Help convince me

[Griffo]

Ok shortly after Xmas I have a birthday and I'm torn.

I currently have 3 DE razors : Muhle R41, Fatip Piccolo & Edwin Jagger DE86. I have a Fatip Grande on it's way to me for Xmas.

I've been DE shaving since June this year and I'm loving it, all the combos and I've become a bit of a blade addict.

Now a couple of months ago, as i had the points in the bank from the Shave shack I bought one of their shavettes. Now I've tried this every month and while it's not been totally successful I've been getting better results and I think I need some form of straight.

Now I've read the stuff on this site and I'm torn between the Feather AC and a carbon Steel one such as the Muhle.

Now once you take in to account the cost of the Feather + 2 lots of blades against a straight + strop + hone then there really isn't a lot in it. I want a hone as if I do go that path i want to learn to do everything, even if it means screwing it up but that's not the point.

I like the geeky ritual of the straight but also like the simplicity and the ease of use the Feather. So I'm torn.

Please help convince me which way to go.

 

[Mick]

There is no reason you can't have a disposable blade razor and a conventional straight razor.

They are two different animals. You should experience both then make up your own mind

 

[Griffo]

Darn it, I knew I was going to get an answer like that

 

[Mick]

Glad I could be of help

 

[Gissy]

Never ask for help to choose on this forum, it's always the same answer: try them both

 

[Griffo]

Yeah I know - my bad

I just can't choose and can afford one of the options for my birthday - just not sure which way to go at the moment.

 

[Gissy]

I haven't tried any shavettes or disposable straights, I only use vintage straight razors. The Vintage and the history behind them is a big part for me, I feel that would be lost with a disposable.

 

[Griffo]

I haven't tried any shavettes or disposable straights, I only use vintage straight razors. The Vintage and the history behind them is a big part for me, I feel that would be lost with a disposable.

I like that argument but I don't want to go vintage while I'm trying to learn, as it would annoy me if I screwed it up, so I'll take that as a go for a straight and learn then head for a vintage when I really know what I'm doing.

Thanks.

 

[Mick]

Now a couple of months ago, as i had the points in the bank from the Shave shack I bought one of their shavettes. Now I've tried this every month and while it's not been totally successful I've been getting better results and I think I need some form of straight.

Since you have already used a shavette I think your next adventure should be a standard straight razor.

You don't need anything other than the razor for a while. You can newspaper strop to keep your edge.

You should get a shave ready straight from someone on here rather than a new out of the box straight as many do not come shave ready and need "touching up" before use.

Once you find out you enjoy using a straight then you can get a stone and strop but I would still recommend you use newspaper until you can strop consistently without cutting the paper. You want to "know" how to strop before you put a blade to a $100 piece of leather and slice and dice it all up :001

 

[Gissy]

Vintage are much cheaper than new ones

 

[lukam]

If you want a new one this is the one I would consider: http://thesuperiorshave.com/Dovo_Straights_Pages/dovo_101681.html
if you don't like it you can easily resell it. As written above, the Feather isn't so much different to the shavettes, so try the razor. If you want to keep it cheap go to whippeddog.com

And I forgot: I've cut myself more times with the R41 than with the straight

 

[dpmtherrien]

There is no reason you can't have a disposable blade razor and a conventional straight razor.

They are two different animals. You should experience both then make up your own mind

This makes complete sense, as you'll have to decide which works best for yourself. IMHO its the disposable blade straights, and I'd opt. for either the Kai captain or the Feather AC. But then you could have, as I do, both the Kai and the Feather.

I've tried both the disposables and the regular straights, and I prefer the disposable blade ones simply because they provide a much sharper edge, and therefor a better shave. But really I think you owe it to yourself to try both, decide which you like best, and then you'll be able to sell the one you don't care for on B/S/T for a good price. I just prefer the convenience of just a blade change, and no problems keeping my Kai or Feather going.

 

[Griffo]

Thanks guys - all advice taken on board. will have to sleep on it at the moment. Maybe the trad straight maybe just edging it, although maybe. I was looking at the Feather non-folding and there's just something there that keeps niggling away at me.

Maybe both is the answer.

 

[Weaselsrippedmyflesh]

Another factor (at least it was for me) that hasn't been mentioned is whether you travel. I travel by car and also do self-supported bike tours where I'm carrying everything I need with me. In both cases, I like to travel light and on the bike extra light! A Feather would make it possible for me to travel with just the razor and (optional, depending on length of trip) blades plus whatever I want to use for lather. No strop or blade maintenance required. I just ordered one for that reason. I was going to switch to a DE for travel but would prefer to continue using a straight.