Merkur Slant corrosion problem? Quick help please.

[Brandon P K]

Hello Gents,

Just need a quick bit of help (and, my apologies to roughrider for waffling about this).

I was about to pull the trigger on a Merkur 37C Slant on B/S/T, but then I came across a this thread:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...od-Is-my-Slant-corroding?highlight=merkur+37c

I already have a Merkur 34C that I have enjoyed this first year of wetshaving, and thought a 37C would be a good next step to try.

BUT, should I look for another slant maker and avoid Merkur due to these issues...?

Thanks, men!

 

[fl_guy]

Hello Gents,

Just need a quick bit of help (and, my apologies to roughrider for waffling about this).

I was about to pull the trigger on a Merkur 37C Slant on B/S/T, but then I came across a this thread:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...od-Is-my-Slant-corroding?highlight=merkur+37c

I already have a Merkur 34C that I have enjoyed this first year of wetshaving, and thought a 37C would be a good next step to try.

BUT, should I look for another slant maker and avoid Merkur due to these issues...?

Thanks, men!

I would look for a stainless as some like ATT or the Tradere OC are really nice shavers I have a bunch of slants and don't use then anymore. Good Luck

 

[Merkur25]

Never had an issue but then again I have the Merkur 39c. I leave blade in always too.... Maybe I am lucky lol

 

[Member357]

I have 37C, and I only remove the blade when I'm changing blade. No issues on mine in about 18 months of use.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I've had my 37C for a couple of years. No problems at all, and I leave the blade in until its time to change it. All I do is rinse it when I'm through using it and hang it to air dry.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

Keep the razor clean and free from accidents. Once the pot-metal (zamak, I don't remember what they call it) is exposed from a dent or chip, it's vulnerable to corrosion.

 

[litespeedone]

The shaft on my lightly-used 39C cracked and has quite a bit of corrosion. It's essentially trashed. I haven't contacted Merkur (I'm the second owner), but I don't think I'll be buying any more Merkurs...

 

[Hen]

Maybe it has something to do with the climate and how it's stored. I have 7 merkurs and none have had corrosion problems. But I live in CO where there is low humidity just about all year long

 

[alex2363]

Keep the razor clean and free from accidents. Once the pot-metal (zamak, I don't remember what they call it) is exposed from a dent or chip, it's vulnerable to corrosion.

Zamak , a base metal of zinc and a mixture of aluminum, magnesium, and coper. Zamak is acronym of German names of which the alloy metals are made from. A company from my home state of New Jersey ( the NJ Zinc Co.) developed the Zamak alloys in 1929. Many zinc alloys are called Pot Metal, but Zamak is made a bit higher in quality.

 

[gus1942]

I've had long term use with Merkurs, including slants, and have no issues.

 

[litespeedone]

To elaborate on my post above, I got out the 39C and examined it closely. There is an approximately 1-inch crack from the top of the shaft extending down well into the knurling, so now it is a 3-piece razor instead of a 2-piece (when unscrewed from the bottom of the handle, the top plate comes off AND the bottom plate assembly unscrews out of the handle). There actually isn't as much corrosion as I remembered, although there is definitely some oxidation (green crud) inside the handle, and there is a little plate loss right around the crack.
I take pretty good care of my stuff; I never leave blades in the razor and I take apart, rinse, and dry with toilet paper after each use. So I'm quite confident that this did not happen because of lack of maintenance. Rather, I think it's a classic case of "you get what you pay for"...these razors are cheaper than some others and the metal used is substandard compared to others. It does look like a cheap pot metal. Unfortunate, because I really like the way it shaves!

 

[Maxime D.]

I think it's a classic case of "you get what you pay for"...

I desagree with that, the price isn't the matter (For 60$ a razor should be built like tank. We are talking about a piece of metal who shave your face). Jesus, they were selling Gillette Tech for 59cents back than and we still shave with them 60 years later. The problem here is a lack of quality control.

 

[AlphaWhiskey]

No dramas with my one- 2 years so far

 

[Redstickjohn]

I have two slants...a new one, and a vintage one. No issues at all with the new one, which I've had about a year, buy my vintage slant is quite pitted and shows lots of wear--however, it still shaves great. Doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Azarius]

Just my two cents...

After owning over 80 razors in the last 15 months or so I have seen far more QC issues with other brands than Merkur.

That being said, every Merkur that I have owned is just as good, if not better than any modern razor that I had. I would not hesitate to think twice about purchasing a 37C, in fact I wish I would have bought as my second razor, as it would have saved me hundred and hundreds of dollars.

Those who are recommended the high end stainless steel razors need to also consider the huge price variance, a 37C average price is around $45...let see if you can get an ATT, iKon, or other SS razor at that price point. I would expect a razor that sells for over a $150 to be of better quality than one that retails for less than a 3rd of the cost.

 

[Oel]

I shave with my HD slant for more than 5 years almost daily and there are still no defects on the razor. The plating is still perfect.

 

[Brandon P K]

Just my two cents...

After owning over 80 razors in the last 15 months or so I have seen far more QC issues with other brands than Merkur.

That being said, every Merkur that I have owned is just as good, if not better than any modern razor that I had. I would not hesitate to think twice about purchasing a 37C, in fact I wish I would have bought as my second razor, as it would have saved me hundred and hundreds of dollars.

Those who are recommended the high end stainless steel razors need to also consider the huge price variance, a 37C average price is around $45...let see if you can get an ATT, iKon, or other SS razor at that price point. I would expect a razor that sells for over a $150 to be of better quality than one that retails for less than a 3rd of the cost.

Great input, thanks! I did already buy the 37C and excitedly awaiting its arrival. =)

IF someday the razor does have problems, I can just buy another and still have saved money over the high end SS models!

 

[john shea]

I like the shave from my Merkurs better than any other DE razors that I have tried. I used to rinse them under hot water and shake them dry with the blade left in. After a few months, I noticed a small bit of corrosion starting where the threaded post attaches to the cap. I changed my maintenance to include dissassemby, wiping dry, and reassessembly after each use. The corrosion has not increased with this better maintenance.

While I wish that I could get one, even for more money, in stainless or plated brass, I can live with what I have for the best DE shaves I have gotten. The life of the.pot metal HD razor is OK for close to the price of a name brand cartridge razor and should last much longer

I would be very dissapointed if I bought a $ 200 razor and discovered that it would not shave me as well as the alloy HD..

 

[Luke Sky High]

I have bought a Merkur 34G and a 37C, the gold and chrome plating wasn't superbly shiny. The 37C had mold flask on the inside of the safety bars. But overall I consider them good razors. I always disassemble, clean and DRY my razors after shaving. It's part of the ritual, two more minutes to play with my toys.