Feather AS-D1 not working?!

[Oldschool30]

Hey everyone,

So I just got the Feather AS-D1 and I used it for the first time today. For some reason this razor barely worked...I tried every angle possible and different pressures and it hardly removed my 4 day growth. I also used a feather blade and even tried like 4 passes and still nothing! Has anyone else experienced this/know what to do?! Its such a nice razor that I don't want to get rid of it .

 

[Mick]

The Feather is a daily shaver.

If you have 4 days growth you need a straight razor or some clippers to get your beard down to where you can shave.

Get rid of your beard and use your Feather tomorrow, then every day after that.

 

[retrolike]

I have come to believe that all the Feather DE fans don't have a medium to thick beard. I found it was impossible to work for me...and yes I tried every angle over and over again. I'm glad I didn't start with the Feather or I might have never fell in love with DE shaving. Sell it and move on...

 

[Copierguy]

Hey everyone,

So I just got the Feather AS-D1 and I used it for the first time today. For some reason this razor barely worked...I tried every angle possible and different pressures and it hardly removed my 4 day growth. I also used a feather blade and even tried like 4 passes and still nothing! Has anyone else experienced this/know what to do?! Its such a nice razor that I don't want to get rid of it .

Welcome to B&B.

I got a very poor shave the first time or two out of the box also. Unless you have one of those iron beards you should be able to dial in a good shave with practice. Hold it so you only feel a slight trace of blade and some smooth cap. Less pressure actually shaves me closer that more. Try slow strokes so you can focus on feeling the blade edge.

May the force be with you.....

 

[Copierguy]

I have come to believe that all the Feather DE fans don't have a medium to thick beard. I found it was impossible to work for me...and yes I tried every angle over and over again. I'm glad I didn't start with the Feather or I might have never fell in love with DE shaving. Sell it and move on...

Are you sure you were putting a blade in it? I've heard Cubs Fans are easily confused.

 

[Nicky66]

Ditto for me. I bought one from the BST and tried 15-20 shaves. I never got a smooth shave, and I always had 5 o'clock shadow by 2! I'm going to relist it, and pass it on to someone else. It really is an attractive razor, though!

 

[vsingh]

G'Day Mate,

Please persevere with the Feather. I have in my collection some wonderful vintage Gillettes including the English made #58, #66, #70, a Merkur HD, a Joris and a Feather All Stainless. The only razor I use everyday is the Feather. I use it to shave my head as well as it is so smooth and I have never had a nick or a cut keeping in mind that I only use the Feather blade with it. It tames the Feather blade like nothing else. When you use the Feather, you really need to re-learn a new angle to shave with i.e. find the "sweet spot". The more you use it, the better you get.

Besides it so damn beautiful that you won't be able to stop staring at it. I have had it for 2 months and it's an absolute pleasure shaving with every morning. Truly a stunning razor and a work of art.

 

[razorx]

This all reminds me of other razors I've used.

I've never owned an AS-D1 but I'm pretty sure if I did,I would take a hot shower and after getting out I would let some lather sit on my face for about 5 minutes,then I'd get some hot water on my brush and work my lather to a more wetter.....thinner than usual consistancy than I use with most other razors and then proceed to nail a great shave with some good audible feedback.

I can believe the AS-D1's also a great razor for head shaving.Probably lets the user hit a lot of areas ATG without much irritation.

Love my agressive razors but I've got some of my best shaves with laid back razors

 

[kaseri]

Blade angle is everything when it comes to the AS-D1.

 

[ERVARGASNY]

5 days Growth i would not recommend it, 1-3 days growth its on, Hang on to it for a month, Map your face out good and shave in direction of hair growth, find its sweet spot, once you do stay consistent with the sweet spot and your shaves will be awesome.

 

[Ski-Patroller]

Blade angle is everything when it comes to the AS-D1.

I agree, and it is different angle from my Futur or Progress.

I get good shaves with it, but not as good as the Futur. It's my go-to razor if I'm in a hurry, because it is almost impossible to cut yourself with it, but it is hard for me to get a BBS shave. Also I shave every day, and don't have a super heavy beard.

The AS-D1 is a work of art, and feels great, but I really wish they had used a Progress as the model, not a Tech.

 

[CHSeifert]

Hey everyone,

So I just got the Feather AS-D1 and I used it for the first time today. For some reason this razor barely worked...I tried every angle possible and different pressures and it hardly removed my 4 day growth. I also used a feather blade and even tried like 4 passes and still nothing! Has anyone else experienced this/know what to do?! Its such a nice razor that I don't want to get rid of it .

I posted an identical post to yours yesterday.
I've come to the following conclusion:

1. My beard is heavy and course and it grows a bit curved, not straight out, so a mild DE razor like the Festher will have a very hard time cutting beard that grows curved and not straight out from the skin

2. Avoid using the Feather DE on longer than 2-3 days beard growth, preferably use it on 1 day old beard. A lot of guys have trouble getting DFS with longer stubbles and the Feather DE. The Feather DE is best used as a daily razor seems to be the general view.

3. As I understand the 'angle of attack' with this DE razor is COMPLETELY different from other DE razors. The learning curve is steep, but once - IF EVER - you figure the correct angle out, it's a great razor

4. It's impossible to cut yourself with this razor. I used it in the shower together with my new Trumper Almond cream for a head shave - WITHOUT USING A MIRROR. Not a single cut, but not a DFS shave, but acceptable head shave in 8 minutes and 2 passes.

 

[JeffOlson]

Welcome to the forum!

Hmmm... I use my Feather AS-D1 with a Feather blade just about every single day. It is indeed a very mild razor, but it will work if you get the angle right and if you do multiple passes (lather, shave, rinse, repeat--several times). My beard is fairly thick, so the razor gets a bit of a workout, but I don't go without shaving more than one or two days (because I enjoy DE/wet shaving so much!).

I would suggest persevering with the Feather razor with Feather blades. It is indeed a great razor/blade combination, and it is very safe (compared to the few other safety razors I have used). Very little pressure, light, short strokes, lots of water and lather, several passes -> a very good shave, at least for me.

 

[eizan70]

Blade angle is everything when it comes to the AS-D1.

+1 It took about four days for me to get dialed in. It's been smooth sailing since. The angle was much steeper than I normally needed with my other DE razors.

Very interesting, but has anyone else noted a trend that it seems to be love or hate thing with the AS-D1

 

[Predict]

Got one on the way. I hope it works better for me.

 

[Mendel]

I recently received mine and love it. I find the razor's needed angle to be more on the order 40-45 degrees. Don't give up on it yet.

 

[celestino]

i am with Claus here. The Feather does not seem to be very compatible with coarse beards and thick lathers. It requires too many passes which can lead to irritation for these types of beards, but as always, you mileage may vary!
Good luck with the razor.

 

[Triad]

+1 for title of thread!!!