I’m currently using an Ikon Tech which mows down facial hair like nothing else I’ve tried. The problem is that my beard grows very weird. I have extremely thick growth on my chin, cheeks, and upper neck. My lower neck and Adam’s apple area are extremely sparse however. Using a Tech on it is way overkill and I end up with ingrowns and razor burn. I have tried a Gillette Slim, but that caused so much pulling even with sharper blades. What would a Merkur Progress be comparable to? I’d like to get an adjustable that at least gets close to the aggressiveness of the Tech but will allow me to tone it way down for my lower neck.
How aggressive is the Merkur Progress on the highest setting?
- Thread starter Junboy
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Question is you say, "I’m currently using an Ikon Tech which mows down facial hair like nothing else I’ve tried." What is it you want something else to accomplish. The one thing you can trying is time, as you age your beard will tame. The other thing that could help is lather, do not shave, cover lather with warn wet towel 3-5 minutes, to soften beard. You describe what I call big shaving provable. All you can do is try remedies suggested until one works. Wish I had magician hat to pull answer for you but I would be not fair or realistic with answer. I am not a David Copperfield.
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I meant to say that using the Tech even for one pass seems to be too much for my lower neck and Adam’s apple. It shaved too close without me even trying.
The Merkur Progress gets to be pretty aggressive at the high settings. I’ve had one for about a month and I’d highly recommend, really easy to find a sweet spot between efficiency and smoothness with it.
I splurged and got myself a Blackland Osprey this past week and immediately liked it enough to try to sell off the bulk of my razor collection. My Progress was not and will not be listed on BST anytime soon.
I splurged and got myself a Blackland Osprey this past week and immediately liked it enough to try to sell off the bulk of my razor collection. My Progress was not and will not be listed on BST anytime soon.
Yaqi Final Cut zamak and open it all...go enjoy
If you go passed the + sign on the Progress you can shave with it at 7 without fear of the top cap coming lose. Although you need to be careful and take it really slow or an injury is more than likely to happen.
The Merkur Progress is my daily shaver.
It can be extremely aggressive at higher settings.
I use mine completely closed most of the time and never go past 2. Anything past 2, the styptic pencil usually gets used.
Completely closed (at the + sign) it's a little more aggressive than a Muhle R89 or a Merkur 34c.
It can be extremely aggressive at higher settings.
I use mine completely closed most of the time and never go past 2. Anything past 2, the styptic pencil usually gets used.
Completely closed (at the + sign) it's a little more aggressive than a Muhle R89 or a Merkur 34c.
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For me this thing is a no no above 2.
Mr. Shavington
Knows Hot Turkish Toilets
The Progress has an ivory plastic adjustment knob that looks like the switchgear on a classic Mercedes 300SL or a Porsche 356. This alone makes it the best razor in the world. It shaves very well too, for a design that has been continuously manufactured for seventy years. My grandfather used one and I know this because even as a young boy I was impressed by the cool plastic knob. It’s wonderful that you can still buy a brand new one.
Yeah, there are some razors today that perform a little bit better, but they aren’t nearly as cool.
The adjustment range should cover everybody’s preferences, as others have said. I don’t think dialling-up the gap really adds any efficiency per se - but it does progressively help to compensate for any technique issues maintaining the optimal angle, at the cost of adding more blade feel. If your technique is good you’ll get the same shave on setting 2 as you do on setting 6, but setting 2 or 3 is more comfortable, and that’s the range I use. I don’t find setting 6 to be all that aggressive feeling, but again this will depend on your technique and how well you can use a higher blade-feel razor with reasonable comfort.
It’s funny, I was just looking through my old razor pics today and I stopped at this one. What a (functional) beauty it is.
Yeah, there are some razors today that perform a little bit better, but they aren’t nearly as cool.
The adjustment range should cover everybody’s preferences, as others have said. I don’t think dialling-up the gap really adds any efficiency per se - but it does progressively help to compensate for any technique issues maintaining the optimal angle, at the cost of adding more blade feel. If your technique is good you’ll get the same shave on setting 2 as you do on setting 6, but setting 2 or 3 is more comfortable, and that’s the range I use. I don’t find setting 6 to be all that aggressive feeling, but again this will depend on your technique and how well you can use a higher blade-feel razor with reasonable comfort.
It’s funny, I was just looking through my old razor pics today and I stopped at this one. What a (functional) beauty it is.
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For me, the answer is ‘Too much!’ Now, that clearly is not the ticket for everyone.
I got out my thickness gauges:
Merkur Progress (old mold, about 2015), Astra blade, thickness gauge horizontal:
Setting . . . . . . . . Blade gap
1 (minimum) . . . . 0.45 mm
"5+" (maximum).. 1.18 mm
. Charles
Merkur Progress (old mold, about 2015), Astra blade, thickness gauge horizontal:
Setting . . . . . . . . Blade gap
1 (minimum) . . . . 0.45 mm
"5+" (maximum).. 1.18 mm
. Charles
From what I understand, the blade gap isn't what makes the Ikon Tech so aggressive, but its positive blade exposure that seems to be more pronounced than others. The Ikon has a blade gap of .78mm, which only comes to about a 3 on the Progress. The blade exposure on the Progress at 1 is neutral but it does go positive as it opens up. Still, probably not as much as the Ikon.
So, the Progress would probably help with being able to still get an aggressive, albeit less-so, shave without opening up your neck. I use mine typically set at 4 and don't have issues with it.
(Full disclosure, I don't have nor have ever used an Ikon Tech).
So, the Progress would probably help with being able to still get an aggressive, albeit less-so, shave without opening up your neck. I use mine typically set at 4 and don't have issues with it.
(Full disclosure, I don't have nor have ever used an Ikon Tech).
They don’t call it the “Final Cut” for no reasonYaqi Final Cut zamak and open it all...go enjoy
Owned a Progress and a Futur, sold both, Do yourself a favour and get the best looking condition Gillette Slim Adjustable you can find, i have a toggle, executive, fatboy, Super adjustable 109,84, and black beauty, Aristocrat ,nothing beats a slim.
It will never be aggressive enough, he is coming from an Ikon Tech.
@Junboy - If you are looking at the cheaper aggressive adjustables, look at the Pearl Flexi OC, then the zamak Yaqi TFC's either the OC or SB - in that order.
I don't have an Ikon Tech, but if I compare them to my 2011 R41, they are less aggressive low down and more when fully open.
BTW - A Progress can be overclocked probably another full turn, before it runs out of spring tension. Its pretty aggressive but not at the same level as the above three when they are fully open. A Futur can also be overclocked pretty easily and is probably a better fit for you. The Chinese version is slightly more aggressive than the original.
True!
My Futurs only go to @6.5. I have 7 - mirror chrome, matte and gold.
When you get to the stop, squeeze the TopCap and BasePlate together and you will be able to continue to turn the handle.
You have now over-clocked it.
Not like I need that. I only use @5
If you decide to go with the Progress, which I would highly recommend, St James of London has the short handle Progress on sale for $50 with free shipping in the US.
