Feather and Kai shaves

[chazt]

Thanks @Estariol for steering us toward blades. I’ve used these so far. All but two of my RBSR shaves have been with the Kais. They sure do last a long time! The Feather Pro Light was mildly trepidatious in the DX but I can see it being tameable in that and even sooner in the SR or Woody. The Proline was simply too beastly at this point. I was both surprised and disappointed with that discovery as the Proline injector blade in my Asylum Injector is unequivocally my smoothest and overall most efficient blade-safety razor combo. Seems I didn’t factor in the size of the blades themselves and the presence or lack of a safety bar.

I was looking at my blade stash and saw that I have two similar but different packages. A bit of google searching on the web indicated that these are the same blade with different packaging.

As I understand the ai search results, the blades are identical. The box labeled Pink is newer packaging. I don’t remember which vendor supplied the older or newer packaging.

And apparently there’s still another variety of Kai, the Kai Captain Titan Mild which uses the same propriety manufacturing process sans guards

Then, I still have these others below in what may turn out to be a slow moving queue. Thanks to @Twelvefret for the box of Proguards . I suspect they’ll get the nod after the SoftGuards.

The other tidbit (seems I didn’t screenshot it) I learned was regarding the two blue boxes of Captain blades. As I understand it, the bladeslabeled simply “Captain Titan Mild” have a different coating which is reputed to feel smoother and less crispy, or, “in your face” for lack of a better term.

Thanks staying with my rambling. I hope it’s coherent.

The RBSR shaventure shall continue

 

[chazt]

Maybe not unlike their blades, the Kai razors are milder in character?

I can't find any information about blade exposure for the Kai line up compared to the Feather razors.

Excellent point.

 

[chazt]

Maybe not unlike their blades, the Kai razors are milder in character?

I can't find any information about blade exposure for the Kai line up compared to the Feather razors.

Kai Woody with freshly installed Feather Pro Light. Next to nothing. Think I’ll go with this combination for a while. Even though I don’t need one, perhaps I’ll have a shave later today just to see if I can make it work.

Same blade in the SR

 

[Twelvefret]

Kai Woody with freshly installed Feather Pro Light. Next to nothing. Think I’ll go with this combination for a while. Even though I don’t need one, perhaps I’ll have a shave later today just to see if I can make it work.
View attachment 183732

Since you have both brands, why not measure the the Kai blades. Since we already know the width of Feather AC blades, we can compare and you will know the relative exposure.

 

[Twelvefret]

When I first started in 2018 I related shaving with an SR with cutting a steak. Think of trying to cut meat with the angle you use to shave...you can't. The only way to cut yourself is if the angle allows. Maintaining a correct angle makes it impossible to cut your skin. This is true for any blade. This is why barber apprentices practice on an inflated ballon with later. https://youtube.com/shorts/hPCFWEOTIeI?si=vEFTAlvdQg6Zhrvf

I cut myself not when I am shaving but when I am not paying attention or, as I did last week, when I went straight into the underside of my chin instead of rolling, another reason to have dry hands. If there is the least bit of hesitancy, don't. Wait and plan out your moves. Check the whole area the blade will be working and make sure all is a flat as possible.

Have a relaxed grip of the holder. Feel your fingers flex. Bring the holder to you face flat and let the blade do all the work. For me, a sharp edge is safer than a dull edge.

These are just some thoughts, and it is entirely possible I have no idea what I am talking about.

 

[Estariol]

Here's my PERSONAL experience with blades from roughly 4 yrs ago up to now:
Kai Protouch MG guarded - the first one i tried, gave me 27 shaves before i felt it starting to struggle, smooth and sharp
Kai Titan Mild - my favourite overall, 26 shaves, smooth and sharp
NOTE: some of the blades never got a total number of shaves because of mishaps like dropping the blade or bumping it into the faucet
Feather Pro Super - my favourite in the SS clone, a tad bit much in the DX
Kai Captain - couldn't figure out if it was harsh or too sharp or my developing technique, least favourite of all, but thinking of buying a sample again, just to find out
Feather Pro - it does the work really good but not as good as theKai Titans
Feather Proguard - as good as the Pro, but seemed like the guards irritated my freshly shaved skin unlike the guarded Kai,either due to "sharper", OR, lesser number of guards, so the splash stung more than it should. The only one that was not a victim of a mishap, but it collects dust.
Schick Proline P-30 - the latest acquired, smooth as fu**, like it a lot, but still an ongoing experience alongside my straight razors smo no definite shave number
Knowing the nature of my whiskers i didn't bother with the Pro Light blade...

Kai Woody with freshly installed Feather Pro Light. Next to nothing. Think I’ll go with this combination for a while. Even though I don’t need one, perhaps I’ll have a shave later today just to see if I can make it work.
View attachment 183732

Just an observation: i hope i'm wrong, but this seems like it will need a noticeable angle adjustment compared to a regular sized blade...

 

[chazt]

It was a solid learning shave today. Frustrated with my difficulty finding the angles with the Kai, I thought, well ok, I’ll try an unguarded blade in Woody, see how it goes. The Feather Professional Light blade seemed the obvious choice, being the narrowest unguarded blade at my disposal. It says, “Light,” on the box for crying out loud! Man, lemme tell you, they are not kidding. After just three strokes on my left cheek I realized the futility of carrying on. It felt like I needed to dig down hard but figured that wasn’t a very wise move. And so with @Estariol ’s suggestion,

Since you are getting good shaves from the SR, i suggest a trial an unguarded blade in that one, see where it goes. I suggest the Kai Titan Pink, the same sharpness as the guarded MG without the guards.

I moved the Pro Light into the SR and gave myself a very decent three pass shave with an unguarded blade. Btw, what a ginormous difference in auditory feedback! First time I heard buttering toast with an RBSR.

I’ll say this (now with limited shave experiences to draw upon), it seems the Kai Woody, anecdotally speaking of course, seems perceptibly milder on my face re: blade exposure compared to the Feather SR. I don’t have the necessary instruments to measure anything properly. But here they are again. Same blade in both. Exposure seems the same, but it’s all hand held and repositioned, so all bets are off. Could be the inherent design as @Masamune suggests. I also seem to remember more than one person mention something about Feather Light blades only working in Feather holders.

 

[Twelvefret]

Here is the Professional Super installed in a folding SS.