Another Perthite - Feather AC?

RazorPlay

RazorPlay

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2016
Location
Perth
Hi all

I was directed to online shaving resources by someone on a motorbike forum after 25 years of shaving with mostly disposables but also electrics. I had worked out most of it on my own from what worked - brush, real lather, shower prep, the more blades the worse etc etc but I knew nothing of these DE things and straights just seemed too hard with no-one to guide me.

But I always remembered the straight shave from the barber of my youth and would love to get that good myself. So the last few weeks I've just been soaking up online info on the whole scene - I just had no idea! Anyway, once I saw a kamisori it was love at first sight - I just have to master one of those things. The challenge alone! I ride motorbikes so I live with risk...

Anyway, I've also got a job and three young kids so I know the prospect of stropping and honing etc just isn't realistic right now. But I don't want to compromise on the quality of my shave that I know is possible with straights and want to develop a new skill at the same time.

So I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the Feather Artist Club series (esp the DX)? Seems like a good compromise for a better shave and still much cheaper than cartridges on blades (but not upfront)?

Cheers and thanks for the great forum you guys have here - I've picked up some great stuff through my lurking already...
 
Cheers everyone!

Mark1966 said:
Welcome @RazorPlay !

So do you use a DE now?
Click to expand...

Not yet. Up until three weeks ago I had no idea anyone still made them - I was just going by what I saw on the supermarket shelf! After doing a fair bit of research on DEs in my recent online travels I was all set to pull the trigger on a Rockwell 6S. But I thought I would just check out a bit of info on straights first in case I'm missing something in that world, knowing how good the shave can be. Which is when I came across the Feather system...

My main issues with shaving are:
- Neck irritation - only avoided at the expense of a bad shave and 12'oclock shadow - I can get an OK shave everywhere else on the best disposables I could find (Gillette Blue 2) but my neck never had a good result. Electrics made it worse...
- Multi day growth and clogged cartridges / disposables! The bane of my existence! I have thick stubble and even with one short stroke after a few days growth I could be digging in between the blades with the end of a shaving brush trying to clear it - and I would be doing this many times per shave! Such a PITA!!! I hope you can feel my frustration after putting up with this @^%%$ for twenty years... again, electrics were no better.
- Disposing of and using plastic stuff all the time..
- Never getting BBS anyway.
- Remembering how great that barber's shave was!

So the attraction of a straight where I can change the angle is that I don't want to do this with half measures. After living with such a poor tool for so long I want to just go for the best tool I can find and spend my time learning that. I would love a western kamisori but time is limited in my life with a busy job etc and I'm just trying to be realistic that taking the time to learn how to shave with a straight / kamisori will be enough to be getting on with - adding a steep learning curve in stropping / honing / blade care to that I just don't think is realistic for me now - hence the Feather idea. Later I would like to get into the whole box and dice - perhaps once I feel I have some more experience with straight shaving. I've heard the Feather can be less forgiving but that hasn't been enough to put me off the idea yet... but maybe I just have my head in the clouds?

That's how I feel about it anyway but one of the reasons for joining up is to get people's feedback on my best laid plans! Without learning the hard way like I have up until now!
 
I have a Feather AC SS razor and enjoy it so much, I tend to use de razors also but find that I can achieve a much nicer shave on my neck in particular with fewer passes with a shavette.
I will be buying a DX hopefully for Christmas or next year if I can afford it but in the meantime I have the SS to fall back on.
If you are just starting out with the Shavette then I would suggest starting of with the proguard blades and going up to the professional blades after that.
The proguard blades will be sharp but also very forgiving.
I didn't find it at all hard to adapt or use but the best advice I can give is to hang in there with it and do not be to afraid as you will surely lose focus and just irritate your skin as you go over and over the same spots.

I find that as your confidence builds you can take longer strokes when need be and complete fewer passes to get the results you want.
 
