I can't get a straight razor to work

**matloffm** · 06-24-2013, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I would bet the straight is sharper. If not it certainly is more stable, as in, less likely to bend under any pressure. I haven't been at this long but I have personally heard more stories of guys getting better shaves with a straight after switching as opposed to the other way around.

Shavettes that use ½ a DE do have a stability problem, in my opinion, but the Feather AC blades are much thicker and very stable. I don't have a tool to measure the Feather's thickness at the edge, but if you visually compare it to a full hollow just up to the edge, it is thinner. I also compared it to my Hart 6/8 and it is much thinner. I don't know if this gives it an advantage when an edge is created. Is that a general rule, the thinner the starting thickness the sharper the edge?

**onimaru55** · 06-24-2013, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by jameshob

So then I thought maybe I didn't strop well enough so I went back and took my time hitting the felt then the nylon and finally the leather and attempted to shave my head. It simply will not give me a close shave on my head or my face. My question is why can I get a perfect shave with the feather disposable blade straight razor but can't do anything with a fixed blade straight razor.

If you stropped heavily & with frustration the razor edge may now be a contributing factor.
The second question is usually to do with prep, lather & /or VIP,shaving angle. If you have the first 2 right try shaving with the blade flat on your face lifting the angle literally 1º at a time to find the optimal. You may be surprised to find just how flat the blade should be to shave correctly.

**IamSt8ght** · 06-24-2013, 01:52 AM

You have asked a question that is difficult to answer from a forum. Glad to hear you're not going to give up. The working part of a straight razor is you. I recommend you use your straight razor exclusively until you become proficient. It will happen. It may take some time and some mistakes, but you will get to the point where you are getting excellent shaves. Good luck!

**carlmaloschneider** · 06-24-2013, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by matloffm

...I realize that shaving forums do proselytize and that's great. This forum does so for straight razor shaving. But there are many posts from people having problems using straights (and on other forums other shave tools) where the advice centers on digging deeper into the various skill sets required to use the tool. I believe we should be more sophisticated then that. We should promote getting the most comfortable and acceptable shave from or chosen tool and be willing to acknowledge that for some shavers the straight (or DE, SE, …) may not be the way to go...

You're very right, however, I'd like to make a couple of points:

It IS the STRAIGHT razor place, so after all, if at times people assume shaving with a straight is the goal, then I guess they could be forgiven for that .
Your point is probably a great point as it strongly suggests when we try to help others we should gather some facts, such as what their goal is, what they know or don't know, and what they've done. As well as what they have access to (tools, people, knowledge).

Not that I know anything, really, but sometimes I see guys digging themselves deeper and deeper into a problem before anyone says "What sort of razor is it?" or "What are you trying to achieve?". As you suggest, some people are just after a decent shave; sometimes the first in their lives, and a straight may not be the right tool. Others have had many a 'nice' shave but want to shave with a straight; they want to shave with a straight and nothing else. The first question could be 'What do YOU want?". I

say this only because if I REALLY wanted to shave with a lovely vintage straight I'd be mightily saddened if someone directed me to a Feather.

I'd like to add that I'm agreeing with you, but just adding a bit of my own opinion...I just think your point is a very good one...

Carl

**carlmaloschneider** · 06-24-2013, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by gssixgun

One dumb question...

How much sharper do you guys think a Feather is then an Extra Hollow straight razor in microns ????? any guesses ???

With all due respect to everyone whose tastes lean that way, I don't care, and to quote that kid in The School of Rock "They're tacky and I hate them..."

The School Of Rock - You're Tacky And I Hate You! (HD) - YouTube

**bill3152** · 06-24-2013, 10:41 AM

The feather may be sharper but dont they use coatings like teflon or whatever? What happens to the coatings after 3 shaves? They come off. I guess a machine sharpened blade, ground so thin may end up with microchips(Im guessing) and why would they put a coating on if it wasnt necesary? Answer: they wouldnt cuz it costs time and money to do it. But if they didnt the blade would shave like crap! Ive used many de blades and the magic number was 4 shaves max before switching out with feathers, wilkinson swords lasted less than 3. But whoever finds the shavette or feather better for them should use them. I like my straights better, thats why I use em. If I liked a de blade better I would use that. And btw I shave with a shavette once a month. It humbles my honing skills! But in the end Im happy with what I got. And honing gives me an excuse to get away!

**matloffm** · 06-24-2013, 11:40 PM

bill3152, I think the Feather blade in question is the Artist Club line which is not a flexible DE blade but a more rigid custom designed single edge. It's the nature of the AC blade that leads shavers to compare shaving with the Feather AC and a straight. The ½ DE blade shavettes are not that appealing to me and not as comparable to straights. I'd rather use a DE blade in a DE razor. The Feather AC system is, in my mind, more like shaving with a frame-back straight.

**Lynn** · 06-25-2013, 01:17 AM

I hear this a lot and it is usually not the case.

With the disposable you can get away with a greater open angle than the straight razor when shaving. When using a straight razor, you really need to keep the razor almost vertical although the spine should not be touching your face. What most people do is hold the razor in an upright position and then when they start to shave, they bend their wrists back opening the angle up to as much as 90 degrees. Normally stropping is not the problem.

You should also just be shaving from one side burn to the jaw at first using light pressure and short little strokes with longer clean up strokes. Once the razor is cutting that area, you can then go to the cheeks, neck and save the chin for last. The overall learning experience is like starting all over again and you should treat it as such taking a couple weeks to get it down.

Have fun and hang in there.

Originally Posted by jameshob

I have tried all different angles and pressures. I'm not giving up on it though. I think it has to be my stropping. Can you over strop? Is there a way to test the razor as you strop to know when to quit?

**jameshob** · 07-02-2013, 03:01 AM

Thanks Lynn....sorry I haven't replied to this post but I just went on vacation and haven't had the time to login. I only brought my de razor with me on vacation to my in laws but I shaved with it and they have much hotter water than I have at my house and the razor cut through my whiskers like butter, much smother than ever before. We have 2 1/2 year old triplets so we keep the water a little on the cooler side. It still gets hot but not near as hot as at my in laws. When I get back home I'm going to focus more on prep and keeping the blade warmer to see if that helps.

**jameshob** · 07-02-2013, 03:05 AM

I have had very good results with my de and with my feather ac straight. I don't think it is even possible to get a better shave. I simply want to be able to sharpen strop and shave with a traditional fixed blade straight razor.

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