SR8 Heresy?

OK, I was at the Shave Event in Chicago a month ago and picked up a Parker Shavette, the one that uses disposable single edge blades. I wasn't sure about it, but I thought it would be good for traveling when I didn't want to bring the strop and other gear with me. But I'd read on the forums here that these require an even more careful shaving technique than a regular straight because the machined single edge blades are sharper than straights. So I alternated, one morning the Parker, the next my Dovo 5/8.

Well, I really like the shaves I've been getting with the shavette, and I think the shaves are just about as good as with my Dovo. I do have go really, really light with the strokes on the shavette though. I've already sliced through a few pimples and small bumps, but nothing a styptic couldn't fix.

I like the convenience of not having to strop every time. But if I use this every day, am I no longer a real straight razor shaver? Heaven forfend!

Would appreciate thoughts from the list...

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Originally Posted by Thirdman47

OK, I was at the Shave Event in Chicago a month ago and picked up a Parker Shavette, the one that uses disposable single edge blades. I wasn't sure about it, but I thought it would be good for traveling when I didn't want to bring the strop and other gear with me. But I'd read on the forums here that these require an even more careful shaving technique than a regular straight because the machined single edge blades are sharper than straights. So I alternated, one morning the Parker, the next my Dovo 5/8.

Well, I really like the shaves I've been getting with the shavette, and I think the shaves are just about as good as with my Dovo. I do have go really, really light with the strokes on the shavette though. I've already sliced through a few pimples and small bumps, but nothing a styptic couldn't fix.

I like the convenience of not having to strop every time. But if I use this every day, am I no longer a real straight razor shaver? Heaven forfend!

Would appreciate thoughts from the list...

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To me its whatever you like best that gives you the shave you are looking for. There is an old saying, if you like it then its good. This applies here. For me its brushes. Everyone says badger brushes are the best so I went out and bought an expensive one. One day I went out of town and took a synthetic brush with me so I wouldn't risk loosing my badger and found out that I actually like the synthetic better. It feels better on my face and it builds a better lather. To each his own.

YOU ARE NO LONGER IN THE CLUB!!!:roflmao I bought a cheapo shavette from a local beauty supply store just t try before I plunged into str8s. With no experiance I proceeded to shave with it and draw a little blood. Not as much as I expected. After getting str8s and using them for a while I decided to give the shavette another try and with the techniques I learned I was able to get a really good shave with it. I use it every so often when I want to mix things up. That along with my str8s and a couple of de razors I can keep those wiskers guessing at what weapon I am going to use to DESTROY them!!! No matter what I use I still enjoy it a lot more than the fusion and canned goo I used to use.

It's still a straight razor; just one with a replaceable blade. It's kind of like some of the old swedish framebacks, except the blades are cheaper.

Whatever works for you, that's all that matters. Unless you are REALLY opposed to stropping, I'd recommend keeping your gear so you can use the real deal on weekends or whenever you have the time.

If you want a disposable, I would spend the $99 and get a feather, so much better.

If I hadn't spent the better part of a year developing technique with the straight, I think I would never have liked the shavette. IMHO, I think it's too sharp to start using if you're coming straight (no pun intended) off a 5-blade cheese grater or even a DE.

I've been shaving with straights since July. I tried a Parker shavette and a Weck with long Personna single edge blades and cut myself right up, before starting with regular straights. Now that I have my footing, you've got me motivated to try the shavettes again. I just put new blades in my Weck and Parker and will give it a go again in the morning.

I started SR shaving with a shavette and it dang near made me go back to disposables!! But then the wife bought me my first Dovo 6/8 and I read as much as I could about SR shaving in this forum and watched videos and applied patience and practice.

The bottom line, IT'S YOUR SHAVE!! Do what is best for Thirdman47 and learn from your triumphs and shortcomings. I SR shave M-F and DE shave weekends. So far no SR SWAT Team has busted my door down to confiscate my razors.

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Originally Posted by Thirdman47

OK, I was at the Shave Event in Chicago a month ago and picked up a Parker Shavette, the one that uses disposable single edge blades. I wasn't sure about it, but I thought it would be good for traveling when I didn't want to bring the strop and other gear with me. But I'd read on the forums here that these require an even more careful shaving technique than a regular straight because the machined single edge blades are sharper than straights. So I alternated, one morning the Parker, the next my Dovo 5/8.

Well, I really like the shaves I've been getting with the shavette, and I think the shaves are just about as good as with my Dovo. I do have go really, really light with the strokes on the shavette though. I've already sliced through a few pimples and small bumps, but nothing a styptic couldn't fix.

I like the convenience of not having to strop every time. But if I use this every day, am I no longer a real straight razor shaver? Heaven forfend!

Would appreciate thoughts from the list...

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Ace (a member here) uses a Feather quite a bit. He loves it.
I just don't understand why his wife allows him to have sharp objects. ;-)

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Originally Posted by tiddle

If you want a disposable, I would spend the $99 and get a feather, so much better.

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You know Chugach68, I did the exact same thing as you, purchasing a cheapo shavette from Sally's Beauty Supply. I think that shavette hated me. I dang near gave up the idea of SR shaving until my wife gave me my first Dovo 6/8. After reading the posts on this subject, I thought of that shavette (which I still have) and I have concluded that I am terrified of that blasted thing!! :-)

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Originally Posted by Chugach68

YOU ARE NO LONGER IN THE CLUB!!!:roflmao I bought a cheapo shavette from a local beauty supply store just t try before I plunged into str8s. With no experiance I proceeded to shave with it and draw a little blood. Not as much as I expected. After getting str8s and using them for a while I decided to give the shavette another try and with the techniques I learned I was able to get a really good shave with it. I use it every so often when I want to mix things up. That along with my str8s and a couple of de razors I can keep those wiskers guessing at what weapon I am going to use to DESTROY them!!! No matter what I use I still enjoy it a lot more than the fusion and canned goo I used to use.

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Originally Posted by lindyhop66

I've been shaving with straights since July. I tried a Parker shavette and a Weck with long Personna single edge blades and cut myself right up, before starting with regular straights. Now that I have my footing, you've got me motivated to try the shavettes again. I just put new blades in my Weck and Parker and will give it a go again in the morning.

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Tried it again and still don't enjoy the shavette. Back to my straights.

My goodness I am really in trouble. Sometimes I shave with a DE (often use one to cleanup after a bad straight shave). It's easier and, in my case, I get a much better shave all the way around, closeness, irritation, speed. But I love the challenge of a straight, so most of the time I go with one. Does this mean I am out of the club also? :shrug:

Yea, sure, but by next week your curiosity over why you like the shaves better will get to you and you'll be trolling the honing and stropping forums searching for the true, traditional answer to the old age shaving question.

It's all simply about the edge.

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Yea, sure, but by next week your curiosity over why you like the shaves better will get to you and you'll be trolling the honing and stropping forums searching for the true, traditional answer to the old age shaving question.

It's all simply about the edge.

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Truth be told, I already am. Have started improving the edge and am ever hopeful that a breakthrough will come soon.

An interesting thread and I have to tell you I'm tempted to pull out my Parker and snap a Feather or an Astra Blue....and then I catch myself.

But it reminds you that some of us try to learn what is already a challenging task with a system that can unforgiving....

And +1 on the Feather system, it's what I use for travel (checked bags) and many days when I'm pressed for time.

In the end they are all Straights...$$$ should not separate us in to camps....

Happy Shaving...with whatever edge you choose...