Merkur Progress Annoyances

[FromConn]

I enjoy your informative videos. And I can relate to your 1950s' inserts--takes me to my childhood. I've tried many razors, including Feather's, which wasn't sufficiently aggressive for me. Same with Merkur's std. razors. I prefer Jagger's razors' blade angle. However, the Progress intrigues me. In your findings, would you say the blade angle changes as the settings are increased, or is it solely the spacing between the blade and the comb? Thank you the entertaining and informative videos.

[mantic59]

@FromConn I do not believe that blade angle changes as the adjustment increases. Not in my experience anyway.

[IsaakHunt]

Guess what Santa brought me today?

Yay!

I just don't dare to use it now, as I don't know what setting might be apropriate for me. I have a Gillette slim adjustable, and it's usally set to 3, which ist comparatively mild.

What would be the best adjustment for this fellow?

[mantic59]

@IsaakHunt Santa was very good to you! Start out with the Progress around 2 and adjust up or down from there.

[IsaakHunt]

@mantic59 Thanks for your advice.It worked out fine so far. My razor isn't exactly zeroed in. The lowest setting is right between + and 1, and I'm not able to zero it in, like you suggested. A setting just below 2 worked fine for me.

I think it was a surprisingly good shave. The slightly slippery handle wasn't a problem. Finish seems to be quite well, so I think it's worth the money.

[IsaakHunt]

@IsaakHunt

I still find the adjustables more aesthetically pleasing, but this rather hefty tool seems to do the job better.

About the angle: I don't think the slighty different angle is a real problem, because you hear the whiskers jump over the blade during shaving. If you're used to DE-shaving, you'll get the right angle really quick, imo. Overall, this seems to be a razor you get accustomed to really quick.

Is the Progress still your favorite razor, or have you moved on?

[shavefan12]

Can you do a video on the different angles that you need to use with the Progress please?

[mihajlovn]

For the grip issue why not wrap a rubber band or two around the handle? just an idea.

[kschmidt4]

Just tried my new Progress for the first time, from a Merkur 1904, it's like going from a Honda to a Cadillac! Excited to make this my everyday razor!!! Thanks mantic59!

[GM572]

Dude, I wanted to see Merkur XR4Tis :| .

[5tonyvvvv]

best razors for long hair beards..never get clogged like disposable razors

[daboss212]

you should make a video on how to change the blade on these things looks confusing

[jsj297]

Mantic, I've been wetshaving for a while now, and am interested in upgrading to a progress razor. Have you tried the longer handled progress, or the mergress razors? Just wondered if you had an opinion on these.

Thanx

[mantic59]

@jsj297 I have not tried the long-handle or Mergress razors yet!

[Sviolinist]

Great video... BUT... I have one important thing to say.... 1962 Gilllette Slim... none of these problems... shaves like a dream... I'm in love. Get yours! =). Merkur is a good shave =). Gillette is a great shave!

[djsmithy]

Be sure to google the "mergress" razor,

which is basically a Progress razor with a few custom modifications, that a guy on some forum is selling.

[feeknocks]

what would you recommend as the best single blade razor?

[jayfulf]

I think it's all relative as long as you have an adjustable

[mantic59]

The "best" is a personal decision; what I may like you may not. You're going to have to experiment a little.

[SkodaMart]

@feeknocks I don't think you can go wrong with the Merkur 23c

[eattheword]

I've had a Futur for a couple of years but it's rather large and was wondering if the smaller Progress would be better for getting those smaller areas where the Futur's large head seems to have trouble reaching properly (e.g. on the underside of the jaw bone)

[mantic59]

eattheword- the Progress does have a smaller head. But it also "bows" the blade quite a bit more than the Futur so there's a different shaving angle that might take a while to get used to.

[eattheword]

Thanks for the response. I don't think the angle will be a problem. Now I'm wondering whether to get the Progress or the 34C or the HD... Hmmmmmm. Been watching your videos for a couple of years now when I first got into DE razors. Very very helpful, thanks! :-)

[egarrulo]

@eattheword: 34C and HD are the same razor.

[yankee2110]

At the beginning of the video, mantic says that the merkur progress is a "great little razor". Though I am sure it shaves well, it seem like needing to make these kinds of adjustments should be unnecessary. Sounds like a "shitty little razor" to me. Of course, as they say on the forums, ymmv!

[stugel1970]

Just a suggestion...and I don't know if this works with the stock razor...but...

Rather than turning the handle which would result in the dot not being square to the razor head when horizontal, why not use a pliers to just turn the ring with the numbers on it until you get it to zero at 1 with a blade in it? I have a modified knob on mine and that works great. I don't have the old knob so I don't know if the ring moves on those. Thanks again for the great videos!

[Trotters80]

Does the allignment "spot" on the shaft have to be inline with the allignment markers on the head? As I cant move the shaft like shown on this video. Also, do you match the actual number with the allignment spot on the shaft, or the spot with the spot?. Thanks.

