Feather - probably not a great starter...

Howdy to all… I’ve recently decided to take the plunge from a safety razor (a Merkur Futur) to a straight rig. I figured since, based on all the research I had done, honing and stropping were the most time-consuming and difficult to master aspects of the straight razor experience, I’d try a Feather (one of the “Artist Club” series). I guess the idea of the precision interchangeable blade appealed to me from both a convenience and shave quality standpoint. Well, going on week # 3 with it, I’m sort of finding it to be very much as someone else in here described – “unforgiving”! :eek:

I mean, I haven’t taken an ear off or anything, in fact I’ve actually had relatively few minor nicks and cuts. It’s just that when you’re coming from the incident-free, relatively “boring” world of a safety razor shave, any amount of nicking, cutting or razor burn are kind of a drag… (Yeah, I know – quit whining and get to the point!) :) So here’s my point – while I feel like I’m getting the hang of the Feather, and there’s no question that it provides an amazingly close shave, I don’t really find my shaving experience as relaxing as it had been. I actually find myself kind of involuntarily tensing up a bit as I’m shaving now. Sort of defeats the purpose…

So my basic question is – if I were to try a traditional straight razor, and take the time to learn proper stropping (and eventually honing) technique, will it reduce the chance of minor cuts/irritation by virtue of its perhaps less than scary sharp blade? I find myself totally hooked on the closeness of shave that I get from the Feather, but I feel like – even if it’s mostly a psychological effect – using a blade maybe just a tad bit less sharp might help me get over the hump. Am I totally over-analyzing this or what?? ☺ My last question is – what’s a good “starter razor” for someone with an average beard, and probably slightly above average skin sensitivity? I’m looking at a couple Dovo set-ups on ClassicShaving.com. Is 5/8 a good size to start with (I have a goatee to trim around)?

Thanks for already being a great resource for this newbie!

It should. I tried the feather and gave up on it as well; I know what you mean about tensing up with the feather. If you hone your own, you can control the sharpness of your edges. With my straights, shaving feels more like wiping the lather off with a squeegee, it's a world of difference from the feather.

Took me awhile to get there, though.

I find that most people know the answer to all their questions in themselves. I think any properly honed razor will provide a good shave for sensitive skin. I suggest starting with a pre-honed razor, honed by someone who knows what he is doing. I personally don't think the Feather is the razor for you (and its not for me either) but I'll tell you now that a few will tell you to stick with it. You can sell it sometime in the future as three weeks isn't much time with the edge.

If you do get a razor from Classic (and any razor will be nice) just send it through the honing service.

Unforgiving is a good term. Once we get it through a few hard heads that there IS such a thing as too sharp, we will all enjoy shaving more.

Thanks - that's a great reply. It's always good to know that there are others who have been down the same path. And I certainly appreciate and realize that it will take time to develop my technique and become proficient in the maintenance and use of a straight razor. I actually just ordered a whole set from a guy on eBay (razor, paddle strop, brush, mug, soap, styptic...) - most of which I already have, but the razor looked like a much better starter. It's a 5/8 Dovo round point carbon steel (he hones it before shipping...). I think in time, once my technique is more consistent, maybe I'll be able to dust off the Feather and give it another go. But for now, I like the sound of your approach better. thx again...

If you bought from Heirphoto then you have a very good setup. He is a member here and his name is Tony Miller.

The next thing you should purchase is the new DVD made by the founder of this group, Lynn Abrams. Go to the Buy/Sell/Trade forum and get the ordering info from there.
It is, quite simply, the best video available on shaving with a straight razor. It will answer 95% of your questions.

