What shavette did you use today?

Do you use a shavette?

  • Yes, regularly

    Votes: 20 31.7%

  • Once in a while

    Votes: 25 39.7%

  • No

    Votes: 18 28.6%
  • Total voters
    63
R

R181

Grumpy old man
Twelvefret said:
The reason I consider them the same or similar is because I bought the Feather SS before the type you hone to shave.
Click to expand...
Come now, are they the same or are they similar in manufacture not end result. For me the end result of using a DE or a straight razor is the same but they are not made the same way. Just as using a shavette should produce the same end result. I have never heard a straight razor shaver that uses both say there was much difference, if any, in the end result.

Bob
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
R181 said:
Come now, are they the same or are they similar in manufacture not end result. For me the end result of using a DE or a straight razor is the same but they are not made the same way. Just as using a shavette should produce the same end result. I have never heard a straight razor shaver that uses both say there was much difference, if any, in the end result.

Bob
Click to expand...
When I say same, I’m referring to use. When using a bare blade, the users learn to set the angle for themselves. Some like me use both hands. Some use one hand, but either way, there is an additional skill required.

Prior to using the Feather, I used a GEM Micromatic. This requires a specific angle which GEM provided.

If the result is the criteria, all razors have the potential to be the same.

Thanks for continuing the discussion, Bob.
 
Nishy

Nishy

Forum GOD!
Staff member
Estariol

Estariol

Forum GOD!
Nishy said:
Has anyone tried one of these? If so any discernible difference to the Feather DX?
www.ebay.co.uk

Similar Feather SS Straight Razor for Barbers or Perfect Starting Straight Razor | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Similar Feather SS Straight Razor for Barbers or Perfect Starting Straight Razor at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk
Click to expand...
I haven't used the DX, but just to let you know there are cheaper Feather SS clones on aliexpress, roughly 20-ish USD, i have one with a wooden handle and it works great for me with authentic AC blades, don't bother with the chinese blades they offer.
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
Twelvefret said:
When I say same, I’m referring to use. When using a bare blade, the users learn to set the angle for themselves. Some like me use both hands. Some use one hand, but either way, there is an additional skill required.

Prior to using the Feather, I used a GEM Micromatic. This requires a specific angle which GEM provided.

If the result is the criteria, all razors have the potential to be the same.

Thanks for continuing the discussion, Bob.
Click to expand...
Nobody questions that in use all razors provide a shave. With most all razors you have to find the angle that works best for them, even within the same Type/class of razor. Even within the same type/class of razor some have more or less latitude in the angle that will provide the best shave at. Finding and maintaining the right angle for a particular razor is not an additional skill but one required for all types/classes of razors. The possible exception being cart razors with pivoting heads.

Razors are classed by differences in how they are constructed. Virtually nobody posts a SOTD and posts they used a razor but add make, type/class and possibly blade used if the blades are replaceable. I'm just saying that shavettes are constructed differently enough to be a type/class of their own. That is neither good or bad in and of itself.

Bob
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
R181 said:
Nobody questions that in use all razors provide a shave. With most all razors you have to find the angle that works best for them, even within the same Type/class of razor. Even within the same type/class of razor some have more or less latitude in the angle that will provide the best shave at. Finding and maintaining the right angle for a particular razor is not an additional skill but one required for all types/classes of razors. The possible exception being cart razors with pivoting heads.

Razors are classed by differences in how they are constructed. Virtually nobody posts a SOTD and posts they used a razor but add make, type/class and possibly blade used if the blades are replaceable. I'm just saying that shavettes are constructed differently enough to be a type/class of their own. That is neither good or bad in and of itself.

Bob
Click to expand...
Bob, a safety razor doesn’t have a bare blade and while there is a better or more effective angle, it requires less skill and especially post the 1930’s. Ever consider why Gillette called their 1947 holder Super Speed. There is no super speed straight .

You said you hadn’t experienced using a shavette . They shave the same as a honed type. That’s why they are the same regardless of construction. You should consider.

