Thread: Feather Artist Club SS.......First shave & I'm Impressed!

Finished my 4th shave, trying the feather super pro blade, finally. This blade is longer than the others and it's as sharp as all the others I tried, at least, as sharp as the pro and pro-guard. The feeling on the face is as smooth as the pro, the only difference was that I could adjust the angle of the blade on my face, much quicker and easier than with the others. I think this blade would be less forgiving by how much it protrudes from the blade holder. I was very carefull, like with any straight and had a smooth and BBS shave every time. Found also that it worked with less pressure from what I can remember, against the others, don't know why or if it was just percived.

I would use this blade anytime, however I prefer the pro-guard, pro or the KAI mild PINK or the Dovo, ahead of this one. They all seem more forgiving than this blade. Again, I don't have any bases except that I found myself been more carefull and seemingly using less pressure than with the others. Thanks Snuff for the blade.

Change the blade to a new KAI Mild PINK with guards that I ordered to try. Had one shave and so far, very good. Would have more shaves with it, as this weekend is a travel weekend. Double O

It's been 2 months+ of mostly Feather SS/CJB shaving - some basic observations.

As several have pointed out, the more you use this system the longer your blade life gets and the better the overall performance.

IMHO the system can be a little like using a DE in that some holders work with all blades and some seem to perform better with specific types/brands.
Fair warning - I've already proven to myself that combinations that did not work two months ago are doing fantastic now...so this is classic YMMV...

What I have Not tried:
Feather Super - Don't have them and frankly not in a rush to get them.
Feather Mild - Have them but just have not gotten around to trying them yet.

What I have tried:

Feather Pro - This seems to be the baseline or standard that many use to compare. I've used these in the CJB Blade Holder (Think Feather RG Fixed) - had excellent results even early in my use profile. Longest use was 12 shaves, only to pitch the blade because I was traveling.

Dorco Super - So close to the Feather Pro that I'm hard pressed to tell the difference with my limited experience. The one I'm using now has 12 shaves on it and shows no sign of fading. Using a SS Folding - today was shave #12 on a two day beard and the results where BBS. I had tried a Dorco in the CJB for my first Feather Shave. Frankly the results where "sub-optimal" - I looked like I had been eating blackberries off the bush with my hands tied behind my back...All operator error.

Feather Pro Guard - Thanks to Ace and OO I had samples of this. Although I have not hit Ace's 40+ shaves per blade...I could see how you might be able to do it. I've used the same blade in the SS Folding and the CJB. It's in the CJB now and this weekend I used it for shave #21.

Captain Kai Mild (PINK) - Only a couple shaves, too early to make a call. I will go back to testing these when either the Pro Guard or the Dorco finally gives up.

Other notes -
The no/low maintenance comes in handy if you can take a Str8 with you when you travel (car, check a bag). My reason for finally taking the plunge was to try and find a travel system that worked better than my old one. (2-3 travel straights, strop..)

On a day to day basis I use this for a "work day shave" since I don't have to worry about pre and post shave razor care and prep.

I'd recommend the SS Folding, Feather Pro, Pro Guard or Dorco Super blades to anyone starting out in Straight shaving. With all of the variables to learning how to shave with a SR, this removes many of the harder ones.

And if anyone would like samples send me a PM and I'll get you an assortment in the mail. (Feather Pro, Mild, Guard, Dorco Super, Kai Mild PINK )

I just ordered a Feather SS folding model, along with one pack of Feather Super and Light blades (40 blades total)

Where exactly can I buy other blades such as the Dorco Super or the Captain Kai Mild?

I havent found the Dorco´s but i did find the Kai´s, try razors, blades and more dot com.


Regards
Sergio

Originally Posted by raheelc

I just ordered a Feather SS folding model, along with one pack of Feather Super and Light blades (40 blades total)

Where exactly can I buy other blades such as the Dorco Super or the Captain Kai Mild?

You can also get the Kai blades (and razors, Feather Blades and razors/holders) at Shear Integrity Shear Integrity: Kasho Razors

The Dorco's are harder to find - they seem to be "Gray Market" - you have to buy them from someone in Korea. The blades are a good value but the shipping costs are eye-watering. (I've asked a friend who commutes to Seoul to see if they can find them)
For now you can try the Feather Pro - OO and I can't tell the difference between the Dorco and the Feather Pro.

PM me and I will send you a sample of the Pro, Kai, Dorco, Pro-Guard if you want to try them. The Feather Super is the most aggressive - the Lights the least. A suggestion would be to start in the middle - Feather Pro, Pro-Guard, Kai Mild and Kai Mild Guard.

It's a great system and you can master any of the blades with a little time and practice.
I've been getting 21+ shaves from a Pro Guard and 14-17 from the Dorco, Feather Pro.
YMMV as we say....just keep the pressure low, as in none.

Mark (MJC) just gave you the low down on the Feather blades.
Let me say, that I think, it is the best system to learn, or get good straight shaves in a consistent basis. I would recommend any new user to straight to start with the pro-guard feather or guard KAI blades if he or she can, but any other blades, except for the lights, IMHO is fine. If you have shaving experience with full metal straight razors, then it will be just like you're use too. The light, I found myself using too much angle (not natural to the full metal ones), any other blade I found comfortable and sharp, with my favorite all around the pro guard and most comfortable, the Dorco or KAI mild with the difference in sharpness been attribute it to beard prep or technic in some instances. Double O

@xe3vw: Thanks for the link!

Originally Posted by MJC

You can also get the Kai blades (and razors, Feather Blades and razors/holders) at Shear Integrity Shear Integrity: Kasho Razors

The Dorco's are harder to find - they seem to be "Gray Market" - you have to buy them from someone in Korea. The blades are a good value but the shipping costs are eye-watering. (I've asked a friend who commutes to Seoul to see if they can find them)
For now you can try the Feather Pro - OO and I can't tell the difference between the Dorco and the Feather Pro.

