Thread: Advice for a Barber converting from injector to a 'real' straight razor ...

Any of the plastic handled Feather AC models can be autoclaved which is what is done with most reusable surgical tools. (Think pressure cooker). I would think that the basic blue disinfectant solution or UV would be adequate for the razor itself as the blade should be replaced each time it's used. Don't bother with the Pleana or lesser models. You can also get wire guarded blades for the AC, however I found them to not shave as close as the other blades and I ended up using too much pressure which is never good with Feather blades.... instant razor burn.

The difference between the RG and DX is that the RG is a cast brass, nickle plated razor and the DX is cast Stainless steel. They both work equally well, but the plating may eventually wear off the lower cost model if used multiple times a day in a barber shop setting.

I strongly recommend you learn to shave yourself with the Feather before shaving others with it. It requires a delicate touch, much more so than traditional straights and I suspect that shaving yourself with it would be the fastest way to get "the feel" for how it shaves.

As always, I suggest you check your local regulations just to be sure there are no rules/laws against what you are planning to do in your shop.

Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Any of the plastic handled Feather AC models can be autoclaved which is what is done with most reusable surgical tools. (Think pressure cooker). I would think that the basic blue disinfectant solution or UV would be adequate for the razor itself as the blade should be replaced each time it's used. Don't bother with the Pleana or lesser models. You can also get wire guarded blades for the AC, however I found them to not shave as close as the other blades and I ended up using too much pressure which is never good with Feather blades.... instant razor burn.

The difference between the RG and DX is that the RG is a cast brass, nickle plated razor and the DX is cast Stainless steel. They both work equally well, but the plating may eventually wear off the lower cost model if used multiple times a day in a barber shop setting.

I strongly recommend you learn to shave yourself with the Feather before shaving others with it. It requires a delicate touch, much more so than traditional straights and I suspect that shaving yourself with it would be the fastest way to get "the feel" for how it shaves.

As always, I suggest you check your local regulations just to be sure there are no rules/laws against what you are planning to do in your shop.

Regards

Christian

Thank you, Christian.

I just finished placing my order for a DX, and 100 blades-'Professional Super'!

Thanks again!

Joe

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Any of the plastic handled Feather AC models can be autoclaved which is what is done with most reusable surgical tools. (Think pressure cooker). I would think that the basic blue disinfectant solution or UV would be adequate for the razor itself as the blade should be replaced each time it's used. Don't bother with the Pleana or lesser models. You can also get wire guarded blades for the AC, however I found them to not shave as close as the other blades and I ended up using too much pressure which is never good with Feather blades.... instant razor burn.

The difference between the RG and DX is that the RG is a cast brass, nickle plated razor and the DX is cast Stainless steel. They both work equally well, but the plating may eventually wear off the lower cost model if used multiple times a day in a barber shop setting.

I strongly recommend you learn to shave yourself with the Feather before shaving others with it. It requires a delicate touch, much more so than traditional straights and I suspect that shaving yourself with it would be the fastest way to get "the feel" for how it shaves.

As always, I suggest you check your local regulations just to be sure there are no rules/laws against what you are planning to do in your shop.

Regards

Christian

Thanks again!

I haven't been on here in a looong time...but, I did want to come back and let everyone know that I really appreciated the advice. I love the Feather Razor! It has been a pleasure to work with, and I am sure my customers really appreciate it also!

Thanks for the great forum! ~ Joe

I'm glad to see you're back, Joe. When I was scrolling through the first page of the post and I noticed the post dates I was all ready to add a post saying: "Hey, who keeps resurrecting old threads???". Hey, if the original poster can't resurrect his own thread, who can?

Stick around more. I think it's the greatest thing having barbers on this site. Sadly ironic though, that unless you've been shaving with and honing your own vintage straights, you'd probably need one of us non-barber types to teach you, a barber, how to effectively hone a straight razor.

Have you been shaving with the Feather AC yourself for the past year or so?

Chris L

Cool website too. If I'm every down from Minnesota to your area, you can guarantee I'd be coming in for a haircut!

