My Feather experience

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11-03-2009, 02:57 AM
gugi

My Feather experience

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. First, I've bee hearing these blades are really sharp to the point of may people finding them too sharp. Then my good friend Glen tested a feather for a week and sent me the used blade to check under microscope what shaving does to them.
So I decided to give it a try myself and recently acquired a feather razor. It is the foldable type like a straight razor, and made of brass, the one that's least expensive $100 or so.
I also got some of the 'pro' blades, but for starters I thought I'd use the new regular blade that I got from Glen (thanks Logistics for sending an extra!).

So, my first impressions:

- This thing is sharp and smooth! It is the sharpest and smoothest edge I've ever experienced, no doubt about that.
- I didn't have any issues shaving with it, meaning no nicks or cuts.
- It would've caught the same place where my straights do if I'm not careful - on an ATG stroke at the corner of my moustache, where I managed to nick myself once and it must've left a tiny scar which I don't see, but a razor's edge always seems to find it and cut it again if I'm not careful and stop on time.
- I don't like it as much as a straight razor. It feels a bit weird, perhaps it's the heft of the razor combined with the flexibility of the edge, but it feels a bit like shaving with a DE razor. I think I want to try the lighter stainless version.

I'll give it few more tries, hopefully I can try the stainless version, and with other blades too, but I doubt it will replace any of my straights. I think it could work quite well for travel, if I don't want to carry regular straight and strop.
11-03-2009, 03:15 AM
brokeup

I have the Japanese feather and it does a great job, but I guess not having perfect technique I always seem to cut myself with these blades. When you get it right best shave ever but if not I am donating blood.. Lol I did find the super pro blades alot more forgiving though.
Now for a shamless plug!... Since I couldn't master the feather I have mine on eBay right now almost new in original box with about 40+ new blades going with it starting bid $100.00 ! It's a good deal if you want to try a feather out!
11-03-2009, 01:47 PM
Obie

My Feather Experience

My dear Gugi,

You are so right with your thoughts on the Feather.

I have the Feather with wood scales, so I imagine it would be slightly lighter than the one you tried. I take it on my trips, though recently, after purchasing a travel-size Tony Miller strop, I also take a regular straight razor along.

For me, too, the Feather will never replace the regular straight. The romance isn't there.

Regards,
Obie
11-03-2009, 04:48 PM
JimmyHAD

I've been tempted to buy one but from what I've read of experienced straight shavers having to be hyper vigilant when using them I've decided against it. Even with the DE slant the Feather blades tended to leave weepers. Certainly sharp but not necessarily comfortable like the edge off of an Escher or a good coticule.
11-03-2009, 04:55 PM
JonnyO

I used a Feather AC for a year before buying my first "real" straight razor. The shave was always smooth, but it was to hard to use first thing in the morning. To easy to cut myself cause there is NO feedback compared to a hollow ground blade. It was an effective tool, but it lacks enough feedback to get use of all that cutting power. And where is the romance? The hones, strops, steels, grinds, bringing back a 100 year old blade. Etc. Etc. YMMV!
11-03-2009, 09:28 PM
huntmol

I tried one for a while - pretty interesting experience, and it gave me a pretty good shave, but for me it could never replace a good steel straight! I just love blades with history.
11-03-2009, 09:59 PM
CRR

I too have a Feather and it does give a good shave, but it's analogous to a DE shave. It appears to be very close and comfortable, but my experience is that the str8 shaves closer.

I base my conclusion on the fact that when I shave with a DE or Feather, I get the BBS shave, but my wiskers come back in say 10-12 hours later. When I use my str8 at the 10-12 hour mark, I'm still smooth with barely any wiskers if any. For example, last night I finished my shave at ~9pm. It's almost 3pm the next day now and I'm still skin smooth with some wiskers starting to emerge on the neck and face, but still pretty smooth WTG.

I cannot achieve that with a DE or Feather.
11-06-2009, 03:33 AM
JohnnyCakeDC

I agree with you guys. The Feather Leaves me with weepers after I did my best job not to get them. It has no feedback/response. I use the sound of whiskers popping ATG as a guide. Not a fan of wedges/ framebacks either. And as said before.... Where's the romance?! I'd have to be pretty hard up to take that to my face. Thumbs down from me.
11-06-2009, 05:52 AM
northpaw

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I started out with a feather and pro blades, I much prefer them to the super pro ones. If I am in a rush, I will reach for my feather.

That's interesting, since it sounds like others are saying you need to be more careful with one than with a regular straight. Why is it better for those times you're in a rush? Fewer passes needed or something?
11-12-2009, 04:04 PM
ZMKA

I have a Feather AC DX and I use the Super Pro blades. I have recently acquired a similar razor which also uses the Feather Super Pro blades - the KAI Captain Excelia.
The Excelia has become a daily shaver for me because its so low maintenance and I can get a really close shave with it. Plus I can finish my shave in about 10 minutes - start to finish. So, weekdays generally get the KAI and weekends are reserved for my folding straights.

2 passes usually gets the job done, and I don't get weepers and I don't cut myself with it anymore. It may be that the sticking point for experienced straight shavers is the difference in the bevel. While a regular straight requires about a 30 degree angle, if you try to do that with a Feather AC you will be carving off layers of dermis - not good. The angle has to be very slight with a Feather AC/KAI Excelia as many of you know.

I love the romance of using my western straights, but most of the time shaving is still a pedestrian responsibility rather than a rendezvous with my razors. I like my sleep, so I tend to leave just enough time to get ready and get to the office. The Feather and the KAI are a big help in that regard. They save me a lot of time. For that, I am an advocate, and I actually really do enjoy using them.
11-12-2009, 05:07 PM
ChrisL

Quote:

Originally Posted by northpaw

That's interesting, since it sounds like others are saying you need to be more careful with one than with a regular straight. Why is it better for those times you're in a rush? Fewer passes needed or something?

The reason a Feather AC provided faster shaves for me than a straight is because the Feather really is a whisker squeegee. A one pass WTG shave with a Feather was close to a two pass WTG & XTG shave with a straight for me. Netsurfr loaned me his Feather AC and either some Pro Super or Pro blades for a few weeks.

Unlike Gugi who hasn't cut himself with a Feather, I gave myself a small scar on my cheek when I stupidly performed an incorrect scything stroke and shaved off a piece of my cheek the depth of the exposed blade which isn't much. I don't like the clunky blade housing and as others have said, zero feedback/flex. I'm glad I tried one though.

Chris L
11-12-2009, 06:22 PM
Bill S

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've been tempted to buy one but from what I've read of experienced straight shavers having to be hyper vigilant when using them I've decided against it. Even with the DE slant the Feather blades tended to leave weepers. Certainly sharp but not necessarily comfortable like the edge off of an Escher or a good coticule.

Jimmy, pm me if you want to try one.