Thread: Feather AC curse

I was shaving with DE for awhile (including slants), was satisfied with the results minus some persistent neck irritation. Then, I decided to move to SR. Got a nice 6/8" DOVO Best Quality, professionally sharpen by a vendor. Tried it few times and was amazed how difficult it was to come even close to the closeness I was getting from my Slant DE. Then, I got Feather AC SS with Professional Blade and within a week I was blown away how nice it was. Great shaves, never before experienced closeness, no irritation. I'm also a head shaver so I started to use the Feather on my head as well. Same thing.... unbelievable shaves. After months of that I decided to get another SR, this time DOVO 5/8" Prima Klang also shave ready from a vendor. First shave was at best so, so. It didn't get much better later with me constantly needing to do ATG and polishing with my Feather AC. Am I forever stuck with the Feather? I really like SR and everything that comes with it but how come with my SRs I can't even get close to the sharpness and comfort of the Feather AC?

Welcome to SRP, Mark.

I don't think you are stuck with the Feather. To become proficient with a proper straight razor you must invest time. I'd recommend that you shelf the Feather and DE's for one month minimum and only use your straight razors. I think you'll find your technique will improve without the crutch of your other types of razors. Remember, a good shave is a combination of good prep, stropping, shaving and postshave treatment. A properly sharp razor helps too

Agree with Ryan . But... I still mess around with a number of EBay "bargains". (Yes, broke my New Years resolution already.) so I keep the Feather handy to finish up on failed shaves with the not quite ready 'new to me' razor. It saves on the skin.

I have some doubt that I'll be able to do with a standard straight what I can do with a Feather. I think I can get close enough that it's not particularly worth complaining about, but the Feather will probably always win when used with equal mastery. I can fall out of practice with either and end up with mediocre shaves. Adjusting to a kamisori has reminded me that technique can be an issue even with a lot of experience with other razors.

Though not everyone promotes it, there is a fairly popular double standard when it comes to razors. If it's a disposable, it's fine to blame the razor for a less-than-optimal shave. If it's a properly-honed straight, then blame is generally placed on the user.

Good shaves can be had from traditional straights. They'll require some adapting of technique as they don't cut the same way as Feather blades. You should be able to get pretty comparable results, but it might take work to get there. If you like the straight razor because of romance or nostalgia and a connection to tradition, then don't give up on it because you're getting superior results with a disposable. Just keep at it and give it the time and practice needed to approach the quality of a good Feather shave.

Welcome to SRP Mark. I never tried the Feather straight. Early on a then active and very experienced SRP member mparker762 posted that the Feather was almost too sharp and that he had to be really careful when using it. That and the cost put me off of it. So I cannot speak from experience with one of those but I can from the point of view of Merkur, and other slant DEs with Feather DE blades, among others.

I had to stay with it for a some months before I could begin to equal the shaves I can get with a merkur slant and feather blade but I routinely equal or surpass that with a variety of straight razors new and vintage. So hang in there, it gets better.

As said above, it will require time and proper technique.

I started out with a Feather myself, and there is no doubt, it is a great shaving system.
That said, the end result of a straight shave is for me superior to the Feather in every way possible. At least as close, way less skin irritation and less weepers when shaving over bumps.

It did take me quite a while to get there though. Months to be honest.

Just like you, I also shave both head and face on a daily basis

Originally Posted by Tierdaen

I have some doubt that I'll be able to do with a standard straight what I can do with a Feather. I think I can get close enough that it's not particularly worth complaining about, but the Feather will probably always win when used with equal mastery. I can fall out of practice with either and end up with mediocre shaves. Adjusting to a kamisori has reminded me that technique can be an issue even with a lot of experience with other razors.

Though not everyone promotes it, there is a fairly popular double standard when it comes to razors. If it's a disposable, it's fine to blame the razor for a less-than-optimal shave. If it's a properly-honed straight, then blame is generally placed on the user.