Wecome to the group!:)

Randy - thanks for another great reply. (And to get sage advice from another 'Randy' - that's just a bonus!) Yes, it is Heirphoto from whom I purchased the set. I read his write-up on the package on eBay and checked out his site and knew right away it was totally legit. When I read the reference to SRP, I purchased with confidence. (Tony - if you're reading this - very well done on your eBay item description!) :tu I'm really looking forward to my first shave with the Dovo. I have a feeling, with my skin type and still admittedly "JV" technique, it’s going to work out better for me. And I am going to purchase Lynn’s video as well. I’ve been voraciously consuming as much “research” material as I can to make for a good switchover. I also downloaded and read the great guide by Christopher Moss. I’ve also seen references to another video made by a master barber that details straight razor shaving technique – is that worth a perusal as well?

Was watching lynn's video last night. *very* well done; I wish it had been available when I started, though my RAD would have been even worse if that's possible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mparker762

Was watching lynn's video last night. *very* well done; I wish it had been available when I started, though my RAD would have been even worse if that's possible.

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"RAD"...? "Razor Aquisition Disease"...? :) I'm only 3 weeks into it and I think I'm developing some symptoms of that already...!

Straight and DE shaving both have a whole slew of "Acquisition Disorder's".
RAD - Razor, SSAD - Shaving Soap, SCAD - Shaving Cream, SBAD - Shaving Brush, HAD - Hone (straight only), RBAD - Razor Blade (DE only).

Of these, SBAD is probably the most expensive one, though RAD and HAD can come close for straight shavers. There are only a few DE razors that get up there with straights (Gillette 195's and toggles are about it I think).

I have extremely sensitive skin. In fact I have skin condition for which I use medication every day. I've been a DE shaver for nearly 50 years, but I shave mostly with str8s now. I do have a Feather AC and a few DEs (including a Futur) in my rotation.

"More forgiving" is a matter of attitude. Long time str8 shavers have a problem with Feathers and DEs because they don't have the more delicate technique required for a DE. You do.

So, I think it's great tha you're getting into str8 shaving. It offers a complete experience that no other razor can. But don't give up on the Feather. You may actually be a sharpness freak once you get comfortable with it , and you can'r beat its sharpness.

Also, for an incredible shaving experience put a Feather blade in that Futur. Start off with a low exposure until you get the feel of it. Use beard reduction, removing a little at a time (don't try to take everything at once) until you're left with a fine stubble for the last pass. This is the only pass you should cut to skin. And for this pass you should lighten your touch even more than you ever have before. It may take a while before you can work at a high enough exposure, but you'll be amazed at the shave. I'll put it up against anything. In any case it's a nice transition in your rotation.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

"More forgiving" is a matter of attitude. Long time str8 shavers have a problem with Feathers and DEs because they don't have the more delicate technique required for a DE.

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And lots of guys that do have the "delicate technique" for DE use have problems with the feather. Depending on your face and beard, it may not be worth the blood, time and tears to master the feather in exchange for a slightly longer-lasting shave, especially if your beard grows fast enough that you're gonna have to shave the next day anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mparker762

And lots of guys that do have the "delicate technique" for DE use have problems with the feather. Depending on your face and beard, it may not be worth the blood, time and tears to master the feather in exchange for a slightly longer-lasting shave, especially if your beard grows fast enough that you're gonna have to shave the next day anyway.

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The most enthusiastic responses I've seen to Feathers have come from long time veterans.

From your posts I've learned that you have a heavy beard and even a really sharp str8 doesn't work well for you. You could be good candidate for a Feather AC with a super pro blade, but that's about it. I wouldn't recommend a DE for a guy like you and definitely not a Feather blade, because the blades are so thin and tend to flex with a heavy beard. That's been know to cause irritation issues. I wouldn't consider your experience as typical by any means. A large (6/8+) str8 is the best razor for you.

Your experience is hardly typical, and I would caution newbies not to be discouraged by it. It's always worth trying something new.

Let me add that you'd want a substantial grind for that large blade. For heavy stubble I'd go with a 6/8+ wedge. A delicate grind would also have lots of flex.

Well, it’s seems I’ve touched off a bit of a philosophical debate here… That certainly wasn’t my intention, although I appreciate the great viewpoints and opinions of everyone putting in their 2c worth. That’s what’s so great about these forums – you get educated, informed opinions and experiences, expressed in a constructive manner. And a little healthy debate among friends is just that in my mind – healthy! Despite being new hereabouts, I already know I could easily sit down and shoot the sh_t for hours over a few beers with all you gents!

