Feather AS-D2 worth having?

[Dimitri]

So, I have a Merkur Futur, a Timeless .95, and currently been using my Feather Artist Club DX quite a bit. I've always been intrigued by the AS-D2. Is it worth having? I've read it's a very mild razor, but from what I've also read it has a blade gap between .73 and .78mm (.74 according to the B&B blade gap chart). Considering that a Merkur Futur starts at 1.12 at its lowest setting, this would seem to put the AS-D2 in moderate territiory, but I've read many threads that criticize it for not being able to give a close shave. I'm typically a one pass shaver. I have the typical coarse, southern European hair, but I wouldn't say my hair is like barbed wire or anything. So is this razor not worth having? I've also read that though this razor is made from stainless steel, it is also plated. Does anyone know with what exactly? I've read satin chrome, others say it's a nickel phospahte finish similar to NP3. Any ideas?

Also, would you consider this a good razor for someone new to wet shaving? Going to be getting my nephew a DE for his birthday. Am leaning Henson, but am wondering if this wouldn't be a good choice as well?

 

[flash75]

The as-d2 is really a beauty. But basically a Tech.
It has negative blade exposure and a very small shaving angle.
I had it, I sold it. It's capable of very close shaves but you have to come along with negative Blade Exposure.
That's just my 2 cents

 

[Omega48]

I have it and I always enjoy it when I used it. My answer is yes to both questions, depending on the wallet.
Since you mentioned it, however, my razor of choice has been the Henson, since I discover it more than one year ago. Ti head with AL handle.

 

[1e4]

I’m a big fan of the AS-D2. Great build quality, great shaves. I’ve been on a kick with my Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 lately and the Feather might just miss desert island status, but if so it’s not by much — definitely in my top 3, at least.

As others have said, it’s quite similar to a Tech. It shaves differently than almost any other modern razor. For that reason alone I’d put it ahead of many others for building out a collection.

I also think it’s a much better choice than a Henson for a first DE. Henson works very well for some folks, and less well for others (including me). But however well it works for any one person, its design is several steps away from an ordinary DE. If you learn on a Henson, you won’t necessarily know what to do if you pick up a different razor. In contrast, an AS-D2 teaches technique that can be translated to any other DE. A better first option, I think.

 

[cakaguna]

I like milder razors, so I have a timeless 68 and the feather AS-D2. The feather shaves like a tech, but doesn’t irritate my skin like a tech.

if you’ve tried the timeless 68 and didn’t like it, there’s a good chance you won’t like the AS-D2.

 

[Quaznoid]

It’s an expensive razor that is so mild it only shaves well with Feather blades. Rather limited appeal

 

[gdawg55]

From the razors you have, I doubt you’ll like the Feather. It’s super mild and has a very narrow workable angle. I sold mine before the new smell had time to wear off. I would just get a vintage Tech if you want something in that type of category. Much cheaper and better shaves in my opinion.

 

[Slapo]

I had one. It was the first razor that had me impressed by just how well put together it was and how nice it felt just to screw the handle on.
It shaved much like a milder Tech variant, which is what it is anyway, and for me, the shaved mattered more than the lovely workmanship, so I ended up selling it.

 

[Jenks]

I have one but it gathers dust. I found that getting the right angle was too finicky and that I was always ending up with areas that were not as close as I wanted. Plus mine seemed to have more play than I wanted and I needed to pay attention to alignment when loading a blade.

 

[A_Fine_Shave]

I had considered one, but I have the Feather Popular that doesn't offer the shaves I prefer, so I came down from that cloud of allure and realized I needed something else. That was a Timeless Aluminum Semi Slant. Boy oh boy I'm so glad I did, I never get nicks with it and yet offers very close shaves. Even with lots of buffering passes, no irritation as the blade exposure is slightly negative .002".

 

[Dimitri]

I had considered one, but I have the Feather Popular that doesn't offer the shaves I prefer, so I came down from that cloud of allure and realized I needed something else. That was a Timeless Aluminum Semi Slant. Boy oh boy I'm so glad I did, I never get nicks with it and yet offers very close shaves. Even with lots of buffering passes, no irritation as the blade exposure is slightly negative .002".

Timeless makes a pretty amazing product. I purchased one during their father's day sale; matte SS finish, .95 gap, scalloped cap, open comb, plaid handle. A real thing of beauty to behold. Their workmanship and attention to detail is suberb. That said, I may do a Lambda Aries next. The more I read about it, the more I thik I will be dissappointed by the AS-D2. It's a shame really because I have their Artist Club DX and have a hard time putting it down.

 

[Jay21]

The Feather is a very expensive razor for a gamble if someone will like it or even take to traditional wet shaving. The Game Changer 68 would be similar, but less expensive while still having heirloom longevity.

 

[lasta]

I had one quite a few years ago. IMO, I found it too mild. Techs are my favourite razors now, so that should tell you how mild it is.

 

[coops]

You can check this review of it too

Feather AS-D2 Razor Review + Price Guide - Sharpologist

The Feather AS-D2 razor’s small blade gap combined with a highly efficient blade gives me the feeling that I’m hardly shaving at all.

sharpologist.com

I'd go for a Tatara Masamune instead (and I can get Feather blades much cheaper here in Thailand)
I started with a Henson Mild... very nice and safe.
I do love my Tatara.

Same Sharpologist reviews the Masamune here

Tatara Masamune Razor Review - Sharpologist

Interest in the Tatara Masamune double edge razor (and its variants) seems to be trending lately, so I thought I should add my own voice to the chorus.

sharpologist.com

 

[Roedeer]

The Feather is a very expensive razor for a gamble if someone will like it or even take to traditional wet shaving. The Game Changer 68 would be similar, but less expensive while still having heirloom longevity.

It is expensive, but I'd have to confess my finger hovered over the buy button. The build looks beautiful!

After reports in B&B about how it played out for various people, I decided not to gamble on it.

I got a Game Changer 68, and then (after various diversions), found my favourite GC 0.84.

 

[rasoirdangereux]

It was a good one a decade ago. A used one often sold for around $100 or less these days. A siginificant discount from its retail price and I think there are reasons for it. There are much better alternatives like GC, Rockwell 6S and Henson etc....

 

[Roy]

I shave daily, and the razor gives a very close and extremely comfortable shave . I use GSB and Wilkinson sword blades. ITS A MYTH To say it only works well with feather blades but this seems to have passed into shaving folklore.
I also have ATT r1 ,s1, s2 razors, plus a Rocca, but none come close to the feather for comfort and giving extremely good shaves.

 

[JPO]

Also, would you consider this a good razor for someone new to wet shaving? Going to be getting my nephew a DE for his birthday. Am leaning Henson, but am wondering if this wouldn't be a good choice as well?

I have the AS-D2. I would not recommend it to anyone, partly because there are far better alternatives in this price range.
The Tatara masamune is much more efficient, while still being just as smooth. This is just one example. This will probably fit well with your feather artist club dx.

For a beginner i think the Henson would be a good start. I only have the so-called aggressive version. I think even a beginner would do really well with this.

 

[Joezamboni]

I can’t justify the purchase, even the few times I’ve seen a used one cheap.

Great condition techs are cheap, replates are still cheaper than an ASD2.

I think people need to buy an etched cap post war tech prior to getting an ASD2, then think about if It’s worth it.

 

[Wal59]

I have never been able to get it to shave for me. No matter what blade or shaving angle I use. I have tried the shallowest possible to the steepest I can get - no luck. Others do love it.

I have kept it in the hope, one day, I hit upon the right blade angle.

It is a classic case of YMMV from what I have read.