G'Day and welcome to another 2 wheeled pilot.
So many of my friends had a similar irritation to that which you describe - I thought it was from the helmet strap and sweaty summer months (and I'm sure that didn't help)
IMHO so much of that is due to using too much pressure.
If I might suggest ensuring that you 'map' your face so that you know which direction the whiskers grow and keep telling yourself (as I did for months) light pressure, light pressure.
Sure, cut-throats are a steep learning curve, however, learning one skill at a time is the key - get a 'shave ready' razor and strop (many here will help) - while learning to use them, get to know some of the locals who can provide some guidance - enjoy the learning experience - get another 'shave ready' razor so that you can send the first one out for honing and have a good one to use (this is where RAD starts) - should you choose to, learn honing from one of the locals who you have, by now, formed a close relationship with.
See - EASY AS.
Oh yeah, by the way, I've been doing this for some years now and when I use a kamisori, it STILL looks like someone threw a cat at my face FWIW
Hope this helps.
 
Thanks again all...

Havachat45 said:
G'Day and welcome to another 2 wheeled pilot.
So many of my friends had a similar irritation to that which you describe - I thought it was from the helmet strap and sweaty summer months (and I'm sure that didn't help)
IMHO so much of that is due to using too much pressure.
If I might suggest ensuring that you 'map' your face so that you know which direction the whiskers grow and keep telling yourself (as I did for months) light pressure, light pressure.
Sure, cut-throats are a steep learning curve, however, learning one skill at a time is the key - get a 'shave ready' razor and strop (many here will help) - while learning to use them, get to know some of the locals who can provide some guidance - enjoy the learning experience - get another 'shave ready' razor so that you can send the first one out for honing and have a good one to use (this is where RAD starts) - should you choose to, learn honing from one of the locals who you have, by now, formed a close relationship with.
See - EASY AS.
Oh yeah, by the way, I've been doing this for some years now and when I use a kamisori, it STILL looks like someone threw a cat at my face FWIW
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, much food for thought there... I completely agree on the pressure - just in the last couple of weeks I have tried that with my disposables, on top of better prep and there has been a big improvement. Still not as close as I would like (even with multiple passes) but the irritation is much better. Mind you, it's hard to let the razor do the work when it has no weight to it...
Is there anyone who does honing in Perth?

Psmith said:
Hi @RazorPlay and welcome.
You may be in luck. I believe @Draco Noir has an excellent one for sale here at a great price.
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Cheers for that - I might have to ask nicely!

Rusty Bridges said:
I have a Feather AC SS razor and enjoy it so much, I tend to use de razors also but find that I can achieve a much nicer shave on my neck in particular with fewer passes with a shavette.
I will be buying a DX hopefully for Christmas or next year if I can afford it but in the meantime I have the SS to fall back on.
If you are just starting out with the Shavette then I would suggest starting of with the proguard blades and going up to the professional blades after that.
The proguard blades will be sharp but also very forgiving.
I didn't find it at all hard to adapt or use but the best advice I can give is to hang in there with it and do not be to afraid as you will surely lose focus and just irritate your skin as you go over and over the same spots.

I find that as your confidence builds you can take longer strokes when need be and complete fewer passes to get the results you want.
Click to expand...
Thanks - good to know. One of the main attractions is the potential to get a good result with fewer passes... to me, it seems logical that the combination of a very sharp blade and adjustable angle should mean the lightest pressure and fewest passes = less irritation, with the best result.
 
Sxot said:
Feathers are expensive, but good.
I offer the following for your consideration: http://thestraywhisker.com.au/the-black-powder-stainless-steel-powder-coated-shavette/

As to stropping and honing... I also have three kids 11 and under. No problems finding the time for a those things. Honing is irregular, stropping only takes a couple of minutes per shave... I say skip the shavette, and grab a real blade!
Click to expand...

Ahhhh, so many options now! So.... a couple of questions then if I may:
- If a proper western kamisori style was going to be the choice - what would be a good option? I'm not looking for "bling" - just a good shave and maybe a round point to learn with...? To use the inevitable car analogy - something around the Toyota level?
- What's it worth to get a similarly Toyota level set of strops and hones. From what I have seen so far I can see this is like asking how long is a piece of string but if you just wanted to keep your edge up for the type of shave you expect from the tool, what's the right level of investment?
- Have you tried a shavette like that? It seems pretty good value for stainless although why you would powder coat stainless is beyond me! The reason I liked the idea of the Feather is the longer blades similar to the length of a real blade - to me as an absolute noob that seems a bit safer at the edges. Is that right?

Thanks again for the help!
 
