowing that these things will last a couple of generations.

That's my two cents worth anyway. Please don't take any of this as advice on the proper use of a feather, a normal straight or anything else. It's just my reasons behind why I traded mine.

-- Gary F.

Xman,

I was thinking of going with one of the cheaper Dovo's or Thiers Issard's, somewhere in the $60.00-$80.00 range.

Jordan

The Feather's learning curve is steep - probably steeper than the learning curve for honing...............well maybe not that steep!!

I've never used a feather so I can't comment on them other to say that basically your shaving with a big razor blade. That doesn't seem veery inviting to me.

As far as brands and types of straights go as X-man said any quality razor with silver steel or swedish steel made in Germany, England, U.S, Sweden, France and Spain will probably fill the bill. The lessor TI's are not the cats meow in razors but will give you a quality shave.

Originally Posted by jtd054

I was thinking of going with one of the cheaper Dovo's or Thiers Issard's, somewhere in the $60.00-$80.00 range.

Heya Jordan,

The TI's are Sheffield Steel whether it's described as Silver Steel (for the shine) or simply Sheffield. They import it from England because they believe it is the best carbon steel for the job. Maybe that's because of their lead hardening process. Maybe it's because it is.

The DOVO's are Solingen obviously, but for that money I'll make you an offer. I'm cleaning up a few vintage Dubl Duck razors right now. They're about 50 years old and probably a fraction better than what DOVO is putting out now. I can clean one up and get it to you shave ready for half that cost. PM me if you're interested. It's up to you, I'm just trying to help. There could still be a TI in your future. I hope there is in mine.

X

[QUOTE=jtd054]

1. Why is a true straight shave better than a feather or shavette?

It's not! And that's unqualified (for the Feather). I use both on an ongoing basis, so I'm not just telling you after a short test. I have used razors sharpened by our best honesmen, and none can come up to the level of sharpness of a Feather. For me, that's what makes a shave better. Some guys are not comfortable with that much sharpness, so for them the str8 is better. Plus, you're now not as good a candidate for a str8, because there's an adjustment period befor you start getting good shaves. So, you'll be frustrated because of all your efforet to learn razor and sharpening, while your shave quality will be inferior.

So, don't switch for the shave. Better reasons would be to do it to get the connection to the past, to collect razors, or to make razor restoration a hobby.

2. Is one brand of razor better than another, or is it more in the materials the razor is made out of?

I find that to be the case. Brands like TI, Filarmonica, Dorko and Puma just seem to be better.

I'm going the opposite direction...I have a bunch of straights, and feel very comfortable with the razors themselves, and my ability to hone them to where they shave comfortably. I traded for a Feather yesterday, just because I want to try one. They seem to be the cat's meow as far as replaceable bladed straights go, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. If it's as good as I hope, I'll still use "regular" straights, but the Feather will have its place, too. I enjoy the honing, restoration, and just plain fiddling around with regular straights. I can't see that changing. They are the most perfect tool ever designed for a single use, IMO. Monsieur Lerch is right, though, switch for the history or nostalgia, because those throwaway blades for the Feather are probably optimum. Think about this, though: one day, for whatever reason (economics, war, whatever) you may not be able to buy blades for the Feather. You can always sharpen a straight.