Feather ASD2 on Massdrop. This is the cheapest I have seen it. Not cheap for a Razor, but cheap for this razor (normally $200+).
100% stainless steel
Made in Japan
100% handmade
Length: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)
3.17 oz (90 g)
Final Sale
As usual with Massdrop, shipping is NOT quick. Good deals, but not very fast.
If you feel like helping me out, please sign up using my referral code:
https://www.massdrop.com/r/NTEVFX
Cheers.
Referee receives $10 on a new signup with referral link. Referrer receives $10 credit upon the Referee completing a purchase.
I don't know many paupers that can afford ~$200 razors…
Read into the sentence, I'm implying most people could get the same shave from a cheaper razor. I'll make sure future statements are less honed.
Us paupers have a Lord L6 for under $15 delivered on ebay.
I would say do a blind test with the Feather and the Lord but I don't think it would be pretty.
The referrer code does not grant both referrer and buyer a discount (like GMG, Catch of the Day etc), only the lister here gets goodies once 10 people bought using their link, buyer gets nothing.
…please share with us where we can get this for $15 or stop trolling
With all due respect thats absolutely untrue and a lie.
You're talking about cheapie diecast safety razors. This is one of very few safety razors made from 100% stainless steel - BIG DIFFERENCE. So please don't go making such unfounded comments unless you know what you're talking about - and clearly you do not.
I'm glad I'm not fancy
Hmmmm that's a really good price.
I haven't shaved in about 3 months, but if I was going to get back into it, that'd be the way to go.
The Weber suggestion is good too, but I wouldn't mind trying the Feather.
This all said if anyone was in the market for a stainless steel safety razor I'd respectfully suggest (as a long time user and afficianado of the craft of wet shaving) that they first consider a Weber razor. On par with the aforementioned razor and yet around half the price.
FWIW the Feather razor in question is a curious beast as at it's price it's too expensive for a new user to be able to justify. And yet for enthusiast wetshavers it's very mild (certain safety razors are more aggressive due to having more of the razor blade exposed) and so often seen as being best suited to beginners.
That all said its very well made and will resell for very close to what you paid for it - so its not a bad choice. However I personally would feel that for the same $$$ you could buy a VERY nice wetshaving startup kit with razor, brush, several excellent soaps and heaps of blades - so I think there's better value to be had elsewhere. But still a very good deal if you must have THIS razor.
Where would you suggest to get refills?
That depends on what blades you like as personal preference plays a big part.
There's an excellent Australian forum on shaving over at http://paste-and-cut.com.au
One of the big advantages of safety razors is that excellent blades can be bought for ~15c per blades vs the usual $2 per blade for cartridge razors.
You'll find all the info you could need over there - is too hard to give you an accurate answer without knowing much more from you so hope that helps. :-)
So what's the difference between this and a $50 Merkur or the like?
Significant differences but its really up to you whether they're good or bad differences. As is like saying whats the difference between a $200k Merc and a $50k Hyundai - which are both cars.
Different geometry - so they'll cut differently (as stated the Feather is a very MILD razor, most Merkurs are on the aggressive side of the scale).
But the biggest difference is the material they're made from. All modern Merkurs are plated Zamac (essentially a diecast Zinc based mix) - vs stainless steel.
Stainless steel razors are very rare - only about 5 co's make them - and so folks pay a premium for them, but for a given person a $20 razor of another model will shave BETTER. So it's a personal preference thing.
Cheers! I do tend to get razor burn so this might be a worthwhile investment.
Read the reviews, a lot of people find a major difference, and can justify the price of the Feather.
For a safety razor?!
If one is going to be a retro-razor snob, surely a cut-throat is the way to go.
I can understand the emotional reasons for love of vinyl records, but this feels like cassette-tapes making a comeback.
What is the attraction? I like that it is gimmick-free (no lube-strip, no pivoting head, no multiblade, … ) but cannot see a single practical advantage.
Or an emotional one. Please enlighten me.
~15c per blades vs the usual $2 per blade for cartridge razors.
