Feather Artist Club SS, the redheaded stepchild of razors

It's nice to come across this thread here on DFS in the midst of my flurry of reading on the Feather AC system. This week I've been getting to know my new Mongoose, which has been a bit of a learning curve to me (I have a bit more than a year with various DEs, and now a tiny bit of time with injectors, plus a very brief dalliance with straights). First three shaves with the Mongoose were rough, but with this morning's I focused on very light pressure, strategic stretching, taking my time, and not worrying about BBS. And it went very well! I remembered how gratifying it can be to learn a new tool like this.

So, thinking more gratifying learning is in order, I realized I could check out the razor that these vaunted AC blades were originally intended for. Doing a bit of reading, it sounds like the Artist Club razors are nice indeed. I ordered the folding version this morning, but then saw folks saying the fixed version is easier to work with; it was too late to cancel the folding one, so I ordered the fixed too, along with some ProGuard blades. I figure I can just return the folding version, no big deal.

I can see the Mongoose and hopefully this being my "take extra time" weekend razors. Should be fun. Once mastered, wouldn't the Feather SS be the better ergonomics for these blades, compared to the hefty Mongoose? That fixed SS just looks so nimble.

I love using the Feather SS. Good choice, the ProGuard blades. They make it as forgiving and fun as a straight razor. I sold my Mongoose. Loved the look, heft, materials and build but wasn't blown away by the performance. But you might well be if you stick at it. Still, if I'm in the mood for a leisurely shave that requires more skill and concentration than usual, the ProGuard and the Feather SS are my tool of choice. I now use only the ProGuards in it since the other blades, though very good, are not as comfortable or forgiving.

Please keep us apprized on your adventures with the goose and the Feather.

I have used Kai Mild, Feather Pro, and Feather Pro Super in my Mongoose. I was actually surprised to find I got the best shaves with the Pro Super. Don't be hesitant to step away from the Proguards. I used the AC for a month with the Feather Pro blades and was getting wonderful shaves with it. Good luck and have fun.

Ok...y'all have convinced. I think Im going to get an SS this spring. Ive always wanted to try using a shavette or straight on my head, and I just cant ragionalize the investment for a full straight setup yet, so Im gonna jump on a fixed-handle SS and some ProGuard blades and try not to cut off an ear....

Thanks for this thread, gentlemen!

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Indeed, I meant to update this thread with my first experience with the Feather SS, but I forgot! I received both the non-folding and the folding SS razors last week, with the intention of using the non-folding first and returning the folding if I wasn't really liking the whole experience. Let's just say, I have not returned the folding yet.

I shaved Saturday and Sunday with the non-folding, equipped with a ProGuard blade. Saturday was a somewhat rough shave — a half-dozen weepers (mostly on my left, non-dominant hand side), definite irritation — but I expected even worse from my first try. I'd spent a little bit of time with a standard straight last year, so the whole thing wasn't totally new to me. The second shave on Sunday was notably better. Still a handful of nicks, but hardly any irritation and surprisingly close with two passes (and a bit of touch-up with an injector).

I'm looking forward to getting better and better with the SS. It's fun to work on (and I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun to use when I feel skillful with it). Right now I feel clumsy finding different angles, and especially when I switch to my left hand. I'm sure that's normal. I did come across advice from an older YouTube video (the Danish shaving guy?) where he said it's important to shave with short, quick strokes, to give momentum to the stroke, as opposed to long, slow strokes which tend to just tug and tear at the hair. Since this was helpful with the Mongoose, I felt like this was a minor revelation. I was using slower strokes and encountering tugging. I'm definitely going to try quicker, momentum-filled strokes next time.

I haven't fully decided whether the Mongoose is for me or not. I've gotten better with it, but it still seems to require a lot of care for a safety-razor style design, and if I'm going to climb a learning curve, why not the full Feather SS straight razor experience? I'm leaning toward the latter right now. I'm a fan of lighter razors as it is, and there's no denying the SS feels nimble. Looking forward to more.

Indeed, I meant to update this thread with my first experience with the Feather SS, but I forgot! I received both the non-folding and the folding SS razors last week, with the intention of using the non-folding first and returning the folding if I wasn't really liking the whole experience. Let's just say, I have not returned the folding yet.

I shaved Saturday and Sunday with the non-folding, equipped with a ProGuard blade. Saturday was a somewhat rough shave — a half-dozen weepers (mostly on my left, non-dominant hand side), definite irritation — but I expected even worse from my first try. I'd spent a little bit of time with a standard straight last year, so the whole thing wasn't totally new to me. The second shave on Sunday was notably better. Still a handful of nicks, but hardly any irritation and surprisingly close with two passes (and a bit of touch-up with an injector).

I'm looking forward to getting better and better with the SS. It's fun to work on (and I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun to use when I feel skillful with it). Right now I feel clumsy finding different angles, and especially when I switch to my left hand. I'm sure that's normal. I did come across advice from an older YouTube video (the Danish shaving guy?) where he said it's important to shave with short, quick strokes, to give momentum to the stroke, as opposed to long, slow strokes which tend to just tug and tear at the hair. Since this was helpful with the Mongoose, I felt like this was a minor revelation. I was using slower strokes and encountering tugging. I'm definitely going to try quicker, momentum-filled strokes next time.

I haven't fully decided whether the Mongoose is for me or not. I've gotten better with it, but it still seems to require a lot of care for a safety-razor style design, and if I'm going to climb a learning curve, why not the full Feather SS straight razor experience? I'm leaning toward the latter right now. I'm a fan of lighter razors as it is, and there's no denying the SS feels nimble. Looking forward to more.

If you decide to return one of those Feather ACs, let me know. I might be interested in purchasing it from you, if the timing is right. Just an alternative offer should you decide only one is necessary...

For the time being I've decided to make the Feather SS my weekend project (how ill-advised that is, we shall see), so this morning I was back to the non-folding with an AC Pro Guard. This is was my third SS shave, and I went into it with a new confidence based on advice I'd seen to use quick, short strokes with enough momentum to slice the whiskers — as opposed to slow strokes which tug and tear them. All while keeping light pressure, of course. So I focused on this, and in many ways I think it helped the actual cutting, as I didn't run into much of that tugging feeling, and I was certainly shearing off whiskers.

But I think, too, it took my eye off the ball a bit with other aspects of technique, as my neck ended up with a constellation of weepers. Nothing horrible, but, well, it's obvious I'm still very new to the whole straight razor thing. Surprisingly, less alum sting than I expected and no burn or irritation now, post-shave. So, still stumbling, but I also feel like I'm improving a bit each time. This is definitely one steep learning curve!

Keep at it! One of the hardest things for me to remember when using the Feather AC is NO PRESSURE. Pressure = weepers. Because the balance and weight of the razor are so different from a DE I tend to want to press. When I remember to use no pressure I get a wonderful shave. Please keep us posted of your progress.

That's a great thing to be reminded of, stroppinglad, and probably the main thing I need to work on. Thanks!

PSA: For those who enjoy the Feather Artist Club razors and shavettes be sure to check out the "Shavette World" group on Facebook


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