Anyway, in fairness to all opinions expressed or implied, I should point out that my original hypothesis – that a traditional str8 might be better suited to my skin type and experience level than a Feather – remains unproven. (Hopefully that will change within a couple days when I receive my new Dovo from Tony Miller!) :D There is no denying that the Feather provides an outstandingly close shave for me. I suspect I could also stick with it and get past the initial heebie-jeebies it gives me. And I have a feeling I’ll probably develop my technique with the Dovo (and perhaps other str8s), and maybe keep the Feather around as well. Because I also have a feeling that a traditional str8 probably won’t shave me quite as closely as the Feather. I’m OK with that, though. Gives me an excuse to shave more frequently… :)

I also must say that the more I read about the fine art of honing, stropping and generally maintaining a str8, the more intrigued I am about learning how to do it, and do it well. I have a steady hand, I’m reasonably patient, and the “artisan” quality of the process really appeals to me. (Translation – my next batch of noob questions will pertain to honing practices… And yes I've already ordered Lynn's DVD!) :)

Anyway, many thanks again to all who have contributed to this thread – it has been really helpful for me.

Entropy,
Enjoyed talking to you Sunday (in the chatroom). From what you've mentioned about yourself, I think we'll be seeing a lot of you around here. Be prepared for all of the associated acquisition disorders...straights, brushes, creams, soaps, hones, strops :gth ... it really never ends.

Anyway, take it easy and enjoy the process. Since taking up straight razor shaving, I look forward to getting out of bed in the morning, touching base with the gents here on the forum on a regular basis, and the relaxing repetitive process of honing all of my rescue razors...all the more enjoyable because I usually do this with a wee dram of scotch near by. :tu

Cheers,
Ed

Entropy,

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum
and the insanely addictive world of straight
razor shaving.


Terry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wvbias

Entropy,

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum
and the insanely addictive world of straight
razor shaving.


Terry

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Thanks much Terry! I've certainly been made to feel most welcome here, and for that I am in turn most appreciative.

And I can assure that I am also well on my way to developing a number of Acquisition Disorders already! :D

Cheers,
Randy

I'm not sure this has been mentioned already, and please forgive me if it has (I'm a bit tired and lazy tonight to read through the past 4 pages of replies...). One thing you have to realize with the Feather Razor is that the blade are VERY sharp. And that you might find that there is a LOT of razor burn after you use it....the reason beeing you are adding too much pressure when you shave and are removing a few layers of skin (aka, the burn). When I first tried one of these I was a little disappointed with the 'burn' but then held off on using it like a saftey razor, etc. Use minimal weight (just enough to bring down the razor), and you should have a baby smooth shave with little to no burn!.

The same applies to a 'regular' straight razor when you have a sharp edge....

Good Luck!

C utz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by C utz

I'm not sure this has been mentioned already, and please forgive me if it has (I'm a bit tired and lazy tonight to read through the past 4 pages of replies...). One thing you have to realize with the Feather Razor is that the blade are VERY sharp. And that you might find that there is a LOT of razor burn after you use it....the reason beeing you are adding too much pressure when you shave and are removing a few layers of skin (aka, the burn). When I first tried one of these I was a little disappointed with the 'burn' but then held off on using it like a saftey razor, etc. Use minimal weight (just enough to bring down the razor), and you should have a baby smooth shave with little to no burn!.

The same applies to a 'regular' straight razor when you have a sharp edge....

Good Luck!

C utz

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Hi Buddy! It might have been said before, but it sure is worth repeating. Some very experienced shavers have also had weepers when first trying Feathers. This is another sign of too much pressure.

If you've seen NO PRESSURE mentioned with respect to DEs, you need to multiply by 10 here. The Feather AC and DE blades require a new level of delicacy. Just remember that the first time you use it- just the weight of the razor will shave you so smoothly that you won't believe you've remove anything until you touch your face.

