Thread: I am SICK, look what I have ordered ;-)

Ok
They are things that just don't let me sleep
So, I have to deal with it
I have put the BIG $ on it, and hope it will prove to be one hell of a worthy thing

I have just ordered the
Feather Razor "Artist Club DX Special"
Here is the link
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...646/795305.htm

Also
I have added some nice blades, Super PRO and PRO guard

And (I had to try it)
The Taylor ROSE shaving cream

So, what do you think? have I done the right decision?

EAD-
I've got that exact same razor - they're great, for what they are - and the stainless steel blade-holder and the stabilized wood (teak?) handles are maintenance free. I like mine for traveling - you don't need the strop or hone.

If you're currently shaving with a traditional straight, the technique with the Feather's is a little different in that they are so sharp - but they give an amazingly close shave - (too close, if you're not careful) - and are capable, if not used correctly, of giving a fair amount of irritation.

But I think you'll enjoy it. Again, if you've shaved with a traditional straight, then you probably won't be satisfied with the Pro-Guards, but the Super-Pros are the cat's meow.

And I love Taylors Rose, too.

-let us know how it goes

-whatever

-Lou

Originally Posted by scarface

EAD-
I've got that exact same razor - they're great, for what they are - and the stainless steel blade-holder and the stabilized wood (teak?) handles are maintenance free. I like mine for traveling - you don't need the strop or hone.

If you're currently shaving with a traditional straight, the technique with the Feather's is a little different in that they are so sharp - but they give an amazingly close shave - (too close, if you're not careful) - and are capable, if not used correctly, of giving a fair amount of irritation.

But I think you'll enjoy it. Again, if you've shaved with a traditional straight, then you probably won't be satisfied with the Pro-Guards, but the Super-Pros are the cat's meow.

And I love Taylors Rose, too.

-let us know how it goes

-whatever

-Lou

Ok I don't have any other Str8
So, I don't want to start with something I need to hone and so on
Just put it on my face and do the shave
I have a lot of DE's, but want to get into the str8 thing
I think this is a well made razor, look very nice
but, How hard it will be to learn it? to get a close shave with out many nicks, cuts or irritation or redness?

That is a beauty. For that amount of money (incl the sets of blades) I would have asked Robert Williams to make me a custom razor with plain wooden handles, but I can understand that the replacable blades are a cool feature if you are used to DEs.
Congratulations.

Originally Posted by EAD

How hard it will be to learn it? to get a close shave with out many nicks, cuts or irritation or redness?

1) go slowly. speed is not necessary.
2) try to find the correct angle (the default angle for a traditional straight is 30 degrees)
3) avoid making any lateral movements with the blade. replacable blades are much sharper than traditional straights. you will cut yourself bad if you make accidental movements that are parallel with the length of the blade.
4) use very little pressure. it should not be necesary if the blade is sharp enough. feathers have the rep of being ultra sharp, and I have read comments from feather users that you should use almost negative pressure (meaning very very little
5) practise

EDIT: if you are thinking of getting into straights, it might be worth to point out that true straights are much more forgiving than a shavette (straight with replacable blades)

Amm I see
So, how hard will it be comparing to DE with father blades?
Usually with my DE load with Feather blades (They are the sharpest around), I get no nicks, and really got into it very fast

How should I learn and use this one with out getting any nicks or something like that?

I'm a bit confused here. You say you want to get into the straight thing but you have to realize a straight is a straight and a feather is a feather and there are big differences between them. If you want to use a feather and will be satisfied with that experience then great but if you want the straight experience then your going to have to learn all the other stuff that goes along with it. Sometimes the easy way is not the best way.

As far as using the feather, and I see you appear to be very concerned about that you just have to take your time and learn. Use no pressure and short straight strokes.

EAD -
The difference between shaving with a DE with Feather blades, and an Artist Club straight with Feather blades is ASTRONOMICAL - I can't stress that enough - in the DE, the blade is very well protected, and the angle is pretty much 'pre-set' - the Artist Club has a lot of extremely sharp blade hanging out there - after reading of your experience level with a straight, you will definitely want to start with the Pro-Guards.

When you get started, the first time....don't even put a blade in it....thats right,....NO blade. Lather up, and 'pretend shave', and concentrate on keeping the holder 1/10 of 1 mm above your skin.

Now, I know as well as you, that you can't actually keep it 1/10 of 1 mm off your skin, but that's the level of concentration and care and pressure that you're going to need. After you put the blade in, I would start with just one pass, with the grain, CHEEKS ONLY...just the flat parts of the cheeks (thats the easiest part), and finish up with the DE. Keep doing this until you feel confident enough to move on to other parts of your face...but don't feel the need to dive in and try and do everything the first time! Ease into it...it's better to take it slow than to create a blood bath (...don't ask....I still get shivers!..)...read the forum (especially the 'SHAVING' forum about stretching and direction.

And, on a personal note, I got into straight shaving using exactly the same route and logic as you...get a Feather...no stropping...no honing.....and I do NOT recomend it as the way to get into straight shaving. Traditional straights are more forgiving, you'll eventually end up getting a strop anyway. Having started with a Feather and migrated to a traditional straight, my recommendation to anyone considering straight shaving is to start with a honemeister honed straight razor or two and a beginning strop, and that should get you going. Then maybe a pasted paddle or a bench hone or two, and only if you want to do the eBay thing will you really need a Norton. Just my $.02

-whatever

-Lou

You are really frightening me here boys

I do want to get into it, but it is just that honing and so on seem like a lot of time and things to learn(and $ to burn)
Also, with the feather I can be sure that my blades are NEVER dull like it might happen when using a str8 if not well sharpen

Is it that hard? I mean, I don't want to feel like I am putting a gun in my face or something
Just want to shave, and feel the shave of really close one with a str8
Also
When first came to DE people told me to take it slow and so on, but eventually I did it really nice on the first time, and from then it got only better
and besdie, how did it go for you with the Feather when you first start with it? was it so bad?
And when asking me to do it with out any blade inside, is something I can only say I will do here, but in real life, I can't do
I will probably end diving into the "deep water" in the first time and go with a blade (the guards one first), buy maybe doing only the cheeks

Ok sorry guys
But after re-consider it, I have decided to cancel it, I will go with a normal str8, but later
Tanx any way

Originally Posted by EAD

Ok sorry guys
But after re-consider it, I have decided to cancel it, I will go with a normal str8, but later
Tanx any way

I think you made a smart choice with that. Plus, you can easily get a razor and strop from Tony Miller for less then the price of that Feather. Heck, you could get razor, strop, and pasted paddle for less then that feather. That would keep you shaving for quite some time.

Matt