My futur was my first razor. I love it dearly, but I decided to put it down for a while after a bloody run in with a wilkinson sword. After a futur sabatical, I picked it up again last night, only to find that I couldn't turn the adjustment mechanism without considerable effort. I know that with Slims, lubrication and cleaning are simple thanks to the convenient access hole, but futurs lack that feature. SO the question stands as this: How do I lubricate or clean my seized futur?
Tough to turn futur adjustment
- Thread starter Aberneth
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First, I'd try cleaning by boiling it. That usually gets out the soap scum and other stuff that clogs razors. After that, I usually soak razors for 24 hours in mineral oil. That fully lubricates them and even a couple of stubborn old, dirty Fatboys worked wonderfully afterwards.
It sounds like it may need to be lubricated
Disassemble it, and use the smallest amount of silicon grease or plumber's grease to lubricate. To Disassemble, open the razor to its widest gap and then remove the cap. Then put your index and middle finger below the head (with the handle between your two fingers) and push and hold down the top of the head with your thumb. While holding down (you will feel the tension of the spring while you are holding the head down), with your other hand, unscrew the handle. Once the handle is off, you will see the place on the handle that needs the grease. Use just the smallest amount. When you reassemble the razor, it should adjust much smoother than before.
eric.
Disassemble it, and use the smallest amount of silicon grease or plumber's grease to lubricate. To Disassemble, open the razor to its widest gap and then remove the cap. Then put your index and middle finger below the head (with the handle between your two fingers) and push and hold down the top of the head with your thumb. While holding down (you will feel the tension of the spring while you are holding the head down), with your other hand, unscrew the handle. Once the handle is off, you will see the place on the handle that needs the grease. Use just the smallest amount. When you reassemble the razor, it should adjust much smoother than before.
eric.
There was a thread here not to long ago on disassembling the future for cleaning. See if I can find it.
Actually it wasn't here on B&B. It is on the shave den. Here is the link with pictures and instructions.
http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1511
http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1511
I just got my Futur yesterday and have a 2 day growth to shave with it tomorrow morning. I have been toying with it and see it has its design flaws. I can see people slicing themselves open trying to adjust it. Im just going to leave it on 1 and see what happens.
- Thread starter
- #7
I just put the head of my futur against something flat and turn the handle.
Invest in some Barbicide and soak it for 15 minutes.
Read the package on how to mix it.
Actually, you might consider sanitizing your razor every once and a while anyway.
Don't soak it too long, it'll peel the paint right off the numbers (on old gillettes anyway)
Read the package on how to mix it.
Actually, you might consider sanitizing your razor every once and a while anyway.
Don't soak it too long, it'll peel the paint right off the numbers (on old gillettes anyway)
- Thread starter
- #9
hehe, the futur has no paint in its numbers. Surprisingly, they are just as easy to read as the numbers on a gillette adjustable.
yes, I use one as my go to razor. My warning is for old gillettes.
trust me, the paint will come right off if you leave it in overnight.
- Thread starter
- #11
Oh, well, my cleaning routine for all my vintage razors is a pass with jeweler's rouge on a flannel wheel, followed by a steam bath, so the numbers have never been an issue for me.
Lubricating the mechanism is a great idea. I would use the oil provided by fishing reel manufacturers to lube their prodcuts, since both are exposed to a great deal of water.
- Thread starter
- #13
I disassembled, cleaned, and lubed it. New problem: The top plate (and the mechanism it attaches to) wiggle from side to side. What the-
Hold it like in the attached photo and lightly press with the big thumb, when rotating the handle.
Even if it slides/slips (unlikely), the blade will not touch your fingers, since the lower guard is convex, so the grip is secure and even if the head rotates
it pushes the fingers away from the blade.
I am using it all the time in the middler of shaving when my hands are soapy and slippery and I never had any problems.
As always use caution with sharp objects and YMMV
Even if it slides/slips (unlikely), the blade will not touch your fingers, since the lower guard is convex, so the grip is secure and even if the head rotates
it pushes the fingers away from the blade.
I am using it all the time in the middler of shaving when my hands are soapy and slippery and I never had any problems.
As always use caution with sharp objects and YMMV
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- Thread starter
- #15
thanks
I think the Futur's design flaws are more design traits. After I bought mine I immediately got some A grade olive oil and submerged it in it for 2hrs, then thoroughly cleaned and dried it. I never had a problem with it and now regret passing it on. An easy was to adjust is to put the head on your counter with a facecloth on the counter and just swivel the stem. I love the head profile and the simplicity of the blade release/holding mechanism. This should never fail and if you lose the tension-bar-springs, Mekur send you some more- I think a member had that experience a while ago. All in all, its as agressive as anyone-d ever need at 6 and quite subtle at 1, as long as you're careful. The low blade tension gives it a sort of hollow-ground character which provides an amazing shave but a more serious problem if you're unskilled with it. I feel its really a toss-up between the Futur and the HD for my "desert island razor" and that's after trying many Vtg Gs.
It indeed wiggle a little especially when it's on 5 and higher settings, but on 1 and 2 it's a rock solid. If you remove the cap and blade and take a look on the side when rotating the handle you can immediately see why (it couldn't be adjusted without some degree of freedom.
I have Futur for two years and it has never be a problem. When you just snap the cap it's usually right in the center and blade exposure is even. It will never go out of it while your shaving (the force needed to move it is such that you first slice your face out of your scull ).
If it's rocking a lot, ask for replacement but you can always rock it a little with fingers- it's normal. If you need a solid , get 2 pieces or 3 pieces non adjustable design. I have a Merkur Barberpole Slant as well and both are terrific shavers. I slightly prefer Futur, since I can adjust it in the middle (like put in on 4 for WTG and then on 2 for ATG ) On my opinion both Merkur Futur and Slant are the best shavers and I have easy BBS with them. Don't believe any "blood label" on them, use caution and it will be fine ( Futur with Feather was my first DE after many years cartridges and I survive with no problems)
I have Futur for two years and it has never be a problem. When you just snap the cap it's usually right in the center and blade exposure is even. It will never go out of it while your shaving (the force needed to move it is such that you first slice your face out of your scull ).
If it's rocking a lot, ask for replacement but you can always rock it a little with fingers- it's normal. If you need a solid , get 2 pieces or 3 pieces non adjustable design. I have a Merkur Barberpole Slant as well and both are terrific shavers. I slightly prefer Futur, since I can adjust it in the middle (like put in on 4 for WTG and then on 2 for ATG ) On my opinion both Merkur Futur and Slant are the best shavers and I have easy BBS with them. Don't believe any "blood label" on them, use caution and it will be fine ( Futur with Feather was my first DE after many years cartridges and I survive with no problems)
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Pardon the lazarus threading, but I just got a Futur and the linky to the pics in a previous post is broken.
I've just lubed my Futur with olive oil for now (works great), until I can get some sewing machine oil, which other have recommended.
With mine, if I replace the blade bed on the baseplate the wrong way round, it won't screw down properly, leading to extra wiggle on 1 and 2. The fix is to unscrew it again and turn it around. It's then rock solid 1-3. There is some sideways moevment above that, but only possible when doing it with your fingers, it's not going to affect a shave. Can't get around this, you can't design such a fine tolerance into the razor bed mechanism. Not for the Futur's price anyway.
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