Feather shaves

Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
I think Charlie did it right. He got the SR first to see if he liked using a straight razor. Then he followed up with the DX. This provides him with one he can learn on and one to aspire toward. His choice to get the Kai means he has one with wooden scales and enough difference in design to fill out whatever is missing from the Feathers. I personally think the Kai head design resembling hollow grounding is very attractive.

Kamisori options certainly include clones, but they also include used originals. Kai made some very interesting Kamisori models in carbon fiber and the Excelia. I saw an Excelia last week on eBay. There will be others, just have to keep watch.
 
chazt

chazt

shave
Estariol said:
Yeah, but honestly, i simply can't afford the original right now... And if i didn't buy the DX clone, i wouldn't have saved up to buy the original... And even that one i bought used, via this forum, huge cheers to @Andy_Shaves :cheers:
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Totally understand. It’s something we do to scratch the want itch. I’ve done that with guitars in the past. Years and years ago I thought I wanted a 12 string guitar. I found a decently made off brand, and liked it enough to know I wanted a “good” one. After diligent saving, that first guitar was traded up for a better one. And similarly, I once bought a cheap Telecaster but the real one never materialized because I didn’t feel comfortable on that guitar. Bought a Strat instead.

This shaving hobby of ours has so many gearful (new word!) opportunities to discover new toys and tools. I think what makes us hobbyists is that we don’t stop buying tools even though we already get brilliant shaves and don’t really need more gear. Plus, we can each individually outfit a small regiment of hairy people. So no, we don’t need more gear we just want more gear. It makes our brains itch. Well, mine anyway. To say it bluntly, “Scratch those itches, shave brothers!”
 
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chazt

chazt

shave
Twelvefret said:
I think Charlie did it right. He got the SR first to see if he liked using a straight razor. Then he followed up with the DX. This provides him with one he can learn on and one to aspire toward. His choice to get the Kai means he has one with wooden scales and enough difference in design to fill out whatever is missing from the Feathers. I personally think the Kai head design resembling hollow grounding is very attractive.

Kamisori options certainly include clones, but they also include used originals. Kai made some very interesting Kamisori models in carbon fiber and the Excelia. I saw an Excelia last week on eBay. There will be others, just have to keep watch.
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I originally had my eye on the SR because it seemed like a good technical entry point to the format, but I waited too long before clicking buy now (my wife used to say, “You snooze, you lose!”). BullGoose had their closeout sale going and the SR was one of the first items to sell out. So when Phil bumped up the discount to 35% I jumped on the DX for $130. But yeah, I would have bought the SR first otherwise. Re: preowned kamisoris, at this point my plan is to wait until just the right piece comes along at just the right price. Because, no, I don’t need it, I’m itchy for it. And tbh as my bilateral technique improves with the folders, that itch may just vanish.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
chazt said:
I originally had my eye on the SR because it seemed like a good technical entry point to the format, but I waited too long before clicking buy now (my wife used to say, “You snooze, you lose!”). BullGoose had their closeout sale going and the SR was one of the first items to sell out. So when Phil bumped up the discount to 35% I jumped on the DX for $130. But yeah, I would have bought the SR first otherwise. Re: preowned kamisoris, at this point my plan is to wait until just the right piece comes along at just the right price. Because, no, I don’t need it, I’m itchy for it. And tbh as my bilateral technique improves with the folders, that itch may just vanish.
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A very wise and experienced person once said, “Scratch those itches, shave brothers!”
 
chazt

chazt

shave
Twelvefret said:
10th shave from the Super Pro today in the DX. If I stopped here, a 20 blade container would provide 200 shaves for $16.
View attachment 183135
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:watching:
That’s a grippy looking handle. Nice!

I’ve tracked blade shave counts with injector and gem blades, but haven’t done so as yet with the AC blades. Indeed, I’ve lost count completely as I’m alternating two blades concurrently. That said, it must be around a dozen shaves or more on the DX and closing in on that with the SR, and both seem to be just fine. I get no indication that either blade is dulling or tugging in any way. There’s simply no observable degradation in efficiency or smoothness. When I do change the blades I will start tracking them.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
chazt said:
The guy’s playing. He’s declined two offers without a counter which suggests he just wants his buy now price.
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If I see one for $50 or less, I will let you know. I am not that impressed with the sliding mechanism to load the blade and could imagine it being difficult to clean. The old Feathers opened that way, if I correctly recall.
 
chazt

chazt

shave
I’ve been having some inconsistent difficulties with line of sight visibility on the right side of my face with the folders. The scales have been adversarial at times. Although it’s a minor inconvenience, I want to mitigate the potential for cuts or nicks which would be a real drag. My previous shave was with the SR. It seems I didn't post it here, only in the SOTD thread... as a lifelong lefthander it was my first attempt ever at shaving with any razor held in my right hand. Did the first pass using the SR - left hand, left side; right hand, right side. Going slowly and with intention it was a hugely successful pass. No complaints whatsoever shave wise, and I was quite pleased with the personal accomplishment.

Today (kit below) was different. Rather than switching hands I persevered with left hand only for both passes on both sides of my face. My final result was equally fine. I modified my grip / angle of scales to blade when necessary and it was a first-rate shave. There was a brief moment on the right side when I attempted to hold the razor at a 180° angle to sort of mimic a kamisori. I’d done this once before and although successful, felt it was perhaps an unnecessary risk. Remembering that uh-oh feeling, I refrained from doing it again.

It’s been about two months of using these AC straight razors and I learn more every time out. Technique is improving and outstanding shaves are the norm not the aberration. I think it was an easy skill to begin to acquire and am only sorry that I didn’t try these razors years ago. The Kai Woody I ordered should be here Monday next week. I await its receipt with great anticipation!

IMG_2172.jpeg
 
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