The Gap - Should I Be Worried ?

[DonN]

I'm new to DE shaving and just got the Merkur Progress - I posted a few questions and searched the forums for good info and tips - thought I was all set , i.e. line up the triangle with the notch, tighten down & then back off, don't use Merkur blades, etc.

But I was reading one thread where the poster actually took a feeler gauge to measure the gap between blade and head on each side - should I get some feeler gauges and do this before I put the pedal to the metal so to speak ? and suppose the gap is in between gauge thickness, then what.

I just want to enjoy the experience - am I missing something ??

 

[mmack66]

I would just eyeball it. If it looks even on each side, I would say you are good to go. I think some folks have complained about the blade exposure being uneven as you look down on the top of the razor.

 

[SUMMERSRL]

No need to measure the gap. If things look even that should be good enough.

Personally, the only time I've ever looked at the gap on any of my razors is after reading a post like yours. Otherwise, I've never had any reason to suspect something might not be aligned correctly.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

I wouldn't be concerned about the gap being perfectly calibrated. Jump in - the water's fine and believe it or not, you can stand even in the deep end (that's why the DEs are called "safety razors".)

 

[koso]

jk

 

[SiBurning]

Feeler gauges aren't precise enough for shaving. You need a laser to measure the gap precisely. Or... see my signature.

 

[ateace]

It also seems that there can be confusion as to what blade gap and blade exposure are.

Blade gap refers to the distance of the blade from the safety bar.
Personally, I only know that fixed head Parkers have issues with uneven blade gap.

Blade exposure, on the other hand, refers to how much of the blade extends out from the edge of the top piece of the head. In other words, the blade extends further out from the top on one side than it does on the other.
Merkur razors have problems with this. By loosening the head slightly, you can usually reposition the blade to correct this.

 

[DonN]

good info - question : if exposure is unequal but gap the same, wouldn't the cut be equal ?

 

[memoryleak]

Welcome aboard.

While you're ordering those laser feeler gauges, get me a "plasma rifle in the 40 megawatt range" too. Just kidding, relax, take your time, taste the rainbow.

 

[rc05]

Good point DonN. As a point of interest, I noticed the blade was exposed slightly more on one corner when looking down on the top piece of my Merkur 180 (23C). The other side was aligned perfectly with the blade. So I decided to measure the top piece from side to side on each end. Even visually, when you look down on the top piece it is evident that one side was slightly angled in the manufacturing process - hence, more blade exposed at the one corner.

One end measures .734 across and the other end measures .748 -- just about a 1/64 difference.

I so not believe that this will have any affect on the shave.

 

[SiBurning]

You shouldn't need to do more than a visual check. If you do... well... I'd question whether it's worth keeping the razor.

I don't have the progress, but I do have a couple razors where the blade goes in uneven. Yes, it's easier to shave on one side, and if the blade's at an angle it shaves a bit different on one end of the blade.

As mentioned above, if the difference is so small that you need more precise feeler gauges, it's probably close enough not to matter much.

 

[le_paulo]

I've got two progresses with completely different blade positions. My daily-use progress can be wound down so far it barely shaves at all (I like that setting for my neck) right up to hair raising aggressiveness (like all progresses, I guess).

The second one I keep in my travel bag, but it is the Mr. Hyde to my daily Progress' Dr. Jekyll. Unremittingly aggressive, even on the lowest setting and requires a completely different shave technique (some would say correct )

It has uneven exposure from end to end and different gaps from one side to the other. In other words: a monster.

I would LOVE to know how the mods adjust these razor - I took to mine today with a rubber mallet across the top bar hoping to tame it but they're cast iron so I can't see them budging.

Any tips for tuning these razors?

 

[mblakele]

le paulo, could that be the alignment problem from Mantic's video?

 

[le_paulo]

le paulo, could that be the alignment problem from Mantic's video?

I wish it was that easy - it's simply the well known and documented manufacturing issues that Merkur has with the Progress. I've seen many posts over the last year or so (including this about this type of problem but never any comment about how the mods tune these razors when they install their custom knob/handle. Perhaps it's a trade secret?

 

[Mack]

I have a Progress. I usually just eye ball it with the head loose and move the blade until it looks even and than tighten the knob.