That's the thing of it, Garbe - a razor to be learned!
I'm put in mind of my early experiences with Japanese ship builders and Japan in general, their culture. There is still a lot of samurai in Japan, a traditional way of being and thinking. As honoured guest, you soon get used to be ushered to the seat furthest from the door but trying to persuade a naval architect that he has to raise the deckheads (ceilings) by 400mm is not easy; the need to re-design all the engine room pipe runs so westerners could move safely was even worse.
I suspect the As-D1 is designed for Japanese men - way less hairy faced than us - and we have to adjust to it. Just a theory but it hangs true for me.
Anyway, I'm happy to report that this mornings all-Feather shave went much better but sad to report that it still didn't pass muster. I've gotten my cheeks within a knat's crotchet of a Tech feel but my neck is still off.
The razor continues to shave so smoothly, effortlessly that it is hard to tell when the angle is just-so, but what I've learned to date is that it likes to shave pretty much on its back with its leg in the air (75 - 80 degrees, I guess) and that it likes - insists on - taut skin. My straight razor attempts came in very handy here! You must resist pressing in else it will give you weepers, even though you won't feel anything untoward. A micro-knowledge of your beard's directions of growth would be highly beneficial as I don't see - as yet - how a BBS shave could be obtained without an ATG pass - which really is not even vaguely a problem with this razor.
I'm still disappointed that it is not an instant brilliant shave - my expectation at £150 and reinforced by the Pils - but I begin to see possibilities and remain encouraged by posts from regular users/lovers of the As-D1.
I shall bow to it tomorrow in case it believes it of higher rank than me. Do we own our razors or they us?