[mantic59]

Trotters80- No, pot on the handle is different than the markers on the head. The dial is continuously adjustable so the dot on the handle doesn't have to line up with a specific number or dot on the dial for it to work.

[Trotters80]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Mantic, appreciate it.

[veguetabuddy]

mantic - i love your videos, and i'm about to convert to single blade shaving, but I don't know what razor to buy. I was thinking about getting the merkur progress; what do you think?

[mantic59]

veguetabuddy- I like the Progress very much and I think a beginner would like it too, as long as you don't set the dial too high (over half-scale) for the first couple of months. Resist the temptation to dial it all the way up!

[dmatamorosq]

Where can I get this razor with a kit?

[veguetabuddy]

oyelad - i'm with you, but at least 85 percent of shavers buy crappy gillete stuff that come in cans and cost an arm and a leg

[MarkGauvreau]

Man I love looking through your old vids....I wish there was a dvd that had them all.

[jimmydigital]

dilipr, i hear ya. I like using a DE but one pass is generally the rule, two passes if I want a really close shave. doing 3 or 4+ passes is just silly.

[moalisiddiqui]

A friend of mine who has this razor model used one of those rubber grips you can slip onto your pencil. He says it works quite well since he doesn't fear it slipping.

[rongallant]

You forgot the one where the blade doesn't sit evenly on both sides. You can help this by pressing the top down evenly as you tighten or adjust knob.

[besh83]

Thanks for this new video. Been waiting for a long time now ;) Hope that more are on the way. One can't get enough as they say =)I also use the Progress after seeing you using it on your vidoes. My first DE. /teXmeX from B&B

[dumpling9999]

FINALLY!!!!

nice to have you back

[johnsheriden]

I just got my progress two days ago. Funny that you put up this video. It has been slipping out of my hand too. ha! Thanks!

[ayala87]

Good to see you back.

[dilipr]

These razors are wayy overrated. I've used many types, and the Mach3 is still the best of all, past or present.

[corderoy17]

oh. you mean the mach3 that's unbalanced with the overpriced blades and drags across your skin ripping off as much flesh as hair and the vitamin E strip that falls of in chunks while shaving? yeah, those are great.

[dilipr]

the blades are slightly expensive but I haven't experienced any other problems.

in fact these single blade razors are a nuisance if you don't shave everyday. you can get badly cut (we all know that) and you need at shave at least twice, always.

[purplestuff]

1)I can get a pack of 10 single blades for $1.50. 10 mach 3 blades is something like$15-$18

2) I use a single blade and don't shave every day.

3) I've never been "badly cut"

4) I've always had to do more then 1 pass when I shave, mach 3 or not.

[dilipr]

3 I truly cannot believe. One pass with a Mach 3 works for me since I shave after a bath. Safety is a big concern for me, I cannot go to work with a cut up face. I'm not for all Mach 3 type razors, just the Mach 3. The Fusion is a disaster.

[musicfan18]

Nothing wrong with the Mach 3 whatever works for you. But some of us like DE razors, DE razors take time to master, unlike the Mach 3 which is basically shave and go. As far as safety they are called "Safety Razors" for a reason. Also single blades are gentler on your face than a multiple blade razor which lift, pull and then cut the hair off.

[groverdoc1]

Whichever razor works best for you, you should go with. The upfront cost of a DE is more expensive than the Mach X, but it pays for itself in the long run due the fact that you can get ~100 blades for $20. I also find I get much less razor burn (if any) with my DE, plus shaving with longer hair I find is much easier with the DE rather than what dilipr said.

[dilipr]

My comment was more about efficacy than cost. I'm one of those guys who will pay for a better product. And by better in this case I mean something that is safer, easier, closer and requires less (or equal) time.

The brush and cream make a HUGE difference over using a hand to spread gel. That I'll admit. The razor does not and is just more inconvenient with the constant threat of being badly cut and having to shave multiple times. I'm not one of the freaks who likes shaving twice or more.

[oyelad]

anything past 2 blades is a sales gimmick. ANY razors that are spring-loaded are sales gimmicks (all's they do it cause the razor(s) behind the first to rip and tear at hair follicles and skin). I really, REALLY want companies that produce 3+ blade disposable razors to go out of business. I've been ripped-off for the last 6 years of my life by those fuckers.

[gumpydoood]

TRIPLE CHROMIUM. These blades will knock it off on the first pass & last a really long time too, offsetting their higher price.

[NAes12]

I would say it depends on the sensitivity of your skin. Mach 3s and fusions don't cut my hair smoothly and pull quite a bit. I have also been getting terrible shaves with the merkur razors. The slant bar even gave me my only shaving cut. However, the gillette superspeed was a massive improvement for my sensitive skin over all of them. I need to use a gillette swede or feather blade in order to avoid pulling. Nothing has come close for me. I recommend you try a superspeed before discounting it.

[corderoy17]

I just ordered a Progress earlier today. thanx for the vid!

[kbrinks]

Wow it's been a long time! Nice video