Also, and I suggest that you start by putting the blade flat against your face and raising the spine until you get cutting action. A flatter angle will avoid skin shaving as well.

I know everyone's situation is different and so please take this with as much salt as you want. I've been shaving with a feather for about six weeks now and when I return to a DE, I can not get as good of a shave as with the feather. So I am addicted to straight (feather) shaving. My problem has been not having enough pressure when I shave with the feather. The blade would glide along nicely until I hit a particuarlly tough patch of beard and then the blade would bounce causing nicks and burn. I have found that there has to be some pressure there to get the razor to work properly. So everytime I read about "no pressure," I wonder how much pressure in reality that means is applied to the blade as it is going through the shaving motion.

- Jeremy

The "no pressure" thing works better if you have a normal-to-light beard, those of us with heavy beards have to use some pressure. I found the feather to pull somewhat on my beard, and I also found that I had to use some pressure to get a good shave from it, though this causes other problems. I suspect that the blade mounting system which relies on simple spring pressure to hold the blade in place is probably not secure enough when the blade hits serious resistance which also leads to nicks and scrapes. The light weight of the feather also means there's not much momentum to help keep the razor from bogging down in the tough patches. Many of us here with tough beards lean towards heavier razors which seems to help with this.

I use more pressure with the straight than with the feather, and also use stiff razors to minimize blade flex, and get better results than I did with the feather. Some of the guys here love the feather though, different strokes for different folks and all that.

How much of a difference is there between a feather and a shavette?

Randy, I speed read through a lot of the posts between here and the start. Remembering your question about nicks and cuts with a straight came back in mind. I shave with mostly a straight razor and about once or twice a week with a DE. For some strange reason I nick or cut myself more with the DE than with the straight. It might be because I am in more of a hurry and think I can whiz through the shave process. Either way I still think the straight razor gives you the best shave.

Glen

hello joe,

i will have to respectfully disagree with you on this. i have tried most commercially available DE blades (personna, schick, wilkinson, merkur and feather) with my merkur HD and found that for my tough-as-nails beard the feather blades work the best. they give me the smoothest nick-free irritation-free shaves by virtue of gliding through the tough stubble with no flexing, skipping or stuttering. another advantage of the feather DE blades is that they last for 2 weeks instead of just 1 week for every other brand and style of blades.

thanks,
mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

...I wouldn't recommend a DE for a guy like you and definitely not a Feather blade, because the blades are so thin and tend to flex with a heavy beard. That's been know to cause irritation issues...

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Billy

How much of a difference is there between a feather and a shavette?

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I was wondering the same thing. I bought a feather AC in my mad RAD phase, but not a shavette.

I'm guessing a shavette with a feather DE blade comparable to a feather AC. The difference (I'm still guessing/infering) being a shavette is less balanced in the hand and has a shorter blade. They do have those longer DE type blades that go in shavettes. I'm unclear if the Feather company makes them, or if they can be boughten cheaply like DE Feathers can be boughten on cottonblossem.

If anyone has some comments to fill in the gaps or debunk anything I might have said, I'd like to hear it.

Hello mikey,

If you backtrack through this thread you'll discover that we're going around in circles here, but I would respectfully have to disagree with you. I've used many of the DE blades and have found the Feathers to be one of the worst options for my tough beard. The fine edge is too delicate and skips and chatters on my beard, dulling to uselessness after only 2-3 shaves, whereas the coarser edge on the american personna and merkurs is stronger and chugs through my beard much better, holding up for around 4 shaves. Not to be snarky about it, but if you get a week out of a DE blade then you've got a pretty average beard, that seems to be about the median over at B&B and SMF.

hello entropy (name???),

like i mentioned to you during last sunday's chat, it is not a rookie mistake to start with a feather AC. just like learning to ride a bike, it will take time and practice to get used to a feather AC. for me the learning curve was shorter when switching from a DE to the AC than when i switched from gillette cartridges to a DE.

