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Post by mjclark on Jan 12, 2016 2:59:24 GMT -6
I absolutely agree - Feather Artist Club blades are phenomenal, Feather DE blades are very good but their SE blades lack robustness. The Feather Seikan carbon steel SE blades are simply not fit for purpose, and the Stainless are not durable.
What about using NOS Valet blades in the OneBlade? I have always found them to be as sharp as the Feathers but smoother and longer lasting.
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Post by SharpSpine on Jan 12, 2016 7:56:22 GMT -6
I like that, lacking robustness is a great way to put it. I'm pretty sure that a NOS Valet blade will work in the OneBlade. I just don't have any to confirm.
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Post by SharpSpine on Jan 12, 2016 20:19:31 GMT -6
January 12, 2016 Two shaves in a row now where I feel like this blade is irritating my skin, especially on my lower neck. When discussing the Feather Hi-Stainless blade with a fellow SE aficionado he described the blade in a way which I thought was both succinct and quite accurate. The way he put it, the FHS blade lacks robustness. robust: (of an object) sturdy in construction. "a robust metal cabinet" synonyms: durable, resilient, tough, hardwearing, long-lasting, sturdy, strong "these knives are robust" antonyms: fragileFor me, "robust" is a great way to describe the GEM SS PTFE coated blades and this is everything I prefer about them over the FHS blades. Adding in that my skin is seemingly irritated by them & it looks like I'll be de-spining GEM blades until someone can build a razor around the spined blade. Until my next OneBlade shave...
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Post by SharpSpine on Jan 15, 2016 22:42:03 GMT -6
January 13, 2016January 15, 2016 Two more shaves in now on the de-spined GEM & it is still going well. Even on 2 days of growth this morning the blade still did not bite. No blood and no irritation, but not as completely smooth as I normally get. I was a bit rushed so my angle might have been off a touch. It's very clear that my skin prefers the GEM blades over the Feathers. I guess only the Artist Club blades work for me. I expect my 200 GEM blades from Connaught will arrive sometime this coming week. Even with my wife sharing these blades with me, we should be set for at least a couple years. Now that I feel dialed in with the OneBlade/GEM combo I will soon take a break to spend more time with my AlumiGoose. I'm going to see how the transition goes as I switch between these two remarkable razors. Until my next OneBlade shave...
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Post by mjclark on Jan 16, 2016 2:27:02 GMT -6
Hmm... The choice to use the Feather SE blade in their design seems like a great flaw in the OneBlade team's plan.
And thank you again for experimenting with and reviewing this razor.
If you can acquire some NOS Valet blades though, I really think you should try them in the OneBlade - it could be just the ticket!
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Post by SharpSpine on Jan 17, 2016 11:07:11 GMT -6
Hmm... The choice to use the Feather SE blade in their design seems like a great flaw in the OneBlade team's plan. And thank you again for experimenting with and reviewing this razor. If you can acquire some NOS Valet blades though, I really think you should try them in the OneBlade - it could be just the ticket! I agree that the Feather blade is the weak spot in the system for us, but I doubt it is for others; especially those coming from DE shaving. The FHS blades seem more like a DE blade to me than a SE blade.
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Post by SharpSpine on Jan 19, 2016 22:08:06 GMT -6
January 19, 2016 Today was an enlightening shave. While I am confident that the GEM blades work better for me than the Feather Hi-Stainless blades, I am still curious to see if I can get more from the blade that OneBlade has put their complete faith in. While contemplating the idea that the FHS blades lack robustness compared to the GEMs, I devised a plan to minimize the stress on the leading edge of the Feather blade; I would modify how I go about my passes. For the last year+ I have only done 2 passes with some minor touch ups. I skip the WTG pass and usually do XTG followed by ATG. The Feather hasn't done well ATG, especially on multiple days of growth. So today I performed a more traditional 3 pass shave; WTG, XTG, ATG. The result was quite impressive. This was the first time in quite a few shaves with a FHS blade that was smooth without any irritation or blood. It seems to confirm that the leading edge of the FHS blades can be too fragile for more coarse stubble. A more conservative approach to beard reduction may be necessary to get a proper shave that is also comfortable. I'm not sure if I will try to push this blade further and maintain the 3 pass technique or not. I think I'm getting to excited at the prospect of snow tonight that I can't think to clearly at the moment. Until my next OneBlade shave...
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Post by SharpSpine on Jan 21, 2016 23:01:11 GMT -6
January 20, 2016
January 21, 2016 A couple more shaves on this blade and it is still doing pretty well. I definitely need to minimize the stress on the edge by focusing on conservative beard reduction. Jumping right into an ATG pass is a no-no with these blades for me. When the blade is good, OneBlade performs better in the difficult spots than anything I've ever used. The longer I use it I seem to develop an even larger appreciation for the handle ergonomics. I can confidently change my grip by feel only on the fly, right in the middle of a pass. This is a nice bonus as my beard map swirls around in different directions requiring constant grip modifications. The OneBlade could possibly become my OneRazor, especially with the GEM SS PTFE blades. Until my next OneBlade shave...
