Feather AS-D2 - is it the blade gap?

[anoop]

I just sent back an AS-D2 that I really liked but I’m only keeping one razor in my set as a user and one family razor for special occasions.

Which razor are you keeping?

 

[Richstag]

I ended up keeping a blackbird lite ti. I was able to shave with less passes and less irritation so it was the winner.

 

[Chandu]

Never used the AS-D2, but the 6S is a phenomenal, forgiving razor, as you've found. I also like the #3 plate.

Has your experience with the AS-D2 improved with practice since thread creation? Could be a practice thing. It's easy to get used to the 6S's wide angle tolerance when switching to a more demanding razor? Looking forward to updates

The 6S is a great razor. I liked 3 and even 2. 4, 5 and 6 weren't so good for me. Did not seem any more efficient, just easier to get a cut and a bit more blade feel. At some point I think you can't just increase the gap you have to change the exposure two.

 

[Captain Howdy]

The 6S is a great razor. I liked 3 and even 2. 4, 5 and 6 weren't so good for me. Did not seem any more efficient, just easier to get a cut and a bit more blade feel. At some point I think you can't just increase the gap you have to change the exposure two.

That makes sense, actually.

 

[Daithi7]

All,
I recently acquired an AS-D2 (thanks, BST!) but I'm wondering what's up with it (and me). I know that my very sensitive skin requires very, very, very mild razors. My daily driver since about 2017 or thereabouts is a 6S with #3 plate. With my usual daily 2-pass shave (XTG/ATG) I get very good BBS results with very little irritation. Doing the same with the AS-D2 (no pressure, riding the cap) also results in a BBS shave, but my skin feels like on fire after that.

Do I need less blade gap after all? Some previous experiments (ATT S1/M1, Ikon X3, Henson medium, prewar Tech) didn't go too well, way too harsh for me (although the Tech wasn't too bad, just not good). Even the DE89 I had back in the day was "just ok".

I've noticed that all of those have a blade gap of 0.6mm or more.

What I found online:
AS-D2: 0.73mm
6S on 3: 0.48mm

So if I want to try something new, go with a Mamba 53 (0.53mm, somewhere between a plate 3 and 4 on the 6S)? Or just stick with the 6S since it just works for me?

Anyone got a Mamba 53 lying around collecting dust?

What I have learned, is that if you only realise when your face burns that your shave was bad, you are not paying enough attention. I had barely any blade feel with a AS D2, and did not improve my technique much. I got crap shaves with it. I recently acquired a 1911 Gillette single ring, which is ruthless. But there is so much blade feel, my technique has gone through the roof. I am quite skinny, so there are many angles on my face. Perfect shave first time with it. I went from ASD2 to red tip to single ring. Your technique is lacking. Possibly your lather too. I cannot imagine improving technique much with an AS D2. Perhaps why so many people get stuck on it.

 

[anoop]

^ Interesting take regarding technique and AS-D2. I’m one of those that got stuck on it after an EJ DE89. I thought it helped me improve my technique.

 

[Chandu]

That makes sense, actually.

I certainly don't claim to have the magic formula. Zero gap and some exposure gets the job done and so does negative exposure with a large enough gap.

I think the "magic" is having the right amount of either or either in combination.

 

[Chandu]

What I have learned, is that if you only realise when your face burns that your shave was bad, you are not paying enough attention. I had barely any blade feel with a AS D2, and did not improve my technique much. I got crap shaves with it. I recently acquired a 1911 Gillette single ring, which is ruthless. But there is so much blade feel, my technique has gone through the roof. I am quite skinny, so there are many angles on my face. Perfect shave first time with it. I went from ASD2 to red tip to single ring. Your technique is lacking. Possibly your lather too. I cannot imagine improving technique much with an AS D2. Perhaps why so many people get stuck on it.

I agree. I like the Muhle R41 for many of the same reasons. You get a ton of blade feel and it's not so great because the Muhle doesn't exacly clamp the blade tight, so my preferred blade is SHARP. You get a lot of feel during the shave, but post shave it feels like you used a very mild razor save for the fact that you are BBS.

 

[cakaguna]

What I have learned, is that if you only realise when your face burns that your shave was bad, you are not paying enough attention. I had barely any blade feel with a AS D2, and did not improve my technique much.

That could be - I had the same problem with a Tatara Masamune. it’s easy with either to use too much pressure.

One way to get more feedback is to use a blade that’s not quite as sharp and let the stubble get a little longer (some may have enough growth / thick enough hairs that may not be necessary). A blade that tugs a little lets me find the angle a little better in a razor that doesn’t have as much blade feel.

Still hard to believe my technique was bad enough when I started out I could get nicks and weepers from something like an AS-D2, but yep.

 

[Coler]

I have really thick fast growing stubble and I really hit it off with this razor straight away when it arrived a couple of weeks ago. Loaded with a Feather blade I get cool, comfortable, close (BBS on cheeks, chin & stache) shaves, every morning without fail (using MdC soap, generating a really good, thick, creamy lather).

I've used a lot of DE razors, modern & vintage, like 20 or so over my 33 years wet shaving (and a few straights) and this is definitely the best of them for me so far.

Sorry you're not enjoying it. It can be that way - just move on and try something else I guess.

 

[Noclue]

Multi passes and full blades would give me a lot of irritation. I moved from the feather razor to a more aggressive one and my face thanks me for it.

I did try the D2 but did not find its efficiency to my liking.

 

[BHamTallMan]

First post…

I consider myself an experienced wet shaver (20 years). I never got onboard with the Feather AS-D2…it just wasn’t aggressive enough, and it would always leave me with pimples/irritation between my lower lip and chin. It’s the only razor that’s ever done that.

I just had a wonderful shave with it…with a fresh feather blade and two old blades acting as shims. The results were as good as my Muhle R41, but soooo much smoother. The R41 gives great shaves but like others, I found it seems to tug at my hairs and feels rough.

I’m glad I tried this experiment, as I was tempted once again to go down the rabbit hole in search of a new favorite razor. So far, a shimmed a Feather seems to be just about perfect…for me.

 

[thombrogan]

Thank you for joining Badger and Blade and sharing your way to bump up the efficiency of the AS-D2, @BHamTallMan