Just recently purchased the Feather AS-D2 and today was its first shave fitted with a new feather blade. It’s given me the best shave I’ve ever had. For years I’ve been using a futur, 34c and vintage Gillettes all with a feather blade. For me, the AS-D2 is head and shoulders above all of those. Clearly it’s designed to be used with a feather blade as once together it feels like a single unit rather than a razor holding a blade. Mild? What is mild? I’d rather describe it as smooth! With the feather blade it feels like it tames the sharpness and harnesses that sharpness to give you the shave that that blade is designed for. It was effortless, smooth and with zero irritation.
Feather AS-D2 worth having?
- Thread starter Dimitri
- Start date
For me the AS/D2 is a fine razor, very fine indeed! However, I prefer shavers in the mild/moderate range.
As I have a Feather Popular and had considered the AS-D2 but declined, I had my first shave today with a Yaqi Slope Adjustable Semi Slant today and I can put in words how smooth, comfortable and close the shave was, and so darn easily, as in less time spent doing any touchups in the areas that are difficult for any razor to cut with just a few passes. No irritations either, and the blade already had 3 uses, which for me is usually when I get a fresh one. But with this razor it was great. The Feather simply cannot do that, and yes I tried Feather blades and found then irritating, and all the blades I do use and on the sharper end of the scale. Yes, it's not the AS-D2 but from most accounts I've read of those that have both there isn't much if any difference.
This is with a base of glycerine soap rubbed on my face, hand lather, and Barbasol Aloe on top of that. This works better for me than any of the shaving soaps I have, Proraso Green, Taylor's Eaton College, Arko, Cella Bio and Omega.
This is with a base of glycerine soap rubbed on my face, hand lather, and Barbasol Aloe on top of that. This works better for me than any of the shaving soaps I have, Proraso Green, Taylor's Eaton College, Arko, Cella Bio and Omega.
Every time I use this razor I wonder why I don’t use it more often! Paired with a sharp blade, this time Nacet, and the proper shallow angle gives wonderfully comfortable and smooth shaves . Daily shavers dream!
I will say that the ASD2 is IMO one of the most efficient razors you can find for a given smoothness. It seems like other razors that are as smooth (and there aren't many) aren't as efficient.
But it's also very blade-dependent in a way some other razors aren't. Put a mild blade like a Derby or Astra SP in it and you'll need about 50 passes it seems to get anywhere.
The ASD2 really does seem made specifically for Feather blades. I also had good luck with Kais which aren't quite as sharp but are more durable IMO.
Totally agree about the use of feather blades in the ASD2. Would love to know the R and D involved in designing this razor in order to produce the shave you get from a blade that a lot of people seem scared to use.
I have nicked myself many times pretty badly with Feather blades in the AS-D2 but I don’t recall having an incident with Bic Chrome. So Feather still requires a lot of care even with the AS-D2.
I find the Feather blades don’t work for me at all in the ASD2 - I get way better shaves with Astra SP, Sharks or Gillette Platinums. King of the ASD2 however are KAI blades. Simply perfect.
Perhaps even more care. The AS-D2 being so smooth you might not respect how effortlessly a new Feather blade can remove a swath of skin that got a bit too comfy.
When I ran Feathers in my OG R41, I had really only one bad gash and then never another nick. It earned the respect and I never had any more problems after that.
But the AS-D2 lulls you into complacency and the Feather will remind you there's still some blade gap you must respect. Anywhere there's a smaller radius of curvature (chin tip, especially) do respect that AS-D2's blade gap.