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Post by SharpSpine on Jan 23, 2016 1:31:15 GMT -6
January 22, 2016 Not much to share other than I think I will be using a new blade next time. I think this was the 5th shave on the FHS blade. Not a bad run of shaves with this one though as I modified my approach to my passes and their direction. I'm excited to see more people experimenting and sharing their results. My experiences are just that, mine. While I think there are some things that will hold true across the board there are still variables unaccounted for that only personal trial and error can step in to fill the gaps. While others in the shaving realm seem quite happy in their self-imposed box (close-minded), I am encouraged by the forward thinking few paving the way for others while simultaneously experiencing better shaves as a result of their initial risks. Until my next OneBlade shave...
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Post by jmzeitouni on Feb 21, 2016 9:42:30 GMT -6
Good day,
I've been looking for an alternative for the feather FHS and the GEM PTFE coated for oneblade razor, which i like.
I found a good deal one the feather seikan (and bought 480.... Sh...t) then, u read somewhere in your journal that they are "not fit for purpose". Could you explain why ?
Thank you
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Post by mjclark on Feb 21, 2016 10:56:51 GMT -6
Good day, I've been looking for an alternative for the feather FHS and the GEM PTFE coated for oneblade razor, which i like. I found a good deal one the feather seikan (and bought 480.... Sh...t) then, u read somewhere in your journal that they are "not fit for purpose". Could you explain why ? Thank you I found the blued carbon Feather Seikans to be unusabley harsh and tuggy. But see what you think yourself. I honestly believe that NOS Valet blades are a much preferable alternative to the Feather SE blades. The fact that the OneBlade uses Feather SEs is a massive turn off for me.
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Post by SharpSpine on Jun 15, 2017 6:41:21 GMT -6
CORE The new approach from OneBlade arrived yesterday (along with a few new goodies from B&M) so I put it through its maiden shave this morning. I used the new Barrister's Reserve soap and just moved my de-spined GEM blade from my v1 Stainless OneBlade into the CORE. The lather was amazing but the CORE just seemed to glide on top of the lather rather than slicing through it. A different technique/angle is definitely needed with the CORE. The gliding sensation carried throughout the Shave which was nice, albeit a kind of odd feeling. Even with the modified angle it didn't seem like this razor was very efficient. Even after 2.5 passes, which is my normal for a BBS shave, I still had several patches of stubble. Some places were decently close, but it seems like the areas where my beard is the most coarse didn't fare well with the CORE. I know that I'm not using the razor as designed so I will definitely try the Feather FHS blade in the razor next to see if there is a difference. The GEM stayed in place and seemed ok other than the lackluster results. So, this razor definitely needs a different approach and will take some getting used to. Whether or not it can perform well for me is yet to be seen.
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Post by Petrvs on Jun 15, 2017 7:29:25 GMT -6
Thanks for the report Brian, very interesting! Let us know about your further impressions...
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Post by SharpSpine on Jun 16, 2017 6:18:36 GMT -6
CORE Shave #2 After my lackluster shave with the CORE yesterday I needed to make some adjustments. Today I changed my angle by lowering the handle enough to keep most of the head just off the surface of my skin. No "riding the pivot" on this one like I do on the v1 stainless. I also went back to the Feather FHS "spineless" SE blade which the OneBlade razors are designed around. As I'm starting my first pass I realize that my GEM blade is sitting right there so why not do a side by side test. So I completed the left side of my face with the Feather and then switched to the GEM for the right side. The different angle made an immediate impact on the efficiency of the razor. This was noticeable with both the Feather & GEM blades. Despite my well known love of the GEM blade I must admit that the Feather blade worked better today in the CORE. It's disappointing to hear so many people receiving defective units; things like heads falling off and springs popping out. Thankfully mine has none of those issues and functions well. I definitely feel like I have to be a bit more kid gloves like around the head as it feels so flimsy compared to the weight of the handle. The balance of this razor is very odd but I don't think this is a surprise to anyone. It is what it is. After yesterday's shave I was considering returning the CORE and getting my money back. Today's shave has given me pause and I will use it a few more times before making that decision.
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Post by SharpSpine on Jun 18, 2017 6:41:18 GMT -6
CORE Shave #3 I am almost really impressed now with the CORE. Once I see how many shaves I can get out of the Feather blade & then I revisit a GEM blade I'll be ready to post some final thoughts. Right now though I'm surprised at how great my skin is feeling after using a Feather blade for 2 shaves in a row. Typically Feather blades leave me with some irritation, even if the shave was stellar in every other regard. If things keep going like this I will have to revisit the Feathers in my v1 Stainless OneBlade. Then I'll be able to tell if this "floating blade" technology they introduced in the v2 OneBlade really has some merit.
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