as for the "scary sharp" feather blades, they do dull down the more shaves you rack up on them. feather blades lasted me 2 weeks. i would descibe the first shave on a blade as scary sharp (someone recommended running the blade through a cork to take the edge off). by the third or fourth shave, it is equivalent to using a feather DE blade. finally, by the second week and for the remainder of the blade's useful life, the shave is similar to a traditional straight razor.

with regards to whether a traditional straight razor will give you a better shave, less nicks or irritation, etc., only you can answer that by trying a traditional straight. stropping technique for me was easily learned. honing is a more difficult task that i have not endeavored yet. when i started with straight razor shaving, i chose the feather because the cost of the razor ($100) plus the cost of the blades ($14) was the cheapest way into the club. i liked it enough to try a traditional straight and have learned that with my tough beard i need a super sharp heavier blade. full hollow grind blades just dance on top of my stubble. ben posted photos of feather's japanese handled AC and it is just screaming at me right now <grin>.

as for blade size, if you do go the traditional straight razor route, for your average beard and goatee to trim around, 5/8 would be an excellent size to start with. my favorite dovo razor, if my beard would accept a full hollow blade, is the 5/8 ebony handled silver steel.

so maybe the answer is both a feather AND a traditional straight <grin>.

long-winded, yes, but hope this helps.

thanks,
mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by entropy

Howdy to all… I’ve recently decided to take the plunge from a safety razor (a Merkur Futur) to a straight rig. I figured since, based on all the research I had done, honing and stropping were the most time-consuming and difficult to master aspects of the straight razor experience, I’d try a Feather (one of the “Artist Club” series). I guess the idea of the precision interchangeable blade appealed to me from both a convenience and shave quality standpoint. Well, going on week # 3 with it, I’m sort of finding it to be very much as someone else in here described – “unforgiving”! :eek:

I mean, I haven’t taken an ear off or anything, in fact I’ve actually had relatively few minor nicks and cuts. It’s just that when you’re coming from the incident-free, relatively “boring” world of a safety razor shave, any amount of nicking, cutting or razor burn are kind of a drag… (Yeah, I know – quit whining and get to the point!) :) So here’s my point – while I feel like I’m getting the hang of the Feather, and there’s no question that it provides an amazingly close shave, I don’t really find my shaving experience as relaxing as it had been. I actually find myself kind of involuntarily tensing up a bit as I’m shaving now. Sort of defeats the purpose…

So my basic question is – if I were to try a traditional straight razor, and take the time to learn proper stropping (and eventually honing) technique, will it reduce the chance of minor cuts/irritation by virtue of its perhaps less than scary sharp blade? I find myself totally hooked on the closeness of shave that I get from the Feather, but I feel like – even if it’s mostly a psychological effect – using a blade maybe just a tad bit less sharp might help me get over the hump. Am I totally over-analyzing this or what?? ? My last question is – what’s a good “starter razor” for someone with an average beard, and probably slightly above average skin sensitivity? I’m looking at a couple Dovo set-ups on ClassicShaving.com. Is 5/8 a good size to start with (I have a goatee to trim around)?

Thanks for already being a great resource for this newbie!

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hello mparker,

wow, you're right, this thread has been going in circles. for me, the feathers are great, the merkurs nick me way to much and the american personnas are way too rough. only the wilkinson's come close to the feather in terms of shave quality but not even in the ballpark.

no offense taken, but i DO NOT have an average beard. any DE blade, schick injector and gillette cartridge lasts me only one week with the exception of the feathers. i have heard that some guys are able to use a gillette cartridge for 4 to 6 weeks <OUCH>.

the again remember "to each, his own", "different strokes for different folks", "your mileage may vary", yadda, yadda yadda...

