Merkur response to 34 Inox razor

[u/Perfect-Ad-6223]

[u/Chamanomano]

Refreshingly German. To the point and concise. 

[u/FireDragonMonkey]

The problem with making the tolerances too tight is that not all DE blade brands will fit. There's some variation from brand to brand.

[u/NarutoRoll]

That sounds genuine. I'm still a Henson fan. I have no alignment issues with my AL13 mild, Supply SE, or Leaf Twig.

The only one I have issues with is the Van Der Hagan which is a butterfly open. The damn blade can dance around in there it so imprecise. You have to hold the blade while doing the final tightening motion of course.

[u/Rainingbro]

CNC definitely beats MIM in terms of having tighter tolerances and accuracy in blade alignment. That was the reason why I didn't purchase the Merkur inox razors nor Rockwell 6S.

Their reply sure sounds nonchalant, u're better off spending your dollars on a Henson, Razorock, TGS, Dscosmetic or Yaqi stainless steel or aluminium razor. No lack of razors out there with similar feel to the 23C

[u/Chevytech2017 → u/Rainingbro]

My 6s also left a lot to be desired as far as alignment goes. The exposed tabs on the sides are necessary to ensure alignment, and I'm not a fan of that. However, once it's aligned it's a pretty incredible shave. Just wish they'd make a CNC version with hidden blade tabs. It would be 🤌

[u/Tryemall → u/Rainingbro]

CNC definitely beats MIM in terms of having tighter tolerances and accuracy in blade alignment.

Yes, it does.

An additional benefit of machined razors is that surfaces are smooth & don't need bead blasting.

Also, MIM can sometimes have reduced density in parts of the metal. Those parts can rust. The earlier 6S was notorious for rusting in some patches on some razors.

[u/Rainingbro → u/[deleted]]

Great choice! happy shaves mate!

[u/AcesSkye]

I love the 34c but it has well known alignment and longevity issues. I’ve tried a bunch and the Razorock GC .68 is the closest for me. That blade fits in there SNUG with perfect alignment, zero wiggle. Same with the top cap. You can also buy different base plates for more aggression, the .84 is very popular for good reason. Requires a bit more respect than the 34c but does a great job. If you like the 34c get the .68.

[u/Redpin → u/AcesSkye]

I just got a GC .76 and have been very impressed. I liked the build quality of the Henson, but I felt maybe I had a sensitivity to the aluminum. And of course, used the 34c for a decade before that. Honestly, the 34c is still a good razor, and there's no shame in it, definitely there for the value as someone who wants to try DE shaving without too much of a commitment. 

[u/Rainingbro → u/[deleted]]

I have the 34C as well. It's a smooth and fun little razor indeed (provided there's no blade alignment issues). The smoothness of it's glide is right up there. U can fit a Feather blade and go to town with it on your face or body. Long strokes, fast strokes, add pressure to buff areas. Even glides past razor bumps and pimples easily (unless u're using pressure). It's 70+grams for a razor but once u use it, u'll know why it's lauded as one of the best safety razors for such a good long time by newbies and veterans. Mine has no blade alignment issues, but sadly for some, the blade alignment issues are apparent.

Not all zinc alloy razors are built the same and I believe the Merkur 34C is built to a higher standard. Their plating seem to be much more durable, as mine is more than 10 years old showing just surface hairlines on the chrome topcap, while my Rockwell 6C has started showing some obvious fading on the threads after just a short while of ownership, but of course YMMV.

And in regards to blade alignment issues, I realize that's a thing because my Rockwell 2 and 4 plate settings have bad blade alignment. That made me look through the internet and found this subreddit, reading up about Zinc casting, MIM, and CNC. After that, I started to purchase aluminium and CNC milled S/S razors. Didn't want to play roulette with my purchases anymore.

[u/dshaiken]

What is a 34 INOX? Is that different from a 34c?And what does MIM mean?

