Feather AS-D2, The Mild One

I bought this over the summer and it hasn't gotten much face time. It's a wonderful piece of kit but I do find that it is so mild, getting BBS is difficult and I find myself bearing down. The benefit of all that mildness is a shave without weepers or nicks. I find the AS-D2 comparable in that regard to my vintage ATRA. To nick yourself or cause weepers with either requires real determination. So I've decided that the AS-D2 is my weapon of choice when I'm rushed. I think you could safely shave with it on a roller coaster. 

Wondering if there are those who find they can get easy BBS with this. And if so, how?

I know Hobbyist loves his AS-D2. try using it with a feather blade.

I bought this over the summer and it hasn't gotten much face time. It's a wonderful piece of kit but I do find that it is so mild, getting BBS is difficult and I find myself bearing down. The benefit of all that mildness is a shave without weepers or nicks. I find the AS-D2 comparable in that regard to my vintage ATRA. To nick yourself or cause weepers with either requires real determination. So I've decided that the AS-D2 is my weapon of choice when I'm rushed. I think you could safely shave with it on a roller coaster. 

Wondering if there are those who find they can get easy BBS with this. And if so, how?

I take issue with those who claim this razor is too "mild". True, it has a relatively small blade gap, which in turn makes finding and maintaining the proper cutting angle difficult for some. I have owned this razor for many years. I also own a 2011 Mühle R41 (opposite end of the gap spectrum) and I can get a BBS shave with both effortlessly. The AS-D2 holds the blade securely, without flexing or chatter. It also allows for safe "buffing". I encourage you to NOT press down, but rather focus on finding the correct cutting angle. Also, don't use such a "butter cream" consistency lather, but rather a looser, better hydrated lather which won't clog up the gap as easily. Don't give up on this magnificent piece of engineering.

Never used the AS-D2 but I too have razors rated mild to wild and Primotenore describe my experience perfectly.  Loose lather, good angle, and mild razors will shave close.  Thanks for sharing and enjoy that marvel of Japanese machining.

The AS-D2 works best for me with Feather blades. It’s like it was designed for those blades. 

I picked up a minty, lightly used AS-D2 from a forum member a couple of years ago. In the box with stand $125. Good deal, and I wanted very much to like it. While $125 isn't a lot to pay for the whole enchilada, it isn't something I'd want to waste either.

So I loaded it up with a new Feather blade and twenty minutes later wondered how anyone can be satisfied with this thing. I did searches on forums for AS-D2 and reread threads praising it. So now it was a challenge. 

I've been shaving since 1962 or so, and in the 'wet shaving' technique we utilize for the past decade. Shaved with literally hundreds of DEs, SEs, straights. I know how to shave. I gave it about 7 tries IIRC. 

One way or another the AS-D2 defeated me. I sold it for what I had in it, and don't regret that a bit. I guess it is just a matter of differences in skin, whiskers ... For me it is a paperweight. YMMV 

I bought an AS-D2 as my second serious razor (my first was an Edwin Jagger) when my technique was less developed. I simply could not adjust to it so I put it to one side and even unsuccessfully tried to trade it. After buying and using several other nice razors (including a Rockwell, Karve, Blackbird and a Paradigm Ti II) I picked my Feather up on a lark a year later and started using it again. What a great razor it has proven itself to be! I get great shaves. So what changed? My technique improved to match the level of this fine razor. I invariably use Feather blades in mine. Clearly the Feather blade was meant to be used in this razor.

I used the AS-D2 exclusively for a long time. I have always found that you need to use a shallow angle (bottom of the handle up) and that gets the blade parallel to the skin. The last couple of years I've mostly been using SE razors but recently pulled the AS-D2 out to experiment with the Wizamet blades that are being discussed here: https://damnfineshave.com/thread-wizamets-on-the-bay .

Its a great razor, but you can't be sloppy with the angle. I find if I bring my elbow up while I'm holding the razor, its easier to get the correct angle.

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm going to keep working with it. Will also try it with a Feather blade.

I used the AS-D2 exclusively for a long time.  I have always found that you need to use a shallow angle (bottom of the handle up) and that gets the blade parallel to the skin.  The last couple of years I've mostly been using SE razors but recently pulled the AS-D2 out to experiment with the Wizamet blades that are being discussed here: https://damnfineshave.com/thread-wizamets-on-the-bay .

Its a great razor, but you can't be sloppy with the angle.  I find if I bring my elbow up while I'm holding the razor, its easier to get the correct angle.

+1