The Japanese type kamasori razor is obviously different from the Western aka folding type, but they are grouped together.

It’s good we are discussing because I want to promote the use of shavettes either as stand alone or gateway to honed blades. Not everyone wants to hone and they need to know a shavette is a real straight razor using similar skill or perhaps greater care because not all straights hone the same, but all Feather Professional blades are the same degree of sharp.
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
Twelvefret said:
Bob, a safety razor doesn’t have a bare blade and while there is a better or more effective angle, it requires less skill and especially post the 1930’s. Ever consider why Gillette called their 1947 holder Super Speed. There is no super speed straight .

You said you hadn’t experienced using a shavette . They shave the same as a honed type. That’s why they are the same regardless of construction. You should consider.

The Japanese type Kamasori razor is obviously different from the Western aka folding type, but they are grouped together.

It’s good we are discussing because I want to promote the use of shavettes either as stand alone or gateway to honed blades. Not everyone wants to hone and they need to know a shavette is a real straight razor using similar skill or perhaps greater care because not all straights hone the same, but all Feather Professional blades are the same degree of sharp.
Click to expand...
Safety razors do have a bare blade exposed or they would not shave, no blade exposure no shave. While they do take less skill to use than a shavette or a straight razor they will still give you a mighty fine cut if you get sloppy with your technique. The ease of use is the reason they supplanted the straight razor in everyday use by around the mid 20th century.

Again personally, I get good shaves from safety razors or straight razors and if I want the convenience offered by a razor with replaceable blades I will use a safety razor. That negates any desire to use a shavette for the convenience of a replaceable blade razor.

Besides being non folding the traditional Japanese Kamisori is also ground differently than the traditional western style folding straight razor. The grind is asymmetrical not symmetrical and requires a different honing technique. Different enough to be called a Kamisori just as Shavettes are different enough to called Shavettes but are sub types/classes of straight razors. In that sense they are similar but not the same as a traditional western straight razor.

Not saying anyone should not use a shavette but just realise you are only getting half the shaving experience of using a traditional straight razor when you omit the honing and stropping. That is not a bad thing and a positive for a lot of people. That makes them different enough not to be a traditional straight razor.

Bob
 
Estariol

Estariol

Forum GOD!
Ok. If i may say, as someone who didn't use a traditional straight, but only one shavett and several different DE's, to me, there are differences in shaves with the two, because on my neck, the shavette can be used in directions in which the DE cannot, and thus gives me a great shave without irritation.
@Twelvefret , as an observation, have you actually tried a straight razor honed not by yourself, but by a professional?
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
Estariol said:
Ok. If i may say, as someone who didn't use a traditional straight, but only one shavett and several different DE's, to me, there are differences in shaves with the two, because on my neck, the shavette can be used in directions in which the DE cannot, and thus gives me a great shave without irritation.
@Twelvefret , as an observation, have you actually tried a straight razor honed not by yourself, but by a professional?
Click to expand...
Yes, 3-4 times, but with each I rehoned to suit my taste and requirements.
 
Twelvefret

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
R181 said:
Safety razors do have a bare blade exposed or they would not shave, no blade exposure no shave. While they do take less skill to use than a shavette or a straight razor they will still give you a mighty fine cut if you get sloppy with your technique. The ease of use is the reason they supplanted the straight razor in everyday use by around the mid 20th century.

Bob
Click to expand...
They are more safe, Bob. The blade exposure and angle have been set for the user.

Again, thanks for the discussion.
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
Twelvefret said:
They are more safe, Bob. The blade exposure and angle have been set for the user.

Again, thanks for the discussion.
Click to expand...
Yes they are more safe but make no mistake they will still cut you good if you aren't mindful. Blade exposure and angle vary between models too. I find the aggressive ones, more blade exposure, give me as good a shave as straight razor can. In the end it's the edge that shaves you not whether or not the whole blade or part of it is exposed.

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top