Cartridges are a scam. Just buy disposable twin-blade razors. Or single - not those ridiculous multi-blade contraptions that were invented by The Onion.
You'll get a cleaner shave, it's not as harsh on the skin, and in the long run it'll come out much cheaper than using your regular razor.
Personally, I find the whole process to be strangely relaxing as well which is a bonus.
Why compare to a straight edge? They take months to learn as opposed to weeks with a DE. Blade goes dull on a DE and you get a new one…not everyone can keep a decent edge on a straight.
I switched from twin blade cartridges to a DE about a year ago and get a much better shave.
I don't understand how anyone can be happy throwing out disposables every few days. Each to their own I guess.
Wouldn't recommend starting off with a $170 razor though.
As what Roscoe99 said, straight razors require a lot of time and skill to maintain a sharp edge.
I started using a DE about 6 months ago to save some money in the long term and try something different. Now shaving with a Mach3 Turbo feels terrible compared to the DE.
I've started off with a Edwin Jagger DE89 from amazon for about $40 shipped and a sample pack blades from Connaught, ~$20 pure boar bristle brush and some Proraso shaving soap.
My skin also seems to have improved a lot as I'm prone to minor pimple out breaks every now and again.
Note: DE shaving doesn't save you money in the short term if you keep impulse buying different types of soaps and balms :P
seriously a little bit of metal is worth $170?
I know right no way in hell i could see myself putting down 170 for a razer.
Considering something like this 30+ years ago would've been a common item and substantially cheaper, it's a bit hard to believe.
you can still get a safety razor substantially cheaper… In fact I bet you I could get a Chinese made one even cheaper than anything that was available 30 years ago. It just won't be the same quality as this product.
I can buy a Japanese hand forged high carbon steel kitchen knife for $800. Or I could go to chinatown and buy a stamped, sharpened bit of stainless steel stuck in a plastic handle for $3. They're both knives.. but if you enjoy cutting things in the kitchen you'd soon notice the difference between the two.
@simulacrum:
That is a false dilema, black-and-white thinking.
Further, for the shaver, the variation in quality is 99% in the blade.
@simulacrum: I was more pointing out the fact that almost everything now is made to a lower standard, or a higher price, than it used to be.
@ryang:
Thats economics. For an expensive item, its worth spending a bit more to make it tougher. As things get cheaper, repair is less economical, so you can save even more money by not making it repeairable. There are positive feedback machanisms in place on price.
But expensive items tend to get better quality. Cars are an obvious example, being both cheaper and more reliable than in the past. Commercial tools and industrial machinery too.
I wasn't presenting a dilemma of any kind, false or otherwise. Just pointing out that there's a gradient of products from low to high quality, that range from cheap to expensive. Naturally there are decreasing marginal improvements with quality as you go towards the top of the range. It's the reason I don't buy the top end of any product.. the improvements are so subtle that I'm usually not discerning enough to be able to tell the difference. Audio gear is a good example.
That may be true, but its largely demand driven.. in a way it is our (the consumers') fault.
than is entirely up to you. but perhaps the comment section of a razer bargain isn't the best place to voice your opinion :)
it's the perfect place to voice my opinion. idk where you got that warped idea mate.
Thanks OP, recieved the Feather AS D2 on Monday, and have been very impressed with it.
I dont think the people criticising have tryed the razor to be able to make an appropriate comment.
When i unboxed the razor, it looked like the angle of the blade was going to be the same as my Murker, and Edwin Jagger, and was expecting to get a shave similar to my previous razors, sure the materials used were different for the Feather as the previous razors, but it was hard to believe when using the Feather how much a difference the razor makes. using a feather blade is very smooth now, and would have cut myself up with other razors.
The razor is amazing, and the positive reviews by users of the Feather seem accurate. Highly reccomend razor.
Nice looking razor and I was actually looking at this yesterday. Agreed best price for the item but the beauty part of traditional shaving is you can be a prince or a pauper and get the same shave. It does look very nice though…