Learning to shave with the Feather Artist Club

[Nishy]

Another thing to consider. I don't know why or how but I always have smoother shaves with my straight razors compared to shavettes. In addition fewer cuts. Perhaps I hone the straights with an edge that is not as sharp as an SE blade. However I also find the balance of a heavy straight more helpful, as the weight of the razor reduces my need to add additional pressure/force.

 

[wintoid]

Another thing to consider. I don't know why or how but I always have smoother shaves with my straight razors compared to shavettes. In addition fewer cuts. Perhaps I hone the straights with an edge that is not as sharp as an SE blade. However I also find the balance of a heavy straight more helpful, as the weight of the razor reduces my need to add additional pressure/force.

From my perspective, there's just too much to learn all in one go. Honing and stropping etc, and the possibility of getting the razor into suboptimal condition means that I couldn't be certain whether my experience is being adversely affected. I want very much to master the Feather. Once I have, I can imagine that I might progress to trying a straight, and learning to maintain it.

Then again, when you get a gash, it does make you question why you're doing it

 

[Nishy]

From my perspective, there's just too much to learn all in one go. Honing and stropping etc, and the possibility of getting the razor into suboptimal condition means that I couldn't be certain whether my experience is being adversely affected. I want very much to master the Feather. Once I have, I can imagine that I might progress to trying a straight, and learning to maintain it.

Then again, when you get a gash, it does make you question why you're doing it

It's unusual when you read a post and continuously nod. I couldn't agree more with your statement. I felt exactly the same. When I cut myself with a shavette, prior to trying a straight razor I just gave up. Shavette hasn't been used since, probably covered in rust in the bottom of a box in the attic.

It has to make sense to me. A higher risk of cutting yourself, longer shave time and a lot more concentration for a worse or similar result to a DE. It didn't make sense so I threw in the towel. Fast forward about 2 years and I saw a straight razor that I loved the look of. So tried tentatively again (with the straight), the shave took over an hour and I admit I was profusely sweating. The result was great, no cuts, decent finish and little razor burn. It pushed me to learn all the intricacies you mention. Now I can refresh an edge, shave and all the aftercare associated with a straight in under 20mins. I honestly believe it is a more pleasant experience than the shavette.

 

[p.b]

I think both @wintoid and I use a Feather Artist Club SS nexus we think it’s closer to a real straight razor than a half DE shavette

 

[UKRob]

Nishy makes a very good point about the difference in sharpness between a straight razor and the 50mm SE blades. I’d consider myself proficient with a straight having used them for a few years now but, the last time I used my Feather folding razor I cut myself. There are two things to bear in mind here - these blades are much less forgiving than a straight razor if you misjudge the pressure. I find that the cuts are generally where I first touch the SE to my skin. Secondly, Feather type razors need a slightly different angle compared to a straight. With a straight, going WTG needs an angle of about two spine widths from the face but less when you go ATG. Because the SE blade is very sharp you can reduce the angle slightly without experiencing tugging and this also reduces the chance of a cut when you apply the razor to your cheek.

On the question of blade types, I never really got on with the guarded type and found them to catch more - I guess that’s a natural result of the guard. With the Feather Pro, even running it through a cork before first use, I found that it was only comfortable after two or three uses. As I said earlier, for me the Schick is a lot easier to get on with.

 

[wintoid]

I'm someone who likes manual processes. I shoot film, and develop it myself, but I drew the line at darkroom printing (I scan the film instead). I like coffee, and use manual hand grinders, and various manual coffee apparatuses (if that's a word). So I like a process, and I like to be in control.

I sold my Oneblade. It was just too automatic for me. To err is human.

Even if it's not ultimately better than using a General, I'll get satisfaction from learning the FAC. I guess it's not really logical.

From what's being said, I guess I stand a chance of shaving with a straight fairly safely. It would be much more likely to happen if I was surrounded by friends and family who were straight-shavers. ATG is the next best thing

 

[lloydrm]

I understand why you want to keep variables in control. But wanted to say that, IME, the blade of choice makes a huge difference with these razors. Personally I never got a good shave until I found the right one (kai protouch). At first I committed to one blade and so it took me years to incorporate the razor in my routine. Also, I learned str8 shaving much faster and before these shavettes, even though I got started on the later a couple years before str8s.

 

[wintoid]

I understand why you want to keep variables in control. But wanted to say that, IME, the blade of choice makes a huge difference with these razors. Personally I never got a good shave until I found the right one (kai protouch). At first I committed to one blade and so it took me years to incorporate the razor in my routine. Also, I learned str8 shaving much faster and before these shavettes, even though I got started on the later a couple years before str8s.

Thanks, that's interesting and potentially helpful. Is that a guarded blade?

 

[wintoid]

I understand why you want to keep variables in control. But wanted to say that, IME, the blade of choice makes a huge difference with these razors. Personally I never got a good shave until I found the right one (kai protouch). At first I committed to one blade and so it took me years to incorporate the razor in my routine. Also, I learned str8 shaving much faster and before these shavettes, even though I got started on the later a couple years before str8s.

In fact that's the second recommendation for the Protouch in this thread, the other being the wife of @Razorman so consider me duly enabled!

 

[Nishy]

I'm someone who likes manual processes. I shoot film, and develop it myself, but I drew the line at darkroom printing (I scan the film instead). I like coffee, and use manual hand grinders, and various manual coffee apparatuses (if that's a word). So I like a process, and I like to be in control.

I sold my Oneblade. It was just too automatic for me. To err is human.

Even if it's not ultimately better than using a General, I'll get satisfaction from learning the FAC. I guess it's not really logical.

From what's being said, I guess I stand a chance of shaving with a straight fairly safely. It would be much more likely to happen if I was surrounded by friends and family who were straight-shavers. ATG is the next best thing

Whenever the time feels right and the virus depleted, we have a straight razor pass around continuing. Happy to hone them for you prior to use.

 

[wintoid]

Thanks @Nishy that's kind

 

[lloydrm]

Thanks, that's interesting and potentially helpful. Is that a guarded blade?

Yes, its guarded. But for some reason this one is, to me, a lot smoother than the feather. As in I forget it is a guarded blade.
Have fun!

 

[jphelan81]

Whenever the time feels right and the virus depleted, we have a straight razor pass around continuing. Happy to hone them for you prior to use.

I'd love to get involved in this pass around, always wanted to try this way of shaving but it's expensive to try!

 

[wintoid]

Day 6

OK not very satisfactory today.

I decided to go back to the Proguards in the SS. Mindful of Nishy's comments about not finding Proguards particularly tuggy, I played with the angle, and found less tugging when going shallower. The reason, though, was I'd gone too shallow, and basically wasn't cutting.

So, 3-pass Proguard SS shave, with a DE for the chin and moustache. Not just patchy, but basically crap Well I DID say I wanted to learn!

My current thoughts are that the Professional blade was capable of giving a non-tuggy shave, and was definitely cutting. Perhaps this is the good old YMMV, and Proguards will always be tuggy for me if they are at a cutting angle. Perhaps I do need to consider a different blade, something in between. I've got some Kai Protouch MG blades on the way. Let's see if I have the same experience with those as others.

 

[p.b]

@wintoid this must be at least my 50th shave with my SS so I ‘should’ be getting better results. I shaved with the Proguard blade this morning and it was great, not at all tuggy like the Light was. I don’t have a dense beard with thick hair, but it does grow fast. That may affect my results.