Originally Posted by Chris L

I'm glad to see you're back, Joe. When I was scrolling through the first page of the post and I noticed the post dates I was all ready to add a post saying: "Hey, who keeps resurrecting old threads???". Hey, if the original poster can't resurrect his own thread, who can?

Stick around more. I think it's the greatest thing having barbers on this site. Sadly ironic though, that unless you've been shaving with and honing your own vintage straights, you'd probably need one of us non-barber types to teach you, a barber, how to effectively hone a straight razor.

Have you been shaving with the Feather AC yourself for the past year or so?

Chris L

Cool website too. If I'm every down from Minnesota to your area, you can guarantee I'd be coming in for a haircut!

Thanks for the welcome back, Chris.
You are right about needing some instructions for honing a real straight.
I'll try to be more consistent in my dropping by...

I haven't used the Feather on myself...I could, but I don't want to tackle that right now!

The website is a work I have just recently been trying to develop, thanks for the kind words, and of course, we would love to have you stop by! ...for a haircut & shave!

Thanks,
~ Joe

This is an interesting thread.

At the barber shop I use here in town (although I haven't been to that one in awhile) after the haircut Billy the owner would shave the back of my neck with a shavette. I talked to him a bit about straights and he said that he had to shave a balloon in barber school.

At another shop the younger barber that owned that one said that they didn't teach him anything on using straights...they don't teach that anymore.

Guess I'd better go talk to Billy at the Royal Barber Shop before he retires!

The idea of taking my own str8, brush, soap and stuff to see if Billy would give me a shave does sound interesting. And I always thought that the old barber pole on the wall out front was kind of neat.

Originally Posted by simon1

This is an interesting thread.

At the barber shop I use here in town (although I haven't been to that one in awhile) after the haircut Billy the owner would shave the back of my neck with a shavette. I talked to him a bit about straights and he said that he had to shave a balloon in barber school.

At another shop the younger barber that owned that one said that they didn't teach him anything on using straights...they don't teach that anymore.

Guess I'd better go talk to Billy at the Royal Barber Shop before he retires!

The idea of taking my own str8, brush, soap and stuff to see if Billy would give me a shave does sound interesting. And I always thought that the old barber pole on the wall out front was kind of neat.

Simon,
When I went to barber college, they taught us how to shave with an injector style straight. We learned on the drunks, cheapo's, and street people!? I suppose none of them cared too much if they were nicked?
When my son went to barber college, they would not teach straight razor shaving...I put up quite a stir, they relented, and did one demonstration on a student. What a mess!?! I did the training.

Good luck!
~ Joe

Originally Posted by Joe Beardsley

Simon,
When I went to barber college, they taught us how to shave with an injector style straight. We learned on the drunks, cheapo's, and street people!? I suppose none of them cared too much if they were nicked?

So funny!

It's a shame that they don't teach that anymore...the neck shave feels sooo good.

I didn't think that there would be anything online about the Royal, but I was wrong. Also wrong about Billy being the owner...he was the Chief Barber all of the times I was in there so I thought he owned it.

Not much online, but a little blog. As long as Billy has been doing this his hand is still steady; I never had a nick or even any kind of razor burn.

BLOG.WALKFORPAT.ORG: Royal Barber Shop, Bill and Laverne and Bryan and Mike

Originally Posted by simon1

So funny!

It's a shame that they don't teach that anymore...the neck shave feels sooo good.

I didn't think that there would be anything online about the Royal, but I was wrong. Also wrong about Billy being the owner...he was the Chief Barber all of the times I was in there so I thought he owned it.

Not much online, but a little blog. As long as Billy has been doing this his hand is still steady; I never had a nick or even any kind of razor burn.

BLOG.WALKFORPAT.ORG: Royal Barber Shop, Bill and Laverne and Bryan and Mike

That's an interesting article!

I know a guy my dad used to work with, we called him Shakey. It wasn't his real name, but, it was deserved...his hand would shake constantly, until the blade touched your skin! I made the mistake of calling him Shakey (he didn't know they called him by that name!), he looked around to see who I was talking to...

Great to see the old-timers keeping their skills honed!