Is my Hoffritz Slant defective?

[c0ry]

Hello Gents,

I was driving myself nuts trying to set the blade correctly in my Hoffritz, but after closer inspection I think the head cap might be defective.

In the photos below, side "A" appears to have a proper blade exposure, as the blade's edge is parallel to the head.

On side "B", however, it appears that the head cap doesn't extend along with the blade--rather, it just goes straight across to the right, instead of pulling downward towards the safety bar.

I don't believe that the problem is caused by me loading the blade incorrectly. It really looks like the head cap is the problem here, as on one side it pulls down towards the safety bar (side A), but on the other it doesn't (side B).

Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

 

[c0ry]

True, looks like a slant razor..is it?

Yeah, it's a slant. My understanding is that the blade should stick out evenly at all points on a slant. The cap looks off by a mm or three.

 

[cooncatbob]

Hows it shave?
That's the only thing that really matters.
Guys get too caught up in measurements.
Since this razor is hardly new it's probably okay or somebody would have binned it long ago.

 

[glassmtn99]

Try placing the cap on the counter with the threaded side sticking straight up. Then place the blade in, and then put the razor into the threaded side and screw it shut. I find that method works best for me with the Hoffritz. I don't know why, but I have a much harder time getting things even with the vintage Hoffritz Slant than with the modern Merkur 37C Slant.

eric.

 

[cooncatbob]

It's not the cap to blade measurement that matters anyway.
It the safety bar to blade edge gap.

 

[c0ry]

It's not the cap to blade measurement that matters anyway.
It the safety bar to blade edge gap.

Ah! Thanks for the info. I won't worry about it so much, then.

Thanks to the other poster for the tip about lying it down. It does make the blade align with the safety bar correctly, but the top cap not extending down still causes the blade to look very exposed on that side.

 

[Luc]

This thread might help you

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=87841

 

[c0ry]

This thread might help you

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=87841

Yes, it did. I used it to learn how to load the blade. Loading the blade isn't my problem, though--it's a matter of the top cap not extending down towards the safety bar on one side.

 

[onotoman]

It does look to me that on both side A and B, the top section doesn't push down snuggly on the blade at one end - but as Cooncatbob states - it's the shave that counts - give it a try - with caution and see how it performs.

 

[Luc]

Yes, it did. I used it to learn how to load the blade. Loading the blade isn't my problem, though--it's a matter of the top cap not extending down towards the safety bar on one side.

Looking at it, your slant seems right. If you load the blade properly, the rest should be fine. Give it a go!

 

[Go West Young Man]

Ignore the 'side' views, what you want is that the blade, guard and head are perfectly aligned when viewed from the top.

 

[notthesharpest]

I find it much more helpful to concentrate on Side C and Side D (the butt ends of the blade). Lining those up so they're both straight and even makes the shave come out right in my experience.