I just received a long-handled Mergress from Lee today. First off, it's a gorgeous razor - one of the best looking DEs I own, and that includes a couple Edwin Jaggers. The weight is also awesome - heavier, I think, than a 38C or a Chatsworth. My concern is the blade gap. It appears that in calibrating the blade adjustment knob to start at 1, Mer has widened the minimum blade gap. In comparing the Mergress to my Progress, the Mergress closed all the way down to 1 (without blade) has roughly the same gap as my Progress on 3 (also without blade). The Mergress on 1 also appears to have an equal or slightly wider gap than my fixed-head Merkurs. Has anybody else noticed this? I got the Mergress when I noticed that using my Progress on a milder setting than my fixed-heads gave me more comfortable shaves, and I thought the longer handle and nicer knob would be a good upgrade. Having it be more aggressive - or at least as aggressive - as my fixed-heads somewhat defeats the purpose I had in getting the razor, and I'm wondering if I should return it. Any thoughts?
Mergress blade gap
- Thread starter HoratioCaine
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #2
Update: I put a blade in the Mergress and compared it to my other razors with blades in. The gap in the Mergress on its lowest setting is definitely more aggressive than my fixed heads, and still appears to match a Progress on 3. It also appears to have a slight slant effect which is more noticeable with the blade in than without it. My fixed heads have no slant, and the Progress has very little. The Mergress actually pretty closely matches my Vision on its mildest setting, both in terms of blade gap and slant effect, which is an ominous sign. I'd like to try it out to see how it shaves, but if I do that, I've bought it.
Return it.
My Mergress is a Tech on "1" and an HD on "3".
My Mergress is a Tech on "1" and an HD on "3".
The numbers have nothing to do with the blade gap they're there for reference only.
Tighten all the way down is tighten all the way down.
Nothing Eric would do would effect the blade gap.
If your razor is too aggressive it's because it came that way from Merkur.
You really should contact the Vendor before you post your complaint on a opened forum.
Tighten all the way down is tighten all the way down.
Nothing Eric would do would effect the blade gap.
If your razor is too aggressive it's because it came that way from Merkur.
You really should contact the Vendor before you post your complaint on a opened forum.
- Thread starter
- #5
Cooncat, first off, my posts in this thread aren't complaints. I'm not slamming Mer at all. I think he has done excellent work and have said so. I said it appeared as though in calibrating the turn knob (which is what both Mer and Lee have said he does), it has effected the blade gap. If I'm mistaken in that, then I am, but I don't think it is an unreasonable conclusion to reach under the circumstances. The fact is, tightened all the way down, this Mergress is more aggressive than my Progress and my fixed head Merkurs, and is on a par with my Vision. I have contacted the vendor, but I also wanted to see if others here have noticed similar things. Mretzloff's comment, along with your supposition that nothing Mer would do would affect the blade gap, has helped me to see that my razor might be an anomaly. As for the last portion of your post, I disagree with you. If we can't come on to this forum to find out what's what with the products we buy, why are we here?
How could calibrating the number ring effect the blade gap?
The Merkur Progress adjusts by means of a spring loaded platform.
When the knob is tighten all the way down the platform is bottomed out and isn't going any further.
Whether you meant to or not you implied the Eric's mod has negatively effect the operation of your razor, when if fact you've effected his reputation.
Information yes, but I find that a lot of erroneous misinformation is spread on these sites.
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- #8
From the sound of it, I'm getting the feeling that might well be the case, which, if so, is just another fine example of Merkur QC. I've put an e-mail into Lee, asking if his other Mergresses are less aggressive when all the way down. If I incorrectly assigned error to Mer, I apologize. I'll report back on what I find out.
Like I said, I got this razor specifically to adjut to a milder level than my fixed-head Merkurs. The gap on this razor at its lowest setting is more aggressive than that. The gap at its highest setting is inconsequential to me.
- Thread starter
- #9
Update: Lee had Eric contact me directly, and Eric assured me that nothing he did would affect the blade gap. Evidently this is an issue with Merkur QC, as others have said. I am sorry if I inadvertently wrote anything in this thread that would have a negative impact on Eric's reputation. This was certainly not my intent. I was more concerned with the fact I got a razor that I can't use per my needs, and was trying to see what others had to say about it. I take Bob's point that a lot of misinformation can spread on these kinds of forums. I also recognize that one report of a bum product has the ability to start a chain reaction of people finding all kinds of problems, real or imagined, with the products they have. I should have been more cognizant of this risk before I posted. Hats off to both Eric and Lee for handling this issue promptly and effectively. Hopefully we can put this one to bed.
So it's too aggrressive for you...
What is the actual blade gap - at the wide open setting?
And you said it has a slant like effect?
What is the actual blade gap - at the wide open setting?
And you said it has a slant like effect?
You don't have a dog in this fight, so I don't see why you're giving the original poster such a hard time. He never complained, rather he was seeking some input from other Mergress users. And, let's be serious, if Merkur is at fault, why is Eric modding faulty Progresses and why is Lee reselling them?
R
rainman
I have a slant custom progress. The top head piece was cut down too much on both sides evenly creating a slant effect. Didn't realize it at first. Cannot resell like this. Now what would I do, I can contact Dovo/Merkur. Funny thing is I like the way that my slant progress works so there is no problems.
