Thread: No more straights! Going all feather!

Originally Posted by Boarder277

i was thinking about picking up a Feather Shavette, but its like $120, so i wanted to ask you, do the longer feather blades work with and fit into the Parker Shavette razors?

For the sake of clarification - a "Shavette" is normally a reference to a shaving system that uses 1/2 of a DE Blade or a whole DE blade with only one edge exposed at a time.

Up from there is the Dovo system - I don't have any experience with them - someone will chime in please?

The Feather system has a several variants and with it several blade choices.

Razors can be Fixed - Kamisori style or folding.

At the low end price wise you have the CJB - a clone of the Feather RG Fixed that can be had for under $40 with a little searching.
At the upper end is the Feather DX (fixed and folding) and the Kai Excela that can get to the Two Benjamin range.
In between is the Feather SS, RG, Standard Kai.

Blades? Feather has the Super (sticks out farther) Pro, Pro Guard and Lights.
Kai has a Pink Mild and their version of the Pro Guard
Dorco from Korea makes a Super which very close to the Feather Pro. Good value but they are "Gray Market" so sometimes hard to find.

A little searching and you can get a Pro blade for $12/pack of 20 or $.60 each and with practice get 14-20 shaves out of one, we have members who get over a month out of a blade. Very YMMV.

The appeal? They are so sharp that you can get a DFS in one pass and a BBS in two (again, YMMV)
If you travel and can work out the logistics this is the best system I have found - A razor and almost a years worth of blades take as much room as a toothbrush holder.
A perfect edge is only seconds and less than $1 away.
The variables of stropping, razor care, sink dinking and "is it my technique or have I rolled the edge" are gone.
They are a commodity - so they hold their value, are easy to trade and maintain.

Starting out? Look for a used SS Folding and either Feather Pro guard (cost more, don't last as long for some but they seem to be a little easier to master for many) or Pro or Dorco Super blades.
Give it a week, you will cut and weeper yourself until you learn to dial down the angle and pressure and let the edge to the work. (There will be blood)
CJB's are another option but learning the way of the fixed is easy for some, and not so for others...

I've shaved with almost all of the Feather line and the CJB Fixed (and even the folding) and the Kai Excela. And I've used shavettes and "real straights" from 5/8 Whipped Doggies to 9/8 Lewis...
When I can my razor or choice is a something 7/8 and heavier grind and square of point. I just like them.
But when pressed for time or on the road and I need to keep the kit simple and efficient it's a Feather something...
And I can easily see how this could be someones only shaving system.

Hope that helps a little.

Smooth Shaving...

If I didn't enjoy the honing, stropping and shaving wasn't a hobby....and collecting all these old treasures...which I enjoy immensely, I'd use my Feather AC DX and never look back. IMHO, it's that good. But of course, that's me....YMMV.

Howard

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

If I didn't enjoy the honing, stropping and shaving wasn't a hobby....and collecting all these old treasures...which I enjoy immensely, I'd use my Feather AC DX and never look back. IMHO, it's that good. But of course, that's me....YMMV.

Howard

+1 - Well said...

Ok so here is my take on it. I too enjoy the hobby side of straights an DE's. I enjoy shaving with the antique straights an making sure they are pampered. MJC said it best an has been my biggest mentor to the feather system. I was initially turned away due to the price. After setting up some "loaners" an really working with the different styles, I have to say that IMO they are well worth the price. While I will not give up my real straights an DE's I will continue to use a feather of some type in rotation an definitely for my travel kit. I also will say that I agree that if not for the hobby side of this I could see myself never needing another razor. As previously stated they are that good.

Timely thread.

Been working allot lately - this sees me waking up later and later every morning! So this past couple of weeks has seen me dragging my DE into the shower with me more often than I am comfortable with.

Actually its a freaking crime!! I feel like I am cheating on my straights! So I got to wondering if maybe the Feather might not be the solution? Cuz night time shaving just isn't happening.

Thing is, a Feather would be no faster than a straight short of a little stropping unless I took it in the shower too. Heck! Shaving with a DE isn't that much faster than a straight for me either - its just that I can do it in the shower and forgo the lather building and clean up which when combined, is at min 5 minutes.

Anyone use their Feather in the shower??

Bah, Its a slippery slope as they say. Maybe I'll just get a Feather (less intimidating), some Acca Kappa goop, and shave at work lol! Or maybe I'll get a Feather and shave in the shower?

One thing is for certain - I can't seem to drag my lazy behind out of bed in a timely manor these days lol!

Originally Posted by earcutter

Timely thread.

Been working allot lately - this sees me waking up later and later every morning! So this past couple of weeks has seen me dragging my DE into the shower with me more often than I am comfortable with.

Actually its a freaking crime!!

I saw a video by Geofatboy where he said that using a straight in the shower wasn't advisable. He said that the razor could slip out of your hand, and cut something off on the way down! something to keep in mind :-)

Earcutter, I wont tell you what or how to shave as it is your decision. I am ok with a DE in the shower if it saves you the time. While I don't see any adverse affects to the feathers from being in the shower environment, I will say that slippery hands + no clothes+ STUPID SHARP blades= lopping off the family tree so to speak. I think I would stick to the DE if time doesn't allow a sink shave. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by RollinCoal69

Earcutter, I wont tell you what or how to shave as it is your decision. I am ok with a DE in the shower if it saves you the time. While I don't see any adverse affects to the feathers from being in the shower environment, I will say that slippery hands + no clothes+ STUPID SHARP blades= lopping off the family tree so to speak. I think I would stick to the DE if time doesn't allow a sink shave. Just my opinion.

I'm with the "don't bring a Feather in to the Shower" crowd on this one - we don't want to see anyone get hurt (person or blade)

On the speed of the feather side - I have turned out some pretty good one pass shaves with the Feather, certainly better than a 2 pass Cart shave as far as close. True there is a limit to how much you can rush, you do need to focus on the blade at hand.
Yes you can strop quickly - for me the post shave care is as much or more time than the pre-shave (rinse, wipe, strop, wipe with oil) as apposed to the rinse dunk in alcohol with a Feather.

Smooth Shaving...

Originally Posted by bruseth

I saw a video by Geofatboy where he said that using a straight in the shower wasn't advisable. He said that the razor could slip out of your hand, and cut something off on the way down! something to keep in mind :-)

Thanks brother - didn't think of that lol!!

Originally Posted by earcutter

Thanks brother - didn't think of that lol!!

Aren't you married with kids - why worry about stuff that's already useless