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

Off topic but wouldn't you be able to strop the feather series? I never owned one but it seems like you would be able to.

I'm still impressed by the razors, have a folding and a non folding model. Both give a very nice shave.

Originally Posted by Mephisto

Off topic but wouldn't you be able to strop the feather series? I never owned one but it seems like you would be able to.

I tried it with mine but after a lap or two it seemed clear that the angle was too high because of the shape of the head. I'm on shave #39 with the blade I've been using over a month, a Feather Pro Guard, so there may not be much need for it anyway.

Stropping a Feather has been brought up several times on this forum. It is only possible with the Super, but the angle is still too sharp the do it right. The other blades do not stick out far enough to lay down. The real issue is why try? The whole purpose of using a disposable blade, well is to dispose of it. I say it is not worth it.

Originally Posted by Gammaray

I thought I was the only one who ever clanged the faucet with my SR. It only needed one time to keep me from ever doing it again. The Super blades easily handled 7 shaves with my dense, tough beard. I could probably push them further, but why? The Supers are so sharp that I think I will order the other two blade types just to see how they feel. It sounds like the ProGuard version is the most similar to a standard SR. Thanks to all of the contributors here for the valuable anecdotal feedback.

I became so convinced I was going to bang my SR on the faucet that I started using my soaking towel, folded and on the counter, to "strop off" the lather. And I remember my Barber Uncle using a towel on his shoulder or yours when I was a kid and he would shave my neck..he would clean the razor as he worked.

What would the "thread" think about a blade exchange program so that we can try the different types?
You should be able to tape them to a card, tape a protector over that and mail them in a standard envelope.

I have Feather Pros and Dorco Super Blades on hand and have some Kai Milds and Feather Pro Lights on the way.

I'd like to try Feather Pro Guard and Feather Super.

And they do seem to be like DE blades in that one persons perfect blade is the next guys version of shaving with a camp saw...

The only way to know is to give them a try.

Originally Posted by MJC

What would the "thread" think about a blade exchange program so that we can try the different types?
You should be able to tape them to a card, tape a protector over that and mail them in a standard envelope.

I have Feather Pros and Dorco Super Blades on hand and have some Kai Milds and Feather Pro Lights on the way.

I'd like to try Feather Pro Guard and Feather Super.

And they do seem to be like DE blades in that one persons perfect blade is the next guys version of shaving with a camp saw...

The only way to know is to give them a try.

I'm game, I only have the pro guard, but would like to try the pros and pro lights. Double O

P.S. PM me if you are interested on the exchange.

The Feather Super blades are truly incredible. After the eighth shave mine still easily passes the HHT at ~3-4 level anywhere along the edge. I am going to continue to push this blade a little further until it gives me an inadequate shave. But honestly I cannot tell any difference between my first shave and the eighth. Amazing.

An update on some different blades I tried.

Thanks to MJC, we where able to exchange some blades and after three shaves with the pro and four shaves with the pro-guard, I have form a personal opinion between them.

Both blades gives smooth, BBS shaves on my face with two passes (and some touch ups). I didn't feel a difference in the way both edges feel on my face. The pro and the pro-guard feel sharp, smooth, and in the feather artist SS, they feel like a real straight. The only difference I felt was going ATG on very hard hair, like the mustache area or the chin. Twice with the pro I drew a little blood from it on the mustache area. They where less than weepers but present. I found that going a little AXG with ATG, like I do with most of my steel straights, I was able to have a weeper free shave. In contrast to the pro-guard, that I can go almost true ATG and with very little pressure, get it weeper free.

My theory (with no scientific proof) is that the rib cage that the pro-guard blade have, act as a rigidity cage that lessen the tendency of a disposable thin edge to catch and dig in, when the edge is going against the grain, on thick hard hair.

So, my impression between them is, that the pros are cheaper (20 for $23 delivered) vs the pro-guards (15 for $24 delivered) and both give great shaves. However, if you have have thick hair and you shave ATG, then the pro-guard, will give you an advantage. But you could mitigate the advantage with good prep and some more realistic strokes on your harder hairs. I would use them both with a slight preference to the pro-guard.

Next I'll compare the feather light with the pro and pro-guard. But I'm taking a Sabbatic and going back to my full steal blades. Notice, how I don't call them real straight? That's because I consider the feather artist SS a real straight. It behaves, feel and cuts like the real thing (at least to me). One thing, for full disclosure, the very first shave with the artist, I wasn't as impress as with the other subsequent shaves. I used too much pressure for such a sharp blade, and ended up with some light razor burn all over the face, that I didn't get with the full steel blades (except for the very first straight razor shave). Once you dial in the pressure, it is like any other straight.

Would like to hear what others feel about the different blades they have tried with the artist feathers!

Double O

@Double0757: You seem to have good experiences with the pro-guard, good for you but I don't like them at all (shaves are worse then with the other blades and they are expensive), the lights are for me also a waist of money. My personal preference is: Pro - Dorco - Super Pro - KAI mild. But you should use whatever you like.

Originally Posted by Snuff

@Double0757: You seem to have good experiences with the pro-guard, good for you but I don't like them at all (shaves are worse then with the other blades and they are expensive), the lights are for me also a waist of money. My personal preference is: Pro - Dorco - Super Pro - KAI mild. But you should use whatever you like.

I also have the Dorco and Kai Mild (thanks to MJC), that I would be trying. It's going to take me a while to go through them. Between my regular rotation, the different blades for the Feather SS artist and one face, that's a lot of days to cycle them through. Once I diled the blade for my face, I know I'll be getting the best possible shave for my $ on the Feather SS Artist club! I'm in mission now!
Double O

P.S. Hey Snuff, don't know how expensive is to send things from Belgium to the US, but I will like to try the super pro's if you have one to spare. PM me if you can. I'll exchange with something (DE blades?).