Do you use a feather AC?

[JMP]

Hi,

I currently have been using a merkur HD with feather blades and have been getting increasingly good quality shaves. I think that I am interested in getting a straight razor as well. Initially I was turned off after finding out that you have to strop and also hone the blade or have it honed every couple of months. This seems like quite a bit of work and extra cost to me, especially if you have to have it sent somewhere to be honed a few times a year. Can anyone who has used both a traditional straight and a feather AC give me their opinion on one vs the other? I like the idea of not having to purchase stones and strops....

 

[Telecaster52]

haven't used an AC myself, but for the same price, you can get a couple vintage straights and a used/starter strop. as for the cost of honing, a pack the feather AC blades are about the same price as a honing, IMO you're better off with a real straight.

 

[Y2K]

I am on another side of the spectrum - I use Feather AC but I never used "real" straight. I like the control that a staright razor gives you but I am also not into the whole honing/stroping experience. The cost may be virtually the same in the long run, but to me it removes some of the variables (especially for a newbie) and I like the idea of just poping a brand new blade once it gets dull.

Whichever way you go - you can always unload what you don't need on the forum so if extra cost is an issue I would not worry about it. Both straights as well as Feather ACs go pretty fast on BST here (hell, I would probably buy a DX right now if it comes up with the right price)

 

[ALL HANDS WORKING]

I am enjoying my Feather AC. I must admit that I am drawing significantly more blood than I ever did with DE's, but hopefully this will improve with technique. I am also using the guarded blades, it will be interesting when I switch to the pro blades.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I've been using the Feather AC since I started shaving with a straight, and I really enjoy using it. Agreed its not a "traditional" straight because of the replaceable blade, but its used the same way, is always super sharp, and gives a very very good shave.

It is a bit of a learning curve, and when I first started using it I had my fair share of blood, nicks, cuts, and weepers. Now, a few months down the road, things are very nice and the end of the learning curve is in sight. Just stay with it, and don't give up.

This user didn't care at all for the pro guard blades, but the regular pro's and the super pro's give a better shave. At least for me they have.

 

[gsurko]

I've been getting my feet wet with a STR8 and so far I'm at the crossroads.
The cost of a STR8 shave is quite high when you really look at it. I'm the first guy to justify the cost of a pleasure no matter what it is but a STR8 is borderline excessive: Razor, strop, hones, flattening stones and the cost of professional honing if you don't want to do your own and it gets up there real fast. You definitely can enjoy a much larger DE Jones for the same money and get a great shave to boot. To give the Devil his due the STR8 has a huge cool factor. Add to that, I haven't given up on the STR8 just reeling from the reality.