Good shaves can be had from traditional straights. They'll require some adapting of technique as they don't cut the same way as Feather blades. You should be able to get pretty comparable results, but it might take work to get there. If you like the straight razor because of romance or nostalgia and a connection to tradition, then don't give up on it because you're getting superior results with a disposable. Just keep at it and give it the time and practice needed to approach the quality of a good Feather shave.

I don't agree with you at all. With a feather type you know the blade is as sharp as possible (it's really a big razor blade) so if you don't get a good shave it's not the razor it has to be your technique. With a straight there are a variety of reasons you are not getting a great shave and the razor is the first thing we ask folks to check to make sure it is proper sharp and your stropping isn't damaging the edge. After that technique comes into play as a big factor. Prep and all that are way more minor issues.

So there is no double standard. If it seems like we treat one differently it's because they are different and de facto differences are just the way it is.

It's a trade off. The convenience of having a perfect edge all the time and no stropping or honing vs a much more unforgiving blade. Some would see it as a plus and some (mostly straight users) would see it as a liability.

Just give it time. I've used a Dovo best quality and gotten vastly superior results with it over my DE with feather blades. I've never used a feather straight razor but their DE blades cause irritation and weepers for me. I personally feel that once the stars align for the straight razor that it is vastly superior to DE's at the very least. The problem is that if the stars don't align pin pointing where things went wrong is not easy. That's what makes the straight razor such a mountain to climb.

IMO though, I think the biggest variable in the SRS experience is your own face. Selecting the right grind and size is important and will greatly impact your experience based on the nature of your whiskers, and skin. For me the DE gets the job done but is way to harsh to my sensitive skin. Full hollows work but jam ATG for me on the tough thick stubble on my chin. I suspect that the feather system much like a DE fudges you through the shave no matter what your face is like which is why its so harsh.

Don't get discouraged you are working with a ton of variables for your shave and its not always obvious where things are going wrong. I've often thought it was my razor that wasn't up to snuff but it almost always turned out that I was using it wrong somewhere along the line. This is a very humbling hobby but its worth the effort!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I don't agree with you at all. With a feather type you know the blade is as sharp as possible (it's really a big razor blade) so if you don't get a good shave it's not the razor it has to be your technique. With a straight there are a variety of reasons you are not getting a great shave and the razor is the first thing we ask folks to check to make sure it is proper sharp and your stropping isn't damaging the edge. After that technique comes into play as a big factor. Prep and all that are way more minor issues.

So there is no double standard. If it seems like we treat one differently it's because they are different and de facto differences are just the way it is.

It's a trade off. The convenience of having a perfect edge all the time and no stropping or honing vs a much more unforgiving blade. Some would see it as a plus and some (mostly straight users) would see it as a liability.

I think you misunderstood me. When people with only a little experience shave with the Feather and get a decent but "harsh" shave, they are very quick to jump to the conclusion that the blades are too harsh. When people with a little experience pick up a shave-ready straight and get mediocre results, it's because they need more practice. You can disagree with this all you like, but I see this attitude all over the place.

Originally Posted by Tierdaen

Though not everyone promotes it, there is a fairly popular double standard when it comes to razors. If it's a disposable, it's fine to blame the razor for a less-than-optimal shave. If it's a properly-honed straight, then blame is generally placed on the user.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I don't agree with you at all. With a feather type you know the blade is as sharp as possible (it's really a big razor blade) so if you don't get a good shave it's not the razor it has to be your technique. With a straight there are a variety of reasons you are not getting a great shave and the razor is the first thing we ask folks to check to make sure it is proper sharp and your stropping isn't damaging the edge. After that technique comes into play as a big factor. Prep and all that are way more minor issues.

So there is no double standard. If it seems like we treat one differently it's because they are different and de facto differences are just the way it is.

It's a trade off. The convenience of having a perfect edge all the time and no stropping or honing vs a much more unforgiving blade. Some would see it as a plus and some (mostly straight users) would see it as a liability.

totally agree with bigspendur, with a feather style, it's typically the technique, with a traditional, it's usually harder to tell without a firsthand look. even with a DE shavette, it usually is still technique.