Thread: Feather Razor

Tony, I started with real cheap shavette type razor, and got very nice shaves... I haven't tryed shaving with it (gave it to a friend) since I started using straight razor, but I think you will be satisfied with the results. My barber (well, hair stylist, duh...) uses Shavette, I have tryed in my hand, and it feels nice.

Nenad

CRR, how does the feather feel different from a straight, while shaving and afterwards?

Merry Christmas everyone. Sorry for the slow response, been occupied for a few days!

The Feather is definately a different shave and as Lynn and others have said, it's a very unforgiving razor. Although I have managed not to cut myself yet (I know as soon as I say that I'm due for a decent size gash), I can definately feel the difference between the Feather and the straights. You have to use almost no pressure with the Feather. The straight, for me anyway, requires more pressure. I haven't seriously cut myself yet either with the straight, but I know it's only a matter of time before I get sloppy some morning....

Funny enough this morning I shaved with my Futur and nicked myself in two places. Seems I'm more prone to cut my self with a SAFETY razor. How funny is that.

Everybody is different and I like them all. Straights, DE's my new Feather.

It's all good.

One other thing about the Feather that I've noticed is that because it seems a little sharper than the straight, and the blade is not as long, it's easier to reach a few spots on my neck that give me trouble with the regular straight. There's an area on the left side my neck that I have trouble getting to with my straight. Now I know that to get proficient with the straight takes time, so I'm sure that I can improve on this as time goes by, but I was able to get to these areas on my neck with the Feather and shave there without any problems.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

This is an interesting thread to me. I love the straight razor and the whole step back in time concept of it. The Feather is a step forward and I am on the fence about making that step. I'm old fashioned. It does seem like something I want to try though.

Perhaps I'll change my view as well over time. I like the Feather now, in addition to the striaghts that I have, but perhaps when I learn to hone the razor myself, instead of depending on you I'll not have any interest in using the Feather as well.

One thing I like about the Feather as opposed to other types of "disposable straights" is the weight. It's nice and heafty and for me that's nice.

I really enjoy shaving with the regular straight, there's just something about using this old-time instrument that is just too cool.

well, i only use the feather straight of all the straights. it shaves me the closest and i was not one to get good results fiddling around with hones and stones and pastes and strops. and even if he offered, i could not ask lynn or anyone else to keep honing them for me.

that said, the feather is heaviest among the disposable ones. ray told me that it was his most-used straight and that was what got me to try it. the shorter blade length (which is longer than a regular DE by 50%) allows me to get some places on my neck that a conventional straight does not permit. i get 12 shaves or so out of one blade. there is no tugging or pulling, and if you have a facial imperfection like a zit, it will nick it. negative pressure is what works best.

all that said, it does not give you the aural feedback of a conventional straight. that is what i miss the most, and the cool looking razors. but the closeness is what i was after and this was a nobrainer for me

sam

Nenad,
I tried the Shavette this morning with the stiff Fromm blades and was very pleased. It is a new level of sharpness and ws a very satisfying shave overall. My only beef was the way the blades sit in the insert allows my moustache hairs to get caught when doing the left side of my face. Having one ripped lose is not what you need while there is 2 1/2" os razor sharp steel against you face.
I do feel it is a handy way for someone to get started withb a minimal investment.

Tony

I started with a regular str8 and got a Feather AC almost immediately after that. It allowed me to shave through the difficult times of learning how to hone. It allowed me to continue shaving, but it also slowed my learning of honing.

Let me first explain my shaving experience. I have over 45 years of experience with a DE, and I used it thoughout that time. Until I got into str8s it was my only type of razor, other than an injector occasionally. So, I'm very seasoned with a DE. I still use DEs with Feather blades.

The first thing I noticed about str8s is that they require more pressure than a DE and they have a little bit of a pull compared to a DE. I also found that a str8 caused slight irritation that was not there before. I got used to that. I ruled out lack of sharpness and my honing ability because the first few razors I got were honed by our experts.

After that I also got a Feather AC. I took to it easily because it behaves more like a DE, although it shaves like a str8. The idea of "too sharp" and foregiveness all have to do with what you're used to. When I started using Feather blades with DEs it required an adjustment, especially with heavier razors. It was something I was used to doing, and I was rewarded with my best shaves ever.

The Feather str8 requires a similar adjustment, but when you're coming from a regular str8, it's a much bigger one. The most common problem str8 shavers have with DEs relate to pressure. There should be none. But after using a str8 you're not even aware of the pressure or you think it's exteremely slight. Not for a DE. So it's not unusual to find skilled str8 shavers complaining about how DEs nick them. It's even more extreme with a Feather str8, because here they are in a familiar situation, but it requires a significant adjustment to no pressure. Negative pressure is not needed. Letting the weight of the razor be the pressure and using a flatter blade angle are enough for the razor to work well. But I can understand how the razor could seem too sharp or unforgiving.

As for the sharpness of the Feather, I have no doubt that it is sharper than just about any str8. How can I be so sure? While I was learning to hone, I tried to make the razors as sharp as my Feather. I considered my self a failure and was getting very frustrated, because I never met the mark, and I would always finish my shaves with the Feather. About that time I received another shave ready razor from one of the honemeisters and was surprized to find that it did not come up to the Feather, although it shaved great. As soon as that razor became my standard, I got my confidence back and my honing began to improve.

So, a lot has to do with expectations. If you get a Feather expecting it to be like your regular str8s and run into a problem. You need to be prepared to make adjustments to how you shave. If you're not you will be unhappy and you will not use the Feeather for very long. If you're prepared to make adjustments, you will figure it out without a lot of trouble. It's not like learning str8 shaving all over again. I'm sure you make these kinds of adjustments when you switch between different str8s. This is just a greater adjustment. Then you'll be surprized how effortlessly you can shave and how close.

If I was only into str8 shaving for the shave, I would be using only my Feather. But there's a lot more to the experience than that, so I still use all my str8s. When I switch to a Feather after not using it for a while, I don't quite have the touch and I sometimes need to shift gears consciously. But once you learn what adjustments are necessary, there's no such thing as having to break in a new blade. It's the kind of adjustment a DE shaver makes when he puts in a new blade.

It has everything to do with personal preference.

I have many straight razors that are superior shavers to the Feather and there is much less chance of nicking myself. I have used the feather pro blades in the shavette and the pro blades in the DE although I rarely use either. I only have about 40 years of shaving experience and about 30 of that with a straight razor, but still so much to learn.

My recommendation at all times is for someone to get a straight that has been honed and have at it. This is not a panacea as Joe mentions because I have honed razors multiple times for people only to see poor stropping ruin the edge or someone dragging a razor down their face at a 90 degree angle.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by adjustme69

I have many straight razors that are superior shavers to the Feather and there is much less chance of nicking myself.

WHich ones? I would love to try them.

I have used the feather pro blades in the shavette and the pro blades in the DE although I rarely use either.

Which Shavette insert lets you use Feather blades? How do you use Pros in a DE? I've been able to cut them down for use in an injector, but the DE is a different story.

I don't know how long Feather blades are but there are three inserts for the Shavette. The short red one that takes 1/2 of a standard double edge razor blade, the black which takes 1/2 of the 2 1/4" long double edge hair shaper blade and the green which takes the Fromm 2 1/4" single edge blade and which seems the most stiff of them all.

What does a feather blade look like?

Tony