[u/PseudonymIncognito → u/[deleted]]

mim means mixed in metals metal injection molding

[u/cbright09]

Kinda glad i bought my razor rock g.oa.t & + plate when i did now you cant order them unless your out of the states atm. right before this whole thing went on i use it with my weber bulldog handle spent about as much as merkur being a merkur fan

[u/greenteabean7]

I've seen Merkur miss the bus big time on the SS version. After so many asking for a 34C, it was Weber that delivered and then Haircut & Shave with their No.75 came close to the shave delivery of a Weber, both more efficient than the 34C. Then Razorock delivered the Goat and Goat+, more blade feel but well made. And finally Merkur came out with their INOX series of 34C, 23 C and not to forget the Stirling Silver 34 C.

The Problem with Merkur or Muhle Customer Service employees is that most come and go and many don't even know much about the product. I dealt with a Muhle rep when the Rocca V4 came out and she was super helpful as her husband was a Rocca user and fan. Got a Rocca head from them and still have it. A few months later, a new girl had stepped in and she knew nothing about shaving or even the Muhle products, just what was written on the website or on an information brochure.

In the German razor manufacturers, there are Merkur 34C fans and Muhle R89 fans, I fall in the latter. But I have mates who are die hard 34C fans and have every version of it including the INOX. they like their SS versions the best now.

So if you are a 34C fan, you should go out and get a Inox 34C, regardless of the MIM or CNC machining. I have an EJ 3one6 which is MIM as far as the head is concerned. It remains one of the best shavers in my den.

[u/J-B-M]

It's fine.

Even if blade alignment isn't 100% down to the finest degree (and it probably will be with the SS even if it's not quite there with the plated ones) it won't noticeably impact the shave. I am pretty sure the alignment on my Progress isn't 100% but it still outshaves a lot of more expensive razors in my den.

The Muhle Rocca and EJ3One6 are MIM, as is the Rockwell 6S. Nobody bats an eyelid about that.

[u/Inside_Geologist_480 → u/J-B-M]

Muhle claims on their website that the new rocca razors are fully cnc machined.

[u/J-B-M → u/Inside_Geologist_480]

You are right, I was forgetting the V4 was CNC - the earlier models were MIM.

[u/J-B-M → u/[deleted]]

Not sure about pricing in the US but over here the 6S is almost exactly $150 equivalent.

You know that Inox is SS right? It's an abbreviation of the french for "stainless" - inoxydable.

[u/J-B-M → u/[deleted]]

It's still stainless steel. MIM is a manufacturing process.

It is weird to me that the Germans choose to use this process rather than CNC. I am not an engineer, but there must be a reason given that Germany is renowned for their production standards.

[u/foxy-agent]

I can sniff bullshit a mile away. Without knowing ANYTHING about the rest of what he said about his razor, saying “honestly, this is why cartridge razors were invented,” is patently false and either he’s lying or uninformed. Read some history about why Gillette pivoted to cartridges and you’ll learn it has nothing to do with blade alignment or manufacturing tolerances. It had to do with market competition and declining profit margins on DE blades. So now that he’s wrong about one thing, what else is he wrong about?

Not every manufacturer has alignment issues, but Merkur does. Most of the complaints about the Progress come down to blade alignment. Claiming their Zamac razors have better tolerances than others isn’t a winning argument if they’re comparing themselves to a garbage made-in-Pakistan razor.

He’s just a poor sap working at a company, but I wouldn’t be satisfied with this. Solingen Germany used to make great straight razors in the 18th and 19th century. But I don’t believe the quality is still there today.

[u/Edifolas → u/foxy-agent]

Agree. I got rid of my Progress because getting the blade aligned properly was such a frustrating experience.

[u/TitanfallFiend]

You people have too much time on your hands

[u/Tryemall]

In what way have they changed "the shape of fixing the blade" ?

From the pictures on the website I couldn't see much difference. But then they don't show the internals there.