March 2020

A most unusual razor, even to it's blade loading, will make for an interesting shave.  The pivoting head, unusual blade loading, and snapping a DE blade in half all make it so.

Freddy, I tried one of those on loan and hated the blade loading process....I thought I was going to slice my hand open each time, sadly. 

What I'd do is snap the blade in half and then snip the corners off with some scissors so the blade will lay flat inside the base plate.  The corners tend to curl up once the blade is snapped in half and I think that creates too much resistance when trying to lock the top cap into place. 

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Andrew, I posted this the other day after using it for the first time and I couldn't agree more about blade loading.  It is a very poor design. https://damnfineshave.com/thread-what-ra...#pid314889

I love vintage Esterbrook fountain pens and have a couple of the Dollar Pens. That is a really nice shade of ink you made there.

A most unusual razor, even to it's blade loading, will make for an interesting shave.  The pivoting head, unusual blade loading, and snapping a DE blade in half all make it so.

Freddy, I tried one of those on loan and hated the blade loading process....I thought I was going to slice my hand open each time, sadly. 

What I'd do is snap the blade in half and then snip the corners off with some scissors so the blade will lay flat inside the base plate.  The corners tend to curl up once the blade is snapped in half and I think that creates too much resistance when trying to lock the top cap into place. 

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Andrew, I posted this the other day after using it for the first time and I couldn't agree more about blade loading.  It is a very poor design. https://damnfineshave.com/thread-what-ra...#pid314889

Freddy,

Sadly I'm not surprised that you cut your finger when trying to load the blade.

I think this razor would do much better with a top plate that was threaded down inside the handle or something like the older SE GEM razors where it the top lid just opens and closes...

I like the pivoting head aspect of the razor, I wish there were more of them on the market that utilize DE/SE blades.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Thanks Freddy!  Real good news bad news situation on the ink!  I made four bottles, but don’t have the formula!

Vr 

Matt

Thanks Freddy!  Real good news bad news situation on the ink!  I made four bottles, but don’t have the formula!

Vr 

Matt

Hey, Matt, it's all good. I'm just happy to find another fountain pen user here.

Freddy, I tried one of those on loan and hated the blade loading process....I thought I was going to slice my hand open each time, sadly. 

What I'd do is snap the blade in half and then snip the corners off with some scissors so the blade will lay flat inside the base plate.  The corners tend to curl up once the blade is snapped in half and I think that creates too much resistance when trying to lock the top cap into place. 

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Andrew, I posted this the other day after using it for the first time and I couldn't agree more about blade loading.  It is a very poor design. https://damnfineshave.com/thread-what-ra...#pid314889

Freddy,

Sadly I'm not surprised that you cut your finger when trying to load the blade. 

I think this razor would do much better with a top plate that was threaded down inside the handle or something like the older SE GEM razors where it the top lid just opens and closes...

I like the pivoting head aspect of the razor, I wish there were more of them on the market that utilize DE/SE blades.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

With the possible exception of some shavettes, I think the biggest problem with razors that take a snapped in half DE blade is that there is no place to anchor the blade and trying to use one's fingers is difficult, if not impossible.  The keyhole lock system on this razor makes it even more difficult because as one slides the plates together into the keyhole, the holding hand is pushed away and the blade either falls out or locks in totally misaligned.  The blade loading was a complaint even mantic59 had.

It's a shame, really, because the pivoting head comes in handy on this razor, the handle fits comfortably in my hand, I actually like the light weight, the colors add a bit of fun, and, most importantly, the shave was good.

Once my finger heals, I am planning on giving the razor another go.  I actually got a half Astra blade locked in place successfully on the first try but I'm not sure if that was luck or abject fear of slicing my finger again.

Not that I need another couple soaps but I'm a fan of these dark and bold scents.  Bouki 's descriptions of Strong 'n Scottish solidified my decision on that purchase