RazorPlay said:
Ahhhh, so many options now! So.... a couple of questions then if I may:
- If a proper western kamisori style was going to be the choice - what would be a good option? I'm not looking for "bling" - just a good shave and maybe a round point to learn with...? To use the inevitable car analogy - something around the Toyota level?
Click to expand...

I'm no expert on Kami's so I'll leave that up to or resident experts such as @Draco Noir

RazorPlay said:
- What's it worth to get a similarly Toyota level set of strops and hones. From what I have seen so far I can see this is like asking how long is a piece of string but if you just wanted to keep your edge up for the type of shave you expect from the tool, what's the right level of investment?
Click to expand...

Hones are a black pit. How long is a piece of string indeed! You need to decide which path you want to go down; Synth, or Natural, then which of those two, glass or grid synths, Japanese Naturals, Coticals etc etc. Personally I have a 1k synthetic bevel setter ($100) and a Japanese Natural with a couple of Naguras. ($200 to thousands!). I went with this to get an excellent edge with a little outlay as possible.

At the start, if all you want to do is keep the edge keen, then once every couple of months sent out of honing ($25) all you require is a strop with a pasted linen component. This would be as little as $50. The next step would be to decide on a finisher and do you own maintenance. Price here depends on which stones you go for. Then you can add lower grits as required.

RazorPlay said:
- Have you tried a shavette like that? It seems pretty good value for stainless although why you would powder coat stainless is beyond me! The reason I liked the idea of the Feather is the longer blades similar to the length of a real blade - to me as an absolute noob that seems a bit safer at the edges. Is that right?
Click to expand...

I personally have not shaved with a shavette. A few here have however and were surprised with them. What you say is correct, that style has a shorter blade length but I don't reckon that would be a problem. Certainly I could live with it given the cost of a Feather. You can buy a very nice Straight or Kami for the price of a feather.

It would be tempting to use a DE snapped in half in that razor too, but be warned; DE's have sharp corners. Shavette blades which are the same as a DE snapped in half, have round corners, but again, are more expensive. ~60c. Just something to be aware of. I certainly wouldn't start out with half a DE.
 
Sxot said:
Hones are a black pit.
Click to expand...
Yes - I noticed that! I'm not keen on sending out for honing all the time - mucking around at the post office like that would get old quick for me!

And I'm sure that I will want as good an edge as possible so I will be up for a bunch of $$$ and time on hones by the looks of things. Not that I wouldn't find it enjoyable but only if I can find the time!

But as you say the Feather ain't cheap either...

Decisions, decisions... nice to have options - I guess!
 
Welcome @RazorPlay!

Many words spoken about Shavette/Feather Artist/Kamisori, so I won't litter the place with a lot more.

A real Western Ground Kamisori won't come very cheap - they tend to be the province of custom makers. They do however offer the closest thing to a genuine Kamisori or straight razor shave. If that's the direction you decide to go, allow U$250+

As far as Shavettes and Feather Artist Club DX are concerned, the Feather is without doubt a more pedigree instrument. It also rewards good technique with superb shaves, but expect to invest in developing the necessary technique. It will set you up with a solid base for any kind of "naked blade" shaving. There is a Feather on offer in the BST forum, as somebody pointed out above.

As far as maintenance is concerned, stropping should be sufficient to get you through the first few months. This gives you time to explore options for honing etc, and get what you want in a leisurely and informed manner.

Feel free to PM me if you want any help with all this :)

Cheers :)
 
I am assuming you are just starting out as traditional wet shaver so my advice would be is to get yourself a Feather Artist Club SS Shavette or a Kai (if you can find it cheap) that way you can spend the rest of your money on other items such as blades, soap, a brush, Alum and aftershave. Once you are sure it is something you like then sure jump up to a DX or even a straight but given what I have read it seems like you are keen but also not wanting to blow a lot of money (which can easily happen) on this which is commendable.

A Feather Artist Club SS razor can be had for reasonably cheap from various places including from overseas, I bought mine locally from mensbiz for $199 a while ago but I believe they can now be had from The Stary Whisker for as low as $129.

I don't know if it's just sheer luck or me being biased but Feather shavette blades seem to stay sharper longer, they are also much thicker than regular DE blades.
I do like the weight of the Feather shavette in comparison to my inexpensive Sedaf shavette which is extremely light and uses a snapped in half DE blade (although you cut buy some purpose made precut blades.

