Off-center blade in old-style Muhle-Pinsel R89 open comb

[strat1117]

Forgive my laziness if this issue has already been addressed ad nauseam. I picked up a very nice-looking old style Muhle R89 open comb (a razor which has intrigued me for some time) on the BST recently, and I have noticed that there is enough play in the blade (before it is tightened down), that attention must be paid to insure that the blade is installed evenly. I have no such issue with any of my Gillettes or Merkurs. I very much like the look of this razor, but not enough to risk shredding my face with a questionable blade gap.

So, my obvious question is: Is there a mechanical way of insuring that the blade is inserted evenly, or am I just left to my own devices?

Thanks.

 

[cooncatbob]

Different brands of blades can have slightly different hole slot sizes, that's why the tolerances have to be a little loose or else some blades wouldn't fit at all.
You might experiment with different brands of blades and see if any fit better with less slop.

 

[strat1117]

Different brands of blades can have slightly different hole slot sizes, that's why the tolerances have to be a little loose or else some blades wouldn't fit at all.
You might experiment with different brands of blades and see if any fit better with less slop.

Thanks, Bob. I'm really just wondering if there is a mechanical way of doing it, or if I simply need to sight it up and get it as close as I can by eye. I know it's a dumb question, but we have such a concentration of brilliant minds obsessing over shaving stuff around here, that I figured I'd throw it out there and see what came back. Are the Gillette 7 O'Clock yellows particularly loose fitting?

BTW, I'm seriously considering using the R89 head with my Bob's Razor Works afzelia burl handle -- what a great looking combo!

 

[Luc]

The problem with the old head is the grooves at the bottom of the alignment pins. The way they made it, your blade can slide under it. I didn't find any way to prevent this. You need to be careful about it when you replace the blade. You could always cut an old DE blade, slide it in the groove as a chim and leave it there...

In this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=90845

I asked someone who had the 2 Muhles (New and old model) to post a picture of the heads as I see this as a defect but it's how they are made. I was curious to know if the new model would have the same 'feature'... It doesn't...

Here's the pictures (Post #55)
New head (no grooves)

Old head (with grooves)

 

[bythbook]

I think you are left to your own due dligence here - the same problem manifests on a number of my Gillette old types - and on a couple of the new improveds.

I just be careful and ensure the blade is equally exposed on both sides. So far, so good.

If you find the mechanical solution, though, I'll take one!

Jon

 

[strat1117]

The problem with the old head is the grooves at the bottom of the alignment pins. The way they made it, your blade can slide under it. I didn't find any way to prevent this. You need to be careful about it when you replace the blade. You could always cut an old DE blade, slide it in the groove as a chim and leave it there...

In this thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=90845

I asked someone who had the 2 Muhles (New and old model) to post a picture of the heads as I see this as a defect but it's how they are made. I was curious to know if the new model would have the same 'feature'... It doesn't...

Here's the pictures (Post #55)
New head (no grooves)

Old head (with grooves)

Yes, I hadn't noticed it before but this is exactly correct. I wonder if I switched it with a Merkur head, if that would do the trick (probably asking for trouble there), or if there is a reliable way to fill in those little grooves. Muhle should replace the old heads with a new style (assuming they will fit).

I think you are left to your own due dligence here - the same problem manifests on a number of my Gillette old types - and on a couple of the new improveds.

I just be careful and ensure the blade is equally exposed on both sides. So far, so good.

If you find the mechanical solution, though, I'll take one!

Jon

That's what I was afraid you were going to say.

Now I'm going to have to get up earlier and shave the night before.

 

[talibeard]

This topic came up some time ago (though not ad nauseam ) and some owners did have that same problem while others (like me) just popped the blade in and got it right all the time.

So it seems that it is a problem that or has been taken care off at some point or you have a razor out of a bad badge.

 

[mark3d]

I often noticed the blade is more exposed one side than the other, but i couldn't really change it, and it didnt seem to bother me (maybe we compensate for it without thinking).

out of the half a dozen blades i tried, they all fitted fine except for Kai - their tolerances must have been off, the blade had to be pushed on to the razor and the edge was buckled. horrible shave that day until i realised what was going on!

great razor - with the right blade (gillette 7 o'clock green russian) it's DFS in one pass!

.

 

[strat1117]

Well, I think I have it taken care of. The Merkur cap fit fine with the Muhle comb, and they look fantastic on the Bob's Razor works handle. This appears to have solved the problem, as suggested by Luc (the Merkur head looks hust like the corrected head, as opposed to the Muhle head, which looks like his old one).

Anyway, here are some pics of Frankenrazor (with a 7 O'Clock yellow installed):

Whaddya think?

 

[bythbook]

Whaddya think?

I think those are awesome pics.

 

[strat1117]

I think those are awesome pics.

Thanks, but I mean do you think that Frankenrazor will be able to put on the Ritz?

 

[bythbook]

Thanks, but I mean do you think that Frankenrazor will be able to put on the Ritz?

ah... who knows?

BUT THOSE PICS...!!!!

 

[strat1117]

ah... who knows?

BUT THOSE PICS...!!!!

I suppose this is a question which can only be determined empirically -- as in, on my face tomorrow morning. It will solve a whole host of little issues for me if it works -- I have never been satisfied with the plain Merkur head on the Afzelia handle, so this would allow me to use it and the Muhle comb. Wish me luck!

(And thanks again for the kind words about the pics! )

 

[bythbook]

I suppose this is a question which can only be determined empirically -- as in, on my face tomorrow morning. It will solve a whole host of little issues for me if it works -- I have never been satisfied with the plain Merkur head on the Afzelia handle, so this would allow me to use it and the Muhle comb. Wish me luck!

(And thanks again for the kind words about the pics! )

Luck.

Hey, I don't mean to minimize your efforts here - but I regularly use half-a-dozen razors I have to fiddle the blades with... so far so good. ("Why they call you Cuts, bythbook?")

But, really, Neil - these pics are just FINE. You've gotten the goods on your new camera, clearly. (Get it? Clearly...?????)

 

[DymondCutter]

Wow Neil the pics and that razor looks amazing. I need to get one of Bob's custom handles.

 

[strat1117]

Luck.

Hey, I don't mean to minimize your efforts here - but I regularly use half-a-dozen razors I have to fiddle the blades with... so far so good. ("Why they call you Cuts, bythbook?")

Obviously, you are far more tolerant of imperfection than I.

But, really, Neil - these pics are just FINE. You've gotten the goods on your new camera, clearly. (Get it? Clearly...?????)

Wow Neil the pics and that razor looks amazing. I need to get one of Bob's custom handles.

Thanks, guys.

FWIW, I shaved with it this morning, and got a really good result. I think the Frakenrazor came together quite well. It is far better than either of the two razors from which it was made -- the Cooncatbob with the Merkur head plus the old style R89.

Just lucky, I'm sure, but sometimes lucky is better than good.