Mergress Owners: Your Experience

[ackvil]

I have been using my newly modified Mergress for about one week. Much to my surprise the shave I am getting is somewhat different - and better - than when it was a Progress.

First, I could never go beyond 2+ on any pass without getting irritation or nicks. Now I can go to 4 with no problem at all. Leads me to believe the settings on the Progress may have been out of whack.

Second, I seem to be getting closer shaves now. In the past I needed four passes to get a BBS - now three on my cheeks are all that is needed and I not longer have to go ATG on my cheeks. (I still need a fourth ATG pass on my mustache area and neck.)

Any of you Mergress owners notice any difference in your razor?

 

[Den]

I don't have a Progress, but I have read that there's no standard for the settings. What is a 2 on one, might be a 4 on another. There's just no consistency.

 

[44Whiskas]

yeah but unless you own 2 or more - does it really matter? Bottom line is the thing shaves. As with most razors, the whole YMMV thing is really the determing factor with the progress.

I have the mergress but have nothing to compare it to with regard to the progress as I got it already modified.

I do know that it is a great shaver and I love the weight - my only wish for it would be a TTO and open comb...any custom makers want to give a stab at this one

 

[bonusmarple]

The only change I noticed was the extra weight. I get good shaves from both and I didn't need to adjust the settings when I moved from one to the other.

 

[Suzuki]

So is the extra cost for the Mergress worth it, in your opinion?

In my view, yes - I found the balance much better with the Mergress modification (I have the standard length Progress with the standard Mergress knob).

The real issue is whether you get a good Progress head - some of them have uneven blade exposure - but that's a Merkur issue and has nothing to do with whether its been modified.

 

[jrhudgins]

I owned a Mergress and liked it a lot. Only sold it to finance a new object of an acquisition disorder...

What I found with the Progress (or the Mergess modification) is that it is sensitive to how the adjustment knob is assembled. It can be just a little loose and you will get a rattle inside the handle, and consequently it is more aggressive and erratic than it should be.
When Mr. Mergress puts his magic to it and sets it just right/snugly, it is as you describe: A smooth shaver with much more precise adjustment.
My experience anyway.

JR

 

[Duggo]

In my view, yes - I found the balance much better with the Mergress modification (I have the standard length Progress with the standard Mergress knob).

The real issue is whether you get a good Progress head - some of them have uneven blade exposure - but that's a Merkur issue and has nothing to do with whether its been modified.

I have a Progress - no mods made. How would I know if I had a badly manufactured Progress head?

Thanks...

 

[jrhudgins]

I have a Progress - no mods made. How would I know if I had a badly manufactured Progress head?

Thanks...

My experience was that it wasn't an issue with the head itself, only the adjustment. That is, I had uneven and erratic blade exposure until the razor was adjusted properly. That same head worked perfectly once the adjustment knob was installed snugly.

JR

 

[bonusmarple]

So is the extra cost for the Mergress worth it, in your opinion?

I like the extra weight so I think it is worth it.

 

[RCC]

So is the extra cost for the Mergress worth it, in your opinion?

+1 Suzuki.
Didn't have problems before the conversion and did it really for cosmetics.
works great now and looks better.
I really like a feather with this. something about the weight and that blade that works well for me.