I'll try to explain. The top head piece was cut too far back making the blade go down on that area. It goes from normal from one end to progressively further cut to the other end. And mirrored on the other side.
I'll try to explain. The top head piece was cut too far back making the blade go down on that area. It goes from normal from one end to progressively further cut to the other end. And mirrored on the other side.
Photos?
And I'm not mentioning names, but some of us may be very interested in an adjustable slant...
R
rainman
Sorry, I have no picture taking ability.
- Thread starter
- #15
According to my calipers, at the point where the knob starts to grip the threads with tension, the gap on the Mergress is 0.14 inches. Turning the dial down one number stop results in a gap of 0.135 inches. On my Progress the gap at thread tension is 0.12 inches. One full number stop down results in a gap of 0.115 inches.
The absolute difference between the gaps at the widest point is 0.02 inches. The Progress has a 4% narrower gap at the widest point than the Megress. At the narrowest point, this percentage would be much greater. The adjustment knob on both razors results in the same degree of adjustment per number stop, which is 0.005 inches. That means there's an absolute difference in the gaps of approximately four numbers on the dial. In other words, when the Mergress is tightened down fully, it is equivalent to my Progress dialed up four numbers from its fully tightened down point.
Yes. Looking at one side of the razor, the gap on the right side of the blade appears to be slightly wider than on the left side of the blade. It's nothing near as extreme as in an actual, intentional slant razor. It's just a slight slant, and I'm sure Merkur would say it's well within their range of tolerances.
- Thread starter
- #16
Did some more measuring. Long story short, tightened down fully, the Mergress has a 36% wider gap than my Progress fully tightened down. To put this in perspective, when my Progress is fully tightened down (without blade), it's at the + mark below 1. When adjusted to match the Mergress, it's at 4. Gotta love those Merkur tolerances, huh?
Let's be serious. Every batch of Progresses I receive is different. What may be fine for someone would be considered "uneven exposure" or "uneven blade gap" to someone else.
What are the tolerances?
Where do I draw the line?
I do my best to make sure each razor is the best it can be. I find myself having to get more and more picky lately which is unfortunate for everyone involved. Just an example, the first batch of "retooled" Progresses that showed up at around the beginning of the year had number rings that could be spun by hand. Luckily it was something I caught before they went out and was able to repair them for Merkur.
These razors aren't perfect and neither am I. I'm doing my best to make an attractive and functional improvement to them and there will always be some that are perfect in one person's eye but unacceptable to someone else.
I've said this before, I only wish I could be part of the manufacturing process to "detail" them before the plating takes place. It would take so little to make them 100% better but that's hands on custom time and wouldn't be cost effective in an assembly line process I'm assuming Merkur has.
My apologies past, present and in advance for any problems anyone has with the Progress. Please know I'm learning/discovering/dealing with something new with each batch and doing the best I can with what I have to work with.
Take Care Everyone,
Eric
- Thread starter
- #18
I just want to reiterate that the problem with my Mergress (which is soon to be replaced) is not from Eric's modifications. In further examining the construction, I see that the calibration of the number ring is simply a matter of repositioning it. It would have no bearing on where the threads are grabbed or the positioning of the head. I originally thought it might have been Eric's work because it never dawned on me that Merkur would have let a razor slip out the door like this; the measurements I posted above show just how unusually aggressive this razor is. But after talking it over with both Eric and Lee, it is now clear the root of the problem is legendary Merkur QC, pure and simple.
I just posted in another thread how your work on this razor is actually better than Merkur's own, at least in terms of finish. While the razor as a whole looks great, it would look even better if you could have refinished the whole thing - or just have made it in the first place.
I appreciate this, but in my case, you've nothing to apologize for. You didn't create the problem in the first place, and both you and Lee have gone the extra mile to allay my concerns. Thank you.
I measured the gap with feeler gauges for the Futur. The numbers are here:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Double-Edged_Safety_Razors_Ranked_by_Aggressiveness
Now 0.14 inches is the gap? Because a progress at 5 is measured at 37 thousandths of an inch or ~94 mm.
If that Mergress has that kinf of blade gap, well I'm intrigued. Maybe even intrigued enough to buy it.
Let's be serious. Every batch of Progresses I receive is different. What may be fine for someone would be considered "uneven exposure" or "uneven blade gap" to someone else.
What are the tolerances?
Where do I draw the line?
I do my best to make sure each razor is the best it can be. I find myself having to get more and more picky lately which is unfortunate for everyone involved. Just an example, the first batch of "retooled" Progresses that showed up at around the beginning of the year had number rings that could be spun by hand. Luckily it was something I caught before they went out and was able to repair them for Merkur.
These razors aren't perfect and neither am I. I'm doing my best to make an attractive and functional improvement to them and there will always be some that are perfect in one person's eye but unacceptable to someone else.
I've said this before, I only wish I could be part of the manufacturing process to "detail" them before the plating takes place. It would take so little to make them 100% better but that's hands on custom time and wouldn't be cost effective in an assembly line process I'm assuming Merkur has.
My apologies past, present and in advance for any problems anyone has with the Progress. Please know I'm learning/discovering/dealing with something new with each batch and doing the best I can with what I have to work with.
Take Care Everyone,
Eric
This alone is reason enough to buy a Mergress.
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