I finally broke down and spent big money ($2.27) for a Ri Mei razor. I ordered it from Panda Town under the Sodial name on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/SODIAL-Silver-Double-Shaver-Nonslip/dp/B00A7239EK
The description from that link says it is all metal, but the description from the the "silvertone" razor (link blow) and several of the recent Amazon reviews from that link say it has a plastic handle.
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Double-Shaver-Nonslip-Handle/dp/B0050HO9MI/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_1
I was willing to accept that the little knob at the bottom would come unscrewed, but I wanted an all metal handle. I understood that there was some risk the safety guard could be bent upon arrival and/or that the blade exposure and/or gap might not be even. As it would not pay to return the razor to Hong Kong, I figured I was taking a gamble. The razor was shipped the day after I placed the order and finally arrived at my place in Chicago two weeks and six days after I placed the order. Not so quick, but well worth the wait.
The razor I received is substantial and is all metal. It is not as heavy as a Merkur 34C, but it is quite heavy and well balanced. The finish is not perfect, but it is very good and much better than I expected at the price point. The handle on the razor I received is slightly different than shown in the photos on Amazon. First of all, It has cross hatching down most of the handle rather than just lines. Second of all, it is one piece. There is no bottom piece which unscrews. So this is a true three piece razor.
I read somewhere after I had ordered the razor but before I had received it that they had come out with a new version of the razor. Apparently, I received the new version. The handle is great, the threads function very well and it is not slippery even when wet. The cap and bottom plate seem somewhat less substantial than other higher quality razors, but they are metal and they do not bend or flex at all.
I loaded a blade and the blade exposure appeared perfect on both sides. However, the blade gap on one of the sides was mostly the same as the other side, but at one end it was smaller by a small amount. I removed the blade and discovered that the edge of the cap on that side had a very slight bump on the seam that I thought was from casting which had not been removed prior to plating which was causing it to push down on the end of one side of the blade which had the smaller blade gap. I knew it would bother me even before I shaved with it, so I filed it down to make it even. The bump was removed, but the finish was not destroyed as it turned out to be extra plating material. I loaded a blade and now the blade gap and blade exposure are perfect without a lot of fiddling as is required with some other three piece razors. Moreover, the balance of the razor is just right. This razor can be used by relying on the weight of the razor and without applying pressure.
I have a beard, so I only used it to shave my neck below the jaw line of my beard and my upper cheeks. I am prone to ingrown hairs (which is why I have the beard) and therefore never go ATG. Rather, I only do one pass of short strokes with some buffing, which is what I did with this razor. Using a Red IP blade, I got an excellent shave from this razor which lasted all day and into the night. It was both comfortable and close without any irritation. The blade angle required with this shaver was very intuitive. It just falls into place naturally.
It may not be an heir loom razor, but at $2.27, including the shipping, I am very very impressed. It is worth much more. I have attached some photos below. In light of some recent comments from the silvertone version reviewers and the silvertone description stating that that razor has a plastic handle, I would advise anyone ordering to order the Sodial version to avoid getting one with a plastic handle. Happy shaving to all.
http://www.amazon.com/SODIAL-Silver-Double-Shaver-Nonslip/dp/B00A7239EK
The description from that link says it is all metal, but the description from the the "silvertone" razor (link blow) and several of the recent Amazon reviews from that link say it has a plastic handle.
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Double-Shaver-Nonslip-Handle/dp/B0050HO9MI/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_1
I was willing to accept that the little knob at the bottom would come unscrewed, but I wanted an all metal handle. I understood that there was some risk the safety guard could be bent upon arrival and/or that the blade exposure and/or gap might not be even. As it would not pay to return the razor to Hong Kong, I figured I was taking a gamble. The razor was shipped the day after I placed the order and finally arrived at my place in Chicago two weeks and six days after I placed the order. Not so quick, but well worth the wait.
The razor I received is substantial and is all metal. It is not as heavy as a Merkur 34C, but it is quite heavy and well balanced. The finish is not perfect, but it is very good and much better than I expected at the price point. The handle on the razor I received is slightly different than shown in the photos on Amazon. First of all, It has cross hatching down most of the handle rather than just lines. Second of all, it is one piece. There is no bottom piece which unscrews. So this is a true three piece razor.
I read somewhere after I had ordered the razor but before I had received it that they had come out with a new version of the razor. Apparently, I received the new version. The handle is great, the threads function very well and it is not slippery even when wet. The cap and bottom plate seem somewhat less substantial than other higher quality razors, but they are metal and they do not bend or flex at all.
I loaded a blade and the blade exposure appeared perfect on both sides. However, the blade gap on one of the sides was mostly the same as the other side, but at one end it was smaller by a small amount. I removed the blade and discovered that the edge of the cap on that side had a very slight bump on the seam that I thought was from casting which had not been removed prior to plating which was causing it to push down on the end of one side of the blade which had the smaller blade gap. I knew it would bother me even before I shaved with it, so I filed it down to make it even. The bump was removed, but the finish was not destroyed as it turned out to be extra plating material. I loaded a blade and now the blade gap and blade exposure are perfect without a lot of fiddling as is required with some other three piece razors. Moreover, the balance of the razor is just right. This razor can be used by relying on the weight of the razor and without applying pressure.
I have a beard, so I only used it to shave my neck below the jaw line of my beard and my upper cheeks. I am prone to ingrown hairs (which is why I have the beard) and therefore never go ATG. Rather, I only do one pass of short strokes with some buffing, which is what I did with this razor. Using a Red IP blade, I got an excellent shave from this razor which lasted all day and into the night. It was both comfortable and close without any irritation. The blade angle required with this shaver was very intuitive. It just falls into place naturally.
It may not be an heir loom razor, but at $2.27, including the shipping, I am very very impressed. It is worth much more. I have attached some photos below. In light of some recent comments from the silvertone version reviewers and the silvertone description stating that that razor has a plastic handle, I would advise anyone ordering to order the Sodial version to avoid getting one with a plastic handle. Happy shaving to all.
