Thread: Feather AC + C&E almond cream=surgery!

Wow Dude, sorry bout that...the Feather AC strikes again.

Wow, that's crazy. Guess that scar gets to live through to it's second generation though

OUCH!!!

Eddie

I read that even Lynn nicks himself with those things.
I wonder why they make them so lethally sharp.

Given what I've read so far, I would really not want to shave anywhere near my jugular veins with one of those things.

The thing with feathers is you can't use *any* pressure, some feather fans claim you have to use *negative* pressure (i.e. hold the razor off your face). But traditional straight are much more tolerant of pressure, you can use a surprising amount if you've got some experience (DE's are the same way BTW, this business about "letting the weight of the razor do the work" is only true for newbies).

If you've been using a straight for a long time, you're used to using pressure when you need it, but with the feather this will nick you; the problem is that the feather feels enough like a straight that your muscle memory keeps kicking in. I'm less likely to nick myself with a shavette+feather than I am with a Feather AC, just because the shavette feels so differently that the ingrained habits don't kick in.

This razor the feather AC is an amazing tool, it is incredibly sharp, the blade holder is heavier than a regular straight and it will not flex therefore it will cut your whiskers just like that, you will feel and hear nothing. If you wont to go in traditional straight, starting with a Feather is a good idea, I used it for two years, fine tune my technique and it was a piece of cake to use a regular straight since it is more forgiving. If you can shave with a Feather you can shave with anything. All in all Shaving with a traditional straight is more fun more rewarding providing that one can master the art of stropping and honing. I have the filling that the purist of this forum are not creasy about the feather witch is OK to me. I am mastering the art of straight razor but I will always keep my Feather as a base point of comparison to make sure that my straight have a perfect sharp edge beside that the expensive one is just a beautiful thing and it is very useful if you travel.

Have a great day

Norm.

Originally Posted by Norm58

I have the filling that the purist of this forum are not creasy about the feather witch is OK to me.

The feather has quite a few fans on this forum, as well as it's share of detractors, but the main reason it isn't discussed much is it's not that interesting, you just jack in a new blade and go. It's comparitively more interesting on the DE forums because it caters to both their obsession with sharp blades and the hope of ultimate BBS shaves, and they're used to harsh-feeling blades so they don't mind the downside. But with traditional straights its as much about the journey as the destination, and the Feather doesn't really offer that.

Originally Posted by mparker762

If you've been using a straight for a long time, you're used to using pressure when you need it, but with the feather this will nick you; the problem is that the feather feels enough like a straight that your muscle memory keeps kicking in. I'm less likely to nick myself with a shavette+feather than I am with a Feather AC, just because the shavette feels so differently that the ingrained habits don't kick in.

I have an AC, and now a Japanese version, in my rotation. When I use conventional str8s for a while and go back to any kind of Feather (AC or DE), the first stroke is always a surprize. Often, I'll nick myself.

I have to say, though, that being able to cut through a scar with no sensation is shocking. I find that it usually helps to slow down after not using the AC (especially the Japanese style) for a while. THe reality check avoids these kinds of mishaps.

I think it was a combination of the skin on my chin and the hastiness that you described Joe. I thought that I had gotten quite proficient with the Feather, and was moving along quite quickly due to my amazement with this new cream. Also, my chin is a mess from years of ice hockey and rugby. When you run your finger nail across the bottom of my chin, it literally gets caught on the large chunks of scar tissue

To add a bit to the current discussion, I find I like my feather blades the best after I have used them 3-4 times. Once they get dulled a bit, I find them a lot more forgiving and my skin doesnt feel as raw afterwards.

In any event, thanks for all the info contributed guys! Us feather users are a bit rare on the boards, and I love reading about fellow users' encounters!