Thread: Feather SS

Originally Posted by MrWiggly

Really, the cost of the blades? I paid 15 bucks for 20 blades and get 5-7 shaves per blade. That means 15-20 weeks worth of blades for 15 bucks. I don't think even a traditional straight will come in that low when you sharpening, even if you do-it-yourself.

I get about a dozen shave with a blade (I am not doing anything special to protect it), the running cost for me is about 3 cents per shave for a DE vs 6 for the feather. (I am talking in GBP here not USD) that being said YMMV.

I am not trying to diminish the qualities of the feather here my friend. I love mine and it's part of my rotation. Just saying that if you are on the frugal shaver side that might not be it for you.

If you have prime it's free shipping on amazon. Been thinking about getting one of these as a travel razor so that I don't have to carry a strop:

Amazon.com: Feather SS Folding Handle Razor, Black: Health & Personal Care

Originally Posted by MrWiggly

Wow, 18-21? I actually think I could get more than 5-7, but I noticed the blade got a small rust spot. Any advice to avoid this?

So I pulled out my shave log (Engineers, we just do this )

My first CJB/Dorco I got one shave. It was so bad I thought it had to be the blade..so I pitched it and went to Feather Pro. Latter learned it was all operator error.
7 shaves from my first CJB/Feather Pro
12 shaves from CJB/Feather Pro #2
15 shaves from SS Folding Feather Pro Guard
16 shaves Kai Mild PINK/SS
22 shaves Feather Pro Guard/CJB
17 shaves Dorco Super/SS (confirming that it is not the Dorco blade but the operator)

Then I start moving blades around and throw a Cobra in to the mix and its not a clean count.

My care tips:

Resist the urge to take the blade out and clean it. Not only are you going to cut yourself - you risk damaging the blade and the coating.

I rinse the blade in very hot running water to remove the soap.
Then I gently place the razor head with blade in an apothecary jar with 91 proof alcohol for a few minutes.
When I do change the blade I disassemble the head and clean out the inside with an old toothbrush, rinse (hot water, alcohol)

It gets better with practice...

Smooth Shaving..

Originally Posted by MJC

So I pulled out my shave log (Engineers, we just do this )

My first CJB/Dorco I got one shave. It was so bad I thought it had to be the blade..so I pitched it and went to Feather Pro. Latter learned it was all operator error.
7 shaves from my first CJB/Feather Pro
12 shaves from CJB/Feather Pro #2
15 shaves from SS Folding Feather Pro Guard
16 shaves Kai Mild PINK/SS
22 shaves Feather Pro Guard/CJB
17 shaves Dorco Super/SS (confirming that it is not the Dorco blade but the operator)

Then I start moving blades around and throw a Cobra in to the mix and its not a clean count.

My care tips:

Resist the urge to take the blade out and clean it. Not only are you going to cut yourself - you risk damaging the blade and the coating.

I rinse the blade in very hot running water to remove the soap.
Then I gently place the razor head with blade in an apothecary jar with 91 proof alcohol for a few minutes.
When I do change the blade I disassemble the head and clean out the inside with an old toothbrush, rinse (hot water, alcohol)

It gets better with practice...

Smooth Shaving..

Engineers Its all in the data. But yes it does get WAY better with practice!

Originally Posted by MrWiggly

Really, the cost of the blades? I paid 15 bucks for 20 blades and get 5-7 shaves per blade. That means 15-20 weeks worth of blades for 15 bucks. I don't think even a traditional straight will come in that low when you sharpening, even if you do-it-yourself.

What you could do with a straight and what most people do with a straight are two different things. A bare bones straight system (with someone assisting you in buying a good straight at low dollars) would be:
* self made strop with about $10 worth of leather (direction on finding the right piece of leather is useful, though - type, finish, smoothness, length)
* a razor with minor cosmetic issues that's not an *it* name off of ebay, but otherwise with little use and a full life ahead of it ($20)
* a razor hone to keep the razor sharp ($20)

That's literally enough for a decade.

To those of us on straights, a cheap blade that's good would be something like astra - which is about 13 cents per if you buy $100.

What people generally do with straight razors, though, is buy $1000 worth of razors, $1000 worth of strops, $500 worth of soaps and sky is the limit on stones.

Originally Posted by DaveW

A bare bones straight system (with someone assisting you in buying a good straight at low dollars) would be:

We touched on this in one of the other threads, a Newbie welcome string I recall.
They had commented on taking up the Straight "to save money"

I made the comment that one day the mythical Shaver, Like Big Foot, would appear - 2 working straight razors, a barbers hone, a strop and some Crox on a Paddle (and a brush and probably a cake of Williams and store brand witch hazel) - and they would have been shaving with this rig for decades...

So lets all take a comfy seat in the bushes and wait for Mr. Two Razor Bob to show up, shall we?

