2021/22 Rocnel Sailor Adjustable

So I just got my 2022 Rocnel Sailor from Bullgoose. I'm a little confused on how to operate it, if you gents would be so kind. 

The "starting point" on the dial, where I can't tighten it anymore, is between 2 and 3, but closer to 2, not quite in the middle. This is how I received it. Is this normal? I thought it would be on 1 or the dot. Side note - He no longer has a feather blade pre-loaded into these. 

Obviously I'll never go full blown aggressive to the max, but you basically just keep loosening it, right? Until the head actually comes loose, then you've gone too far? 

I adjusted it to 5 and there is flex when you press down on the top cap. Maybe not flex, but almost like a spring motion down. I'm assuming this is normal?
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Lastly, I read on here to make sure the top cap is on correctly, I believe that means the Rocnel on the top should face away from you when you have the sailor facing you, right? Mine came with the Rocnel and Sailor both "readable" or facing the same way, I guess you could say? I assume this is also correct and he changed it, thank goodness!! but is there a way to verify it based on how it looks or anything? 

Thank you all soooo much! Can't wait to shave with it tomorrow.

The adjustment dial should have the baseline dot aligned with the center of the raised knob on the handle (or close) fully tightened with a blade inserted. Without a blade, it's likely to be off as much as a full number or more.  The higher the number, the larger the gap and the more aggressive the shave - and yes, you can adjust through several (2 or 3) turns of the dial.  You load the blade by fully loosening the cap (beyond this 2 or 3 turns until the cap comes off), then placing the cap back with a blade (being careful not to cross-thread) and retightening to the zero mark (dot), then adjusting to your desired setting.  

There should be flex when the cap is depressed - there are 2 springs in the razor head that cushion the cap (captured in the two holes visible in the baseplate on either side of the center hole for the cap post). The "Rocnel" logo should be facing away from the raised knob on the handle (which is on the same side as the "Sailor") - so "Rocnel" and "Sailor" are actually facing in opposite directions with the cap correctly oriented - at least on the 2021 model (I don’t have the 2022 yet), and the raised knob and "Sailor" are on what I call the "back" of the razor.  You can tell if the cap is correctly aligned if the adjustment dial is on 0 with the cap tightened and a blade inserted.  If it isn't, you'll see the discrepancy you mentioned with the adjustment numbers being "off," even with a blade in.

Fantastic reply! Thank you so much. This was all done at the office where I do not have a blade to insert. I'll give it a go when I get home. I'm guessing he may have changed the alignment since the razor arrived with both "Rocnel" and "Sailor" facing the same direction. Or whomever inspected it, accidentally put it on the wrong way. Actually, upon further inspection, when it arrived and the logos were facing the same direction, it was at a little over 2, which is pretty far from the baseline dot. When I just switched the top cap so they're opposite, the "correct" way, the dial is now at just to the right of 5, so less than 1 full number away from the baseline dot, I'm thinking this may be the correct orientation still as, by your approximation, without a blade is can be off almost a full number, but over 2 numbers off, I am doubtful a blade will correct that. Hopefully mine is the outlier, if it was shipped incorrectly, so other people aren't as confused as myself or end up using it wrong entirely. You would think he would have them align, as I think most people that don't read the forums would guess that is the correct way, not putting two and two together that with the blade inserted the baseline dot isn't lining up properly. Thank you again!

Welcome the DFS and the Sailor family.

Mr. Mouche did a very good job of answering your questions. I hope your dot aligns with the button after loading a blade and orienting the cap properly. Some of mine do, others don't.

Mr. Mouche did a very good job of answering your questions. I hope your dot aligns with the button after loading a blade and orienting the cap properly.  Some of mine do, others don't.

Thank you kindly! I'm guessing it doesn't matter if it doesn't align, right? I can just use it at that starting point, which is still technically "0?" I mean, it being off will definitely drive me crazy, especially for the price, but hopefully it still works properly. 

This is my first Sailor, I'm super excited. I'm very nervous as I don't like the Rex Ambassador or Timeless I have and have been using my Paradigm 17-4 as my daily and LOVE it. It is just so efficient and smooth. Nothing has come close. I'm hoping the sailor can at least meet the challenge so I have at least 1 other razor to rotate!

Mr. Mouche did a very good job of answering your questions. I hope your dot aligns with the button after loading a blade and orienting the cap properly.  Some of mine do, others don't.

Thank you kindly! I'm guessing it doesn't matter if it doesn't align, right? I can just use it at that starting point, which is still technically "0?" I mean, it being off will definitely drive me crazy, especially for the price, but hopefully it still works properly. 

This is my first Sailor, I'm super excited. I'm very nervous as I don't like the Rex Ambassador or Timeless I have and have been using my Paradigm 17-4 as my daily and LOVE it. It is just so efficient and smooth. Nothing has come close. I'm hoping the sailor can at least meet the challenge so I have at least 1 other razor to rotate!