thanks,
mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mparker762

Hello mikey,

If you backtrack through this thread you'll discover that we're going around in circles here, but I would respectfully have to disagree with you. I've used many of the DE blades and have found the Feathers to be one of the worst options for my tough beard. The fine edge is too delicate and skips and chatters on my beard, dulling to uselessness after only 2-3 shaves, whereas the coarser edge on the american personna and merkurs is stronger and chugs through my beard much better, holding up for around 4 shaves. Not to be snarky about it, but if you get a week out of a DE blade then you've got a pretty average beard, that seems to be about the median over at B&B and SMF.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikey

hello mparker,

wow, you're right, this thread has been going in circles. for me, the feathers are great, the merkurs nick me way to much and the american personnas are way too rough. only the wilkinson's come close to the feather in terms of shave quality but not even in the ballpark.

no offense taken, but i DO NOT have an average beard. any DE blade, schick injector and gillette cartridge lasts me only one week with the exception of the feathers. i have heard that some guys are able to use a gillette cartridge for 4 to 6 weeks <OUCH>.

the again remember "to each, his own", "different strokes for different folks", "your mileage may vary", yadda, yadda yadda...

thanks,
mike

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Mparker and I have had many discussions on different boards, and I have to say I'm still not sure why he seems to have such an anamolous situation. A heavy, tough beard doesn't account for it. Also, keep in mind that the Feather supers last the average guy 10-14 days without stropping! It's no ordinary, just sharp blade. When I looked at it under a microscope the edge looked like a microscopic carbide tipped blade. There's something on there besides steel. So, I'm kind of puzzled that an ordinary steel blade would outlast it for Mparker while others can use it for two weeks without even stropping, but do have to strop a steel blade daily and touch it up regularly. Something is at work here that hasn't been accounted for.

I don't think a Personna blade outlasts a Feather DE for anyone else. To me the Feathers feel thinner and more flexible. Others say ther're the same thickness. But even the increased flexibility could cause them to vibrate against a heavy beard. That usually presents a comfort issue, not a cutting issue. If we were talking about str8s, the sharper edge would be less durable, but the Feathers vae some kind of edge treatment which changes the equation and is known to make the edge more durable.

Whatever the reason, Mparker's experiences don't seem to correspond to what's typical or what most of us could expect.

One week on a DE blade is average. A cartridge that lasts a month is an urban legend. we also need to know how often the person shaved, how many passes, and whether he had leather-like skiin and peach fuzz.

...UPDATE…

Well, going on my third day with the new Dovo, I have a few experiences that I wanted to share and maybe get some more feedback from the vets…

My experience thus far with the Dovo has been pretty lousy, I’m sorry to say. What I’m finding is that the blade is just not “gliding” on my skin like the Feather. It seems to be really sticking, jumping, and just otherwise proving very ornery. I’m trying to gradually moderate the amount of pressure I’m applying (from almost none to just a little), make slight adjustments in the angle hunting for that perfect 25-35 degrees, re-lathering repeatedly… I’m exhausted after shaving with it! OK, that’s probably a little bit over-blown… ;) But anyway, I’m really struggling with it. I have a few theories about why this might be happening, but I’d welcome any input because I’m a little baffled at this point. :thinking:

1) The Dovo might not be sharp enough? This is obviously a relative term, given that it was honed before being sent to me, but I think we’d all agree that even fully honed it’s not as sharp as the Feather – which to date is my only reference point. Which brings me to theory 2…

2) Maybe my beard is tougher than I thought. I always considered my beard to be pretty average, but then I recalled two things – that I tend to go through blades (either high-tech multi-blade jobs or more recently DEs) relatively quickly, and my hair has always been both very thick and grown in quickly between cuts. I know that I get 5 o’clock shadow around noon many days… So, maybe given that, the Feather is just better equipped to shave my particular beard (as others in here have suggested).

3) And finally, I’m wondering if maybe I need to use a different lathering/prep technique. I’ve tried the Dovo with both Trumpers Sandalwood and Classic’s menthol cake soap with a couple extra drops of glycerin applied before lathering, and in each case I just couldn’t get the right “glide”. Although, again curiously, the Feather responds pretty well with either...