PM me and I will send you a sample of the Pro, Kai, Dorco, Pro-Guard if you want to try them. The Feather Super is the most aggressive - the Lights the least. A suggestion would be to start in the middle - Feather Pro, Pro-Guard, Kai Mild and Kai Mild Guard.

It's a great system and you can master any of the blades with a little time and practice.
I've been getting 21+ shaves from a Pro Guard and 14-17 from the Dorco, Feather Pro.
YMMV as we say....just keep the pressure low, as in none.

Originally Posted by Double0757

Mark (MJC) just gave you the low down on the Feather blades.
Let me say, that I think, it is the best system to learn, or get good straight shaves in a consistent basis. I would recommend any new user to straight to start with the pro-guard feather or guard KAI blades if he or she can, but any other blades, except for the lights, IMHO is fine. If you have shaving experience with full metal straight razors, then it will be just like you're use too. The light, I found myself using too much angle (not natural to the full metal ones), any other blade I found comfortable and sharp, with my favorite all around the pro guard and most comfortable, the Dorco or KAI mild with the difference in sharpness been attribute it to beard prep or technic in some instances. Double O

Thanks for the advice!! I'm not new to straight razor shaving, I've been using a cheap, flimsy, injector style straight razor with Pakistani made Gillette DE 7 O' Clock blades (break them in half)....I know pakistani blades have a bad rep, but its all that's available to me since i live in Pakistan

I'm visiting the US right now so I thought I'd upgrade to some higher quality stuff, so I went out and bought a Dovo full hollow carbon steel razor, and it was awesome! but the blade has started developing rust for no apparent reason (its only been about a month)...I even fully cleaned and dried the blade and scales and left the razor out to fully air dry (not in the bathroom though)...i even applied some mineral oil too, but it still started rusting. To make a long story short (too late!), I was so turned down by this development and the realization of the maintenance required (stropping, honing, etc) that I'm better off going with a high quality disposable style straight razor. So that's why i decided to buy a Feather SS folding straight razor. So now I'm just trying to figure out and acquire different blades to see what suits me best!

I'm thinking about joining this club boys.... Hunting for a good deal right now...

First of all, my apologies for awakening an old thread. However, I appreciate all the critical feedback on this thread -- especially Double O's in-depth reviews -- and wanted to share my experience with the latest folding Feather SS razor.

BACKGROUND:
Being in my mid-thirties of Asian descent, I have finally begun shaving again after a 5-6 year hiatus of using only hair trimmers on my whiskers. Much to my dismay, my initial straight-razor experience ended poorly 3 months ago when I decided to try the folding Feather SS with the Feather Super blade. A month prior, I had only begun shaving again (double-edge Merkur 38c 50-60-minute shaves).

With such a bad first straight-razor experience, I sought better shaves for my difficult whiskers by acquiring the Merkur 39c slant sledgehammer to reduce my Merkur 38c shaving time from 50+minute 3+passes to 30+minute for DFS (or BBS). During this time, the Feather SS' preciseness only saw my side-burns.

Now, after reading this thread and 'zonian reviews for Feather Pro Guard blades, I attempted the Feather SS with a Feather Pro Guard blade last night with great success.

EXPERIENCE:
After a 5-6 year shaving hiatus immediately followed by 4 months of safety-razor shaving, I am now a straight-razor shaving convert. With one-pass plus clean-up on the straight-razor, I have achieved similar results as a 3-pass plus clean-up on the Merkur slant safety-razor. This experience may have saved me from purchasing the Muhle R41 Grande Open Comb Safety Razor.

Since I am new to straight-razor-ish shaving, I hope I might help other open-minded individuals with my brief missionary stint.

With thick (in hair diameter) 1-day growth, I found it exceedingly difficult to feel the growth when using a more aggressive blade angle (the thin-growth sides took on the aggressive angle more easily). However, after reducing the growth down with a mild approach (think Feather Light blades), an aggressive angle was then achievable and smoother. Aside from a small cut due to an accidental bump to the mustache area, my experience with the Feather Pro Guard blade atop the folding Feather SS razor was smoother than I've ever experienced within my 4-month shaving comeback (I fell in love with the Alum block last night).

GOALS:
Starting with a cautious 40-minute shave time with the straight-razor last night, I hope to achieve less than 20-minute DFS shaves with practice. This will be a further reduction in time for a DFS with Merkur 39c slant (30-minutes) and Merkur 38c (50-minute) razors using Feather and Kai double-edge blades (Voskhad blades arriving soon; Personna Med Prep blades may be considered).

At the moment, I only carry the Feather Super and Pro Guard blades for the Feather SS razor. I hope to pick up the Professional blades next for a more realistic feel for straight razors. The Kai blades also see great interest.

My ultimate goal is to have minimal shave time while achieving smooth DFS and BBS shaves regardless of shaving apparatus. While I've romanticized an all-steel straight-razor, I don't mind waiting until retirement to indulge in my fantasy after I've afforded more free time. In the end, there can be only one shaving device that sits on my vanity.

Thanks again to all those who have shared their experiences on this thread.

I had all the Feathers and sold them. Recently reading about the Kai Captain I bought one on Amazon at a price I couldn't resist. About $80 less then a DX. I had some Proglide blades and took it out for a spin. No question in my mind that the Kai is every bit as good shaving as the Feathers. The quality isn't as good but if your using it once in awhile like me, it is an excellent choice. Used it again today and I really like it. Considering another DX. I have some fantastic straight razors and use them daily but the Kai shaves just as close.