You are correct.  Essentially, "zero" is tightened completely down.  Count from there.  I agree, it can trigger some OCD stuff, but it doesn't alter the shave at all.

It has been a while since I used a 17-4 as I sold it long ago.  My guess, is you will be close to a 2 on the Sailor to match finished results of the 17-4.  Please stick around a bit and let us know how the Sailor works for you.

Seems like Rocnel has a lot of QC issues. Alignment issues, bottom falling off, etc. If there is a problem, who fixes it? Rocnel, Bullgoose, nobody?

It's an expensive razor for me so I want to check before I pull the trigger on a Sailor.

Seems like Rocnel has a lot of QC issues. Alignment issues, bottom falling off, etc. If there is a problem, who fixes it? Rocnel, Bullgoose, nobody?

It's an expensive razor for me so I want to check before I pull the trigger on a Sailor.

Just buy the darn thing already, you know you want to!

Since the bottom is open, as people expected, should I try the Rex Ambassador stand? Murat is still not willing to make stands separately at this time.

Seems like Rocnel has a lot of QC issues. Alignment issues, bottom falling off, etc. If there is a problem, who fixes it? Rocnel, Bullgoose, nobody?

It's an expensive razor for me so I want to check before I pull the trigger on a Sailor.

My guess would be Murat. Phil certainly can't fix it. So, the risk is you send it back to Murat and deal with shipping time, insurance, etc. etc. if there is an issue. Thas kinda why I have gotten over the number alignment issue. A "quirk" I tolerate.

The medallion falling off and even the Loctite'd heads are also "quirks" I tolerate, for reasons previously disclosed.

Should they be perfect for the $$$? Sure....and most seem to be. Granted, a couple of mine are prototypes so I would naturally be a little less discriminating.

All that said, I certainly understand the guy that just read this post thinking I'm insane for pardoning issues with $500 razors. However, I like adjustables enough to back my 100% down to a good old skewl "A" of 93 baby! None of this new fangled "let's placate children's feelings" 10 point grading scale lunacy here.

Seems like Rocnel has a lot of QC issues. Alignment issues, bottom falling off, etc. If there is a problem, who fixes it? Rocnel, Bullgoose, nobody?

It's an expensive razor for me so I want to check before I pull the trigger on a Sailor.

The Rocnel razors are small batch, somewhat hand finished, somewhat individually assembled products.  They are not mass produced.  They also have some engineering eccentricities (some parts assembled with Loctite, for example), and as far as I can tell, no warranty is mentioned anywhere, although it's assumed Murat will fix any problem that arises (perhaps not free).  There is nothing user serviceable in them, there is a long wait for one, and they come with no instructions.  

I haven't seen on this forum that they have a "lot" of QC issues, although there are instances I've read of one (1) head loosening because of soaking in an organic solvent (the Loctite thing), and two (2) handle medallions falling out spontaneously (mine included), again, "the Loctite thing."  I believe one other member has reported historically something similarly.  Out of, likely, a hundred or more (or hundreds of) razors over the years, not bad for a custom built product.  And each instance of which I'm aware was easily remedied with another dab of Loctite applied by the user, without a return trip.  I haven’t heard of head alignment issues, or the adjustment mechanism failing, but to be fair, these razors have been in production less than a decade I believe, I expect they have some very complex innards, and anything major would require a return to the manufacturer.

With all of the above, my MC Rocnel is one of the most precision fitted, best finished, best shaving razors I have ever used, adjustable or otherwise.  And I bought it on that bet, warts and all.  If I owned and loved an original Toggle (also $$$), Gillette wouldn't repair that either, nor would anyone else, likely.  Nature of the beast.  The Rocnel Sailor is a razor unique unto itself, each one one-of-a-kind, no interchangeable parts.  You can't just buy a top cap off the shelf, or try a different handle, or even just replace a spring (at least easily).  But that can be said of a number of vintage razors I have, that don't shave nearly as well as the Rocnel.  It's an expensive, quirky, beautiful razor that I feel lucky to own.

Since the bottom is open, as people expected, should I try the Rex Ambassador stand? Murat is still not willing to make stands separately at this time.

I have a couple of post stands for the HLS Taiga and the Rex, and when I get the 2022 I'll try them out and report back. There really doesn't seem to be a well-fitted inkwell stand for these handles (I recall I miked it at something like 15.29 mm, and I believe someone said the 15 mm stand from Maggard's sort of works).  Murat says no raw materials, so not likely to have individual stands for sale from Rocnel for some time, if ever.

Rocnel 2022 I can confirm - hole in the bottom (6.1mm).  It does NOT fit the Taiga stand (post is too wide), and it DOES fit the Rex stand (with some wobble - post is too narrow, but it does stand up). Still in search of a stand, but of course a number of hanging stands would likely work.  The head orientation is the same as the 2021 MC and previous models as discussed, and looks like identical external dimensions as the MC 2021, same Roman numerals for adjustment, and the laser engraving is just a hair lighter.  The brass ring looks remarkably like the gold plate on the MC, but time will tell on wear/tarnish.