This morning, I actually started my first pass with the Dovo, gave up on it, finished with the Feather, and then did the whole second pass/touch up with the Dovo. It was a fun experiment and all (and I did get a very close shave), but it also took a rather long time… not that that is necessarily a problem, especially on a Saturday morning! :) It was kind of a frustrating experience though...

So, sorry to be so damn long-winded, but I find that it helps to journal my experiences for my benefit and hopefully the benefit of others.

OK, so… where was I? Oh yeah – that Feather AC... what a great starter! ;)

(P.S. BTW, name's Randy...)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

So, I'm kind of puzzled that an ordinary steel blade would outlast it for Mparker while others can use it for two weeks without even stropping, but do have to strop a steel blade daily and touch it up regularly. Something is at work here that hasn't been accounted for.

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I get exactly one shave out of the Gillette Fusion, so it's not just a DE thing.

One other aspect to this is I have very acidic skin, anything except very high grade stainless corrodes very quickly against my skin. I was disassembling my Vision this morning for a thread on SMF and noticed the feather blade in it had a surprising amount of corrosion, maybe it's just not quite as corrosion resistant as the personnas?

hello joe,

i agree with you about the blade life of cartridges. however, we had a discussion a few weeks ago over at SMF regarding the annual cost of shaving:

http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/vie...0358448#124941

please note that the original statistics quoted came from gillette themselves...

thanks,
mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

...One week on a DE blade is average. A cartridge that lasts a month is an urban legend. we also need to know how often the person shaved, how many passes, and whether he had leather-like skiin and peach fuzz...

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikey

hello joe,

i agree with you about the blade life of cartridges. however, we had a discussion a few weeks ago over at SMF regarding the annual cost of shaving:

http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/vie...0358448#124941

please note that the original statistics quoted came from gillette themselves...

thanks,
mike

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I looked at all that now, and I have to say that the original way of arriving at the 4 weeks was, to say the least strange. But the fact that all these guys said they get 4 weeks is mind numbing. Besides, I wouldn't trust anything Gillette says without a detailed look at how thet arrived at it.

I have tried every cartridge that Gillette has ever sol in this country. Never has one lasted more than a week. I have very sensitive skin, s it limits my use, but I can't imagine getting that much longer use unless my skin was like leather. And that aside, it just doesn't cut, and my hair is fair, fine and soft.

The only way I could see it happening is if these guys were taking one pass shaves.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by entropy

I have a few theories about why this might be happening

1) The Dovo might not be sharp enough? This is obviously a relative term, given that it was honed before being sent to me, but I think we’d all agree that even fully honed it’s not as sharp as the Feather – which to date is my only reference point. Which brings me to theory 2…

2) Maybe my beard is tougher than I thought. I always considered my beard to be pretty average, but then I recalled two things – that I tend to go through blades (either high-tech multi-blade jobs or more recently DEs) relatively quickly, and my hair has always been both very thick and grown in quickly between cuts. I know that I get 5 o’clock shadow around noon many days… So, maybe given that, the Feather is just better equipped to shave my particular beard (as others in here have suggested).

3) And finally, I’m wondering if maybe I need to use a different lathering/prep technique.

that Feather AC... what a great starter! ;)

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I use str8s, Feather DEs and Feather AC (super) in my regular rotation, and I'm not surprized.

When I got the Fetaher AC, I already had afew str8s (shave ready), and I started honing after I had the Feather.

No str8 sharpened by a human will ever be as sharp as a Feather. Mine include ones from Lynn, John Crowley, David Uthe, Robert Williams, and Bill Ellis. None come close to the Feather.

Because of its sharpness, the Feather shaves like a DE. With a light touch, no pull and without the use of pressure. The sharpest Str8 will require some pressure and have a slight pull in comparison. So, questioning the sharpness of the Dovo was a good point, but don't expect anything to make it as sharp or smooth as a Feather. The Dovo needs to be a little sharper, because the difference shouldn't be that great, but it will never disappear.

You just documented the difference. Enjoy and respect that sharpness, and learn to use it.