I'd start by adding up the costs of everything you want apart from the razor and then consider your options with the money you have left. :)
 
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From what I have read and my own experience (tried 4 shavettes, but no straight): shavettes are the hardest to master - especially half DE blade ones...

Go for full DE blades ones, or better ones that take artist club, injector or hair shaper blades...or even ones that have an extra guard!

As for sensitive skin: if you are prone to ingrown hair, this is usually due to the growth pattern of your beard. You have hair growing in different directions in the same area - so a WTG pass for some hair will be a ATG pass for others - resulting in ingrown hair. For me one of the best solutions is J-hooking in that area.

Real sensitive skin, is if your skin is - well really sensitive. You are prone to nicks and cuts, bleed easily and your skin is not happy with every soap (ingredient). Now again, I have never tried a straight - but I can tell you that super sharp is super bad for that type of skin (again my own experience). You want smooth and effective...

Now if you are prone to ingrown hair AND have really sensitive skin - maybe coupled with a course and dense beard (welcome to my world) - you need to:
A - do many passes due to the density and strange growth pattern of your beard (I prefer 4 passes)
B - be on the other hand gentle to your skin (light prep, clean sops, perfect lather, effective razor/blade combination)

To be honest I doubt, that it is the case with you, as you have fond memories of barber shaves. I had only 1 really good barber shave in my life, the rest were...painful, bloody and resulted in a not so happy face.

Another problem with straights/shavettes: you can't easily shave in weird angles and do techniques like J-hooking. So you will have to make compromises (especially at first) in regards to your beard growth pattern.

Of course if you don't have a real sensitive skin and have a pure N-S or S-N growth - disregard everything I said - your issues arise most likely from the use of canned goo coupled with too much pressure and too many blades in the cartridge.

You can probably shave with a chainsaw, a piece of obsidian or a screw and nut coupled with a feather blades (maybe google the last 2 options) :D :D :D
 
Wow gents - thank you once again for taking so much time to help me out!

I think I'm still leaning towards giving the Feather system a go. It just takes out one variable in the learning process of wondering whether the blade is sharp. And provides a quick option even if I go with more conventional straights / kamis later - the reviews on Amazon are invariably positive as well.

@alfredus you're right my skin isn't that sensitive - I have always had a better result the sharper the blade and while my beard grows in different directions, it only does that in different places! So I guess I'm one of the lucky ones! I believe my neck issues were most about poor technique and also a bit about the tools at hand...

@Rusty Bridges the budget isn't as important as the result - I just don't want to drop a lot of money on something when a bit more research could have avoided a disappointment. Been there before! I am allowing a decent amount for the right prep and other items on top of the Body Shop brush and Mennen Shave Stick I've been using for the last decade (!) - although I doubt I'll be spending quite as much as I can see some do here! But no doubt they thought the same when they started...

@Draco Noir thanks again for the help and the PM. Decisions, decisions....
 
I understand and it's an absolute given that you are going to initially be spending a lot more money than you would normally do on a cartridge system given that everything about that kinda level of shaving is largely procured from supermarkets.
There are people here that will easily spend upwards of $250 on a custom brush so to that extent I would say a budget is a good idea hahaha, trust me it is so easy to get caught up into it all. :D
There are some great quality items to be found in specialist shops such as Mensbiz, Beard and Blade, Pureman, The Stray Whisker etc (all local stores) all of which will have much better quality items than anywhere else for a reasonable price.
Also consider ordering from stores located overseas as there are some great items and prices to be found for items you wouldn't overwise get here or at least at that price.
I don't really know of anyone selling a Feather DX here in Australia but I do believe that Menbiz is selling a kai brand (very good and compatible with feather blades) shavette for $199. The Kai's edge is similar to the DX as opposed to the SS which has a bit of bump lip on the edge which supposedly makes for a more comfortable shave. Both the Feather DX and Kai Captain Standard razor will allow you to get a closer shave but require a little more skill.
There is no doubt you can get great results from any one of the three straight razors as well as even a DE razor keeping in mind that there is a learning curve to all of them to achieve those results you want. Apart from the multitude of problems that come with cartridge razors they are designed to be a one size fits all razor with no level of personalization which contributes to the problems you have come across.
@alfredus has made a lot of good points and I definitely feel that the canned shaving cream is a part of the problem also.
 
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