And while we wait, I am happy that what was once a chore is now a bright start to my day, and that I have a hobby that lets me use 150+ year old tools just as they were used a long time ago (only now I don't have to build a fire or light a lamp or candle or live without modern dentistry among other things (unless I want to)) - That I am connected to a small but tight knit community around the world that shares knowledge and resources freely to help each other...and that I am re-connected to my long gone Grandfather when I pick up his razor and bring it to my face...

Smooth Shaving Brothers...

Originally Posted by DaveW

What you could do with a straight and what most people do with a straight are two different things. A bare bones straight system (with someone assisting you in buying a good straight at low dollars) would be:
* self made strop with about $10 worth of leather (direction on finding the right piece of leather is useful, though - type, finish, smoothness, length)
* a razor with minor cosmetic issues that's not an *it* name off of ebay, but otherwise with little use and a full life ahead of it ($20)
* a razor hone to keep the razor sharp ($20)

That's literally enough for a decade.

To those of us on straights, a cheap blade that's good would be something like astra - which is about 13 cents per if you buy $100.

What people generally do with straight razors, though, is buy $1000 worth of razors, $1000 worth of strops, $500 worth of soaps and sky is the limit on stones.

Dude I sooooo wanted to be that guy lol!! For real! It all fell apart when it got to the one hone solution. But man! I gave it the old college try. Just didn't work out for me.

Originally Posted by MJC

We touched on this in one of the other threads, a Newbie welcome string I recall.
They had commented on taking up the Straight "to save money"

I made the comment that one day the mythical Shaver, Like Big Foot, would appear - 2 working straight razors, a barbers hone, a strop and some Crox on a Paddle (and a brush and probably a cake of Williams and store brand witch hazel) - and they would have been shaving with this rig for decades...

So lets all take a comfy seat in the bushes and wait for Mr. Two Razor Bob to show up, shall we?

And while we wait, I am happy that what was once a chore is now a bright start to my day, and that I have a hobby that lets me use 150+ year old tools just as they were used a long time ago (only now I don't have to build a fire or light a lamp or candle or live without modern dentistry among other things (unless I want to)) - That I am connected to a small but tight knit community around the world that shares knowledge and resources freely to help each other...and that I am re-connected to my long gone Grandfather when I pick up his razor and bring it to my face...

Smooth Shaving Brothers...

I am convinced Mr. Minimalist lives - but there is no way he's posting on SRP lol!! No way!

This place so enables need lol!

Personally, in a pure "I just want value" world, I am guessing that the Feather would be cheaper. I mean... How is it possible to have only one strop!?! Lol!

Originally Posted by earcutter

I am convinced Mr. Minimalist lives - but there is no way he's posting on SRP lol!! No way!

I was mr. minimalist for a while. I didn't have any stones that I didn't already have from woodworking, had a single star shaving strop, and one razor that I really liked. I had a couple of others, but sold them on ebay and was left with my favorite. I shaved like that for a while, and then something happened and it's all just gotten a little out of control.

I could go back to having my favorite razor (several dozen razor, and still nothing else shaves like it), with a single strop, but I like having three brushes and wouldn't want to have fewer than 2 (with more than one, if you alternate, you don't have to clean the brushes because they have a chance to dry and never get stinky).

Something happens when you're here. If you're into straights, you get razors and stones, and sometimes strops. If you're into DEs, you get razors, and then you get nutty about all of the soaps and different brushes. A while ago, I came back on here after a hiatus thinking I'd sell off most of my excess stuff at bargain price to get other people going and go back to only having two razors. That didn't work out. I've bought several more stones, another dozen razors and three more strops.

Every sect here has something that they buy in bulk. Mr. Minimalist can't exist anywhere, because if the DE guys can boast about not buying straights, stones and strops, they're hiding half a grand worth of soap somewhere, a whole bunch of shaving oils, about 30 different kinds of blades, several DE razors and a gigantic pile of simpson brushes.

Originally Posted by DaveW

I was mr. minimalist for a while. I didn't have any stones that I didn't already have from woodworking, had a single star shaving strop, and one razor that I really liked. I had a couple of others, but sold them on ebay and was left with my favorite.[B] I shaved like that for a while, and then something happened and it's all just gotten a little out of control.

.

Best line ever lol!

Originally Posted by MJC

I made the comment that one day the mythical Shaver, Like Big Foot, would appear - 2 working straight razors, a barbers hone, a strop and some Crox on a Paddle (and a brush and probably a cake of Williams and store brand witch hazel) - and they would have been shaving with this rig for decades...

So lets all take a comfy seat in the bushes and wait for Mr. Two Razor Bob to show up, shall we?Smooth Shaving Brothers...

We pretty much have at least one of the Mythical Shaver on the roster that can think off but I won't name. I want to see if he will come forth willingly. Rest assured, they are out there and closer than we think.