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Thread: Better shave with shavette?

  1. #11
    ace
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    Senior Member blabbermouth ace's Avatar
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    I've shaved with straights for three years plus. In February, I decided to shave with my Feather SS with Feather blades for a period of time to see if I could improve my technique. My technique was getting me fine shaves, but I am always looking for improvement.

    The shaves I was getting with the Feather SS were closer. They weren't closer by much, but the whiskers seemed not to show themselves quite as quickly as they did after shaves with straights. When I returned to shaving with my straights, the shave closeness declined. Again the difference wasn't great, but it was clear. The only conclusion I could reach was that the Feather SS with Feather blades was capable of closer shaves than my straights.

    Now, for clarification, some of the straights I shaved with were a result of my honing work. However, others had been honed by the Honemeisters on this forum, and the results with all of them were about the same. So, while I prefer shaving with conventional straight razors, there is no longer any question in my mind which is capable of closer shaves.
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  2. #12
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    Like many here on this forum I began with a shavette around 2 years ago and then graduated to a straight shortly thereafter. My experience is that both CAN give you a good shave but the shavette causes me more irritation, even though it does shave just a bit closer than the straight.

    I also discovered that the straight being used can make a difference. My first straight was a Dovo Best Quality and I could never get a really close, comfortable shave with it, even after having it professionally honed by people here.

    I decided to try a vintage Henckels Emperor #81. After honing on a 12000 super stone, stropping on an oxide treated canvas, clean canvas and then leather I couldn't believe the difference between this blade and the Dove which I had honed and stropped in the same manner. So much easier to get a nice close shave. But even with that, still not quite as close as the shavette, but very close to it.

    I'll stick with the straight as much as possible as the difference is very minimal and much less irritation.

  3. #13
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
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    Not all razors are created equal, most will never be as sharp as the modern commercial blades that you use in a shavette, few can be as sharp or sharper. Your Dovo is not among the later group, and it's rare to find an old sheffield razor that is (but there are few) - that's just how it is.

    That being said I would probably call the shave I can get out of your Dovo better than the shave out of the shavette, but that's because I have some experience and my definition of 'better' is likely a little different from yours.

    I'd say give both methods a try for say 6 months each to get some proficiency and then you can decide which one you prefer. Or you can just stick with the shavette and be happy, nothing wrong with that.
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  4. #14
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    Or you can use both! I still keep my Dovo shavette and extra blades for travel when I don't want to pack the strop, and brush.

  5. #15
    Junior Member phlash's Avatar
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    Thanks for the replies everyone.....for the record, yes the irritation with the shavette is there (especially on the neck) that doesn't rear it's ugly head with the straight. I know there is going to be a trade off.....it is what it is. But I have been surprised at the difference. I'm real curious to see how the new Boker does in contrast with the other two I have. We'll see by this weeks end......
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  6. #16
    Junior Member phlash's Avatar
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    Ok.. New boker slowed up yesterday.... Much better than the dovo ... Closer to the shavette . Need to work on the dovo edge.....I love the weight and feel of this thing.....
    Last edited by phlash; 04-13-2014 at 10:43 PM.
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