Thanks so much for your help.
I had already decided to put the Kai blade away for a while before its second shave. Its first shave was close, but just too rough for me to give it another chance right away. I appreciate that its second, or third, or fourth shave might be better, but, frankly, I'm not up to it right now.
Instead, my plan was to use tomorrow morning a Gillette Green, the 7 O'Clock Super Stainless from Russia, of which I have five from my first sample pack. From what I've read elsewhere, and from what you added, it may be a nice blade in general, and particularly a nice blade tomorrow when I really need a smooth and comfortable shave.
I have ordered from Try A Blade a pretty good selection of what seem to me to be the upper end, sharp, well-reviewed blades (on B&B). Many that I ordered are the same as the ones you mentioned. I will probably order the others you talked about if I place another order. Of course, I may decide that one of the blades I test will suffice for long enough to temporarily abandon my quest, order a hundred of one blade, and stick with just one for a few months. That is, actually, my goal. I believe I'm beginning to get a handle on what might go into the "best" blade for me.
I'd read before that the Kai was wider, but had forgotten that little, important fact. Maybe that's why my shave this morning was so rough?
Thus far, I think the blade I most like is the Feather, but it really doesn't seem smooth exactly, or at least it isn't quite what my idea of smooth is, but I've very little experience with it or any other blades, having been at the DE shaving less than two weeks. I'm not counting my decade or so of experience with the DE decades ago.
One thing about the Feather blade in the AS-D2 is it works best with an extremely light touch. It really takes just tickling your skin with the Feather (at least that's how I think of trying to do it). I'm sure everyone who uses the Feather razor and the Feather blade come to much the same conclusion.
In the same vein, I do not think any blade which requires or encourages pressure a good choice in my razor.
None of that is to say that I have much idea of what I'm doing yet. Mostly, I'm going by experience, and trying to incorporate the suggestions which seem best to me as delivered by more experienced DE shavers.
This whole razor choice question is obviously very difficult and highly subjective with a huge amount of YMMV thrown into the mix. It helps me enormously to read a post like yours because you're both experienced with the blades, and looking at them, I think, like I do, and - this is hugely important when considering the right blade - you're using the blades in a razor rather similar to mine.
Thanks so much for helping me, and for contributing to my fund of knowledge, and this thread.
Happy shaves,
Jim
You're welcome!
The choices of blades can be mind boggling. I believe there are over 125 different blades and we all have different skin types, beard types, coarseness, density ect and blades are very much a personal choice. However, as you try more blades you'll find a few standouts from the crowd, focus on them. You'll find some of those to be exceptional, those I buy in bulk. You'll also find many work in a similar fashion and I can lump a lot of blades into the middle of the pack with really only two that I wont use again so far. Bic Chrome Platinum and Shark Super Chrome. Both blades gave me a burning itch a couple hours after shaving with them. I believe it to be the chrome plating I dont get along with.
I agree very little pressure is needed, but in using milder blades than Feather blades, you may find yourself compensating for that mildness by using more pressure. I have a feeling you'll experience that with the Gillette Green, but its such a smooth comfortable and forgiving blade, that you can get away with it to a point. Buffing with mild blades is a pleasure of its own.
Good luck and I'll be looking forward to reading your progress.
Mike.