Thread: Parker shavette question?

Use both, actually the three, straights, Shavettes, and the Feather ac's. like all three types. Even the Parker clones that are delivered for under $5us.
Used a Parker clone on vacation every day for 2wks. Used it with a new Derby 1/2 blade each day. Great shaves.
Most of my straights are the 10-15$ eBay ones that I've 'fixed' up. More than once I've had to finish off a trail shave with a Shavette.

I am enjoying the shaving with my parker shavette, it seems in the US you can get them for 6 times cheaper than over here :/

I absolutely love shaving with my shavette. Haven't even tried a proper straight. Would love to but don't think I have the discipline to hone & strop on any kind if regular basis. Thought about getting one & having it professionally seen to but that just sounds expensive.

I will be getting my shavette today and trying out some passes with it this evening. Gotta start somewhere I suppose. I will most likely post a new thread later this evening to let you all know how it went. I have seen so many mixed reviews on the shavette, that it is good, bad, hard, easy once you get use to it and so on. Clearly it is a YMMV type of instrument. I have wanted to do straight shaving for a while now, but the funds were not available for the razor and strop setup just yet, so I will make do with this for a little while. This thread has been an interesting read as well though. Talk to you guys soon!

If you haven't yet.... Easier to use the 1/2 blades if you cut them in half rather than snapping them. They fix better as they're not bent.
Eventually you can buy the factory 1/2 blades. Derby. Shark. Etc

I started out with a Parker and did just fine. I don't think that telling everyone who is a beginner to steer clear of shavettes is the world's best advice.

Some people really aren't that interested in the maintenance aspect of shaving, and to those people, I say go for it. Get a shavette. As is the case with everything, there's a learning curve...the blades are sharper than a straight. In the beginning, you most likely get cut. As you learn your angles, you'll get better and won't cut yourself as often or at all.

Originally Posted by sharpy

BEGINNERS: Do not buy a shavette. Just buy a straight first. It doesn't cost anymore (whippeddog).

I have this razor and never really have a problem putting the blade in. I basically do it like above though. Theed first time I didn't know it came fully apart and slide the razor in the gap when the catch was up.

Originally Posted by Raulski

I absolutely love shaving with my shavette. Haven't even tried a proper straight. Would love to but don't think I have the discipline to hone & strop on any kind if regular basis. Thought about getting one & having it professionally seen to but that just sounds expensive.

This is why i stick with my SE.

I have a Parker and think it pretty good for travel. If the blade is a little crooked I give it a very gentle push with my finger to seat it before locking it in place. I also got a Monsieur Charles a couple weeks ago($3 shipped, I couldn't pass) and I think that's gonna be my new travel shavette. I personally don't see anything wrong with someone starting with a shavette. While they can be "harsh" they also remove a lot of variables that can be overwhelming at first. As far as technique, there is very little difference in my oppinion.

My only real complaint with the Parker that I got is that the scales are a bit on the chinsy side; it doesn't feel entirely solid (thinking they possibly used aluminum for the scales, and stainless steel for the spine and shank). It would have been nice for them to go stainless all the way through, but this doesn't effect the shaving aspects. Can anyone out there recommend another good brand of shavette that uses a half DE? I may look to replace mine when it finally goes kapputz.

Started on a Parker shavette. The trick to keeping the blade from moving off the pins is to separate the top holder a little and lay it on top of the already seated blade; then hold tightly together as you engage the hinged holder. At least it worked for me. It is pretty important to make sure the blade is sitting in the holder straight to avoid some nasty nicks/slices. Good luck