Thread: From Feather to Straight Razor

Hi I think I need some help here please i have been using a Feather shavette with Feather pro guard blades been doing fine over the last 6mths OK learning the art of shaving with a straight and how to hold it. Well I thought it was about time I went up to the real straight razor and got the poor man kit fro Larrey @ Whippeddog.com well I already had 4 days growth of beard went to use the razor i got from Larry went to shave and the razor seemed to drag across the beard it was like shaving with a blunt razor and did not seem to cut the face hair smoothly. And I also got a couple of nicks as well. I know it cant be Larry razor. so it must be me. Do I have to hold the razor from a different angle to the face than I did with my Feather razor & other shavette that I have used where I never had this problem. Thanks for any advice

Going from a Feather to a straight the angle would be compared to that of a 5/8 or 6/8.

I purchased a razor once and the seller said it was shave ready. When I got the razor I experienced the same problems you did and I tried nearly every angle possible with the same results. So, I honed the razor again just doing a touchup on the 8k and Escher. Problem solved. It goes to show that everyone has a different face and a different perception of shave ready and for me it meant that I wanted something slightly sharper.

So, try some other angle's and if that doesn't work then have it touched up or completely sharpened from bevel up. Of course, just start with a touchup and see what happens.

Thanks I have tried again today with the proper straight razor did one side of the face with a days growth did not cut myself this time and tried a different angle the drag was not so bad but shaving the days growth it did not do so well it did not seem to cut the very small hairs ( was using a 5xmag shaving mirror) Will try different angles over the next few days there is one thing I do notice is there is not that sound you get when shaving that I have had with the Feather and D/E could this be the type of razor I am using ? I mean you have these different types like "Full Hollow" and Half Hollow" ETC? But i will carry on even if it means that I will have more scares on my face than a German Duellist.

You have to consider the fact that not that many straights are honed as sharp as a Feather, also it seems that most people use a different shaving angle with a Feather razor (although I use the same for both). If you keep at it in a week or two you'll get just as good a shave as with the Feather.

Also, the thicker the metal the less sound while you're cutting. It could be that you got a half-hollow or a wedge. They don't make a lot of sound, but they still cut the hair. Now if you aren't getting sound and you aren't cutting hair, then there may be something wrong. Good luck, there is definitely a learning curve to these things.

I didn't cut myself the first four or five times I shaved, but then I stopped being quite so careful, nicked the heck out of myself, went back to being careful and smooth sailing.

A couple things to consider - the straight that you are using now may not be quite as sharp as your feather, but it should be a lot smoother. Also, really give it some time because everything worth doing is worth doing well, and you might as well spend the hours to get as good at shaving as possible.

Now that I know how a razor is supposed to work I can take off a weeks worth of beard as easily as a days worth of stubble. I couldn't even do that with a DE.

Did you strop the blade prior to using it? If not perhaps it needs to be re-honed.are you adept at stroping at this point?
Do you have a strop? perhaps iy needs to be stroped,Lots of variables here.

I found shavette blades very harsh..real straights can be smoothed and sharpened on hones..to me..makes them more enjoyable...ymmv

I have a Feather Artist Club SS in my rotation, and it certainly is sharp and requires additional caution. While my straights do a fine job with whisker removal, it is unfair to compare them, as good as they are, with a machined blade, especially one of Feather's reputation. I like both methods and use the Feather as a change of pace.

Second 'ace's' comment. It really is a nice product!