Merkur Progress Question

[rainman]

Anyone ever try their Progress on 10? I'm taking about once the blade becomes tight and no more twisting.

[HoratioCaine]

The numbers on a Progress range from 1 to 5+. There is no 10, unless they changed the design since I bought mine four years ago. So, I'm guessing you mean has anybody used the Progress adjusted down to the minimum amount of blade exposure, yes? I've used it that way, but I found it was a little too easy going. I typically keep it set between 2 and 3.

[rainman]

Anyone ever try their Progress on 10? I'm talking about once the blade becomes tight and no more twisting.


I guess I didn't explain well. Say you twist it down to 1. Then twist to the 5. Then do it again. The blade is still snug at that point to make 10.

[HoratioCaine]

I guess I didn't explain well. Say you twist it down to 1. Then twist to the 5. Then do it again. The blade is still snug at that point to make 10.

Oh, you meant once the threads engage and grip the top piece when you're first putting in the blade. Well, the threads on mine actually start to hold the blade snugly at "12," so I guess "11" might be the maximum gap one could try safely on mine. Having said that, I hardly think that would be very safe. Even on "10," the gap on a Progress is considerably wider than the most aggressive setting on a Vision. Not my cup of tea.

[rainman]

Thanks for the advice. It does look scary. I've only gone as high as 3 so far dialing down to 2.5 for my neck.

[HoratioCaine]

I gotta say, I hardly ever use my Progress anymore, or any other adjustable either. The blade gap on the standard fixed Merkur heads works fine for me, so when I shave with a DE, mostly I use either an Edwin Jagger with the Merkur head, or a 38C. I think the blade gap on those is roughly equivalent to a 2.5 or 3 on a Progress. The rare days I shave with a Vision, I keep that baby closed all the way down. Aggressiveness is overrated, at least for me. I'm not putting down the Progress so much as saying I don't think you need to feel bad using it the way you have been. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. :biggrin:

[jkh]

There was a post about this recently where a member (I can't remember who) was dialing the Progress to "8" by tightening down to 1, setting to 3 and then doing a full rotation to end up on 3 again. IIRC he said the shaves were great.

[BobS]

I think I understand how the adjustment on the Progress works, in terms of changing the gap, but if/when it is not tightened all the way down, what keeps the adjustment knob from turning?

[jkh]

I think I understand how the adjustment on the Progress works, in terms of changing the gap, but if/when it is not tightened all the way down, what keeps the adjustment knob from turning?

Absolutely nothing, except a bit of friction. The friction is enough to keep the setting you have, but it is possible unknowingly change the setting.

[Koss]

There was a post about this recently where a member (I can't remember who) was dialing the Progress to "8" by tightening down to 1, setting to 3 and then doing a full rotation to end up on 3 again. IIRC he said the shaves were great.

I like my first two shaving passes from a futur set on 6.5 with a feather blade loaded. Any things possible! :thumbup1:

[jkh]

I like my first two shaving passes from a futur set on 6.5 with a feather blade loaded. Any things possible! :thumbup1:

That is what is called a straight razor on a stick :lol:

[HoratioCaine]

That is what is called a straight razor on a stick :lol:

I believe the Cobra Classic has redefined that term. :wink:

[rainman]

Anyone ever try their Progress on 10? I'm taking about once the blade becomes tight and no more twisting.


I've tried holding this razor at a different angle. Its actually a Long handled modified progress. I'm currently at the 5 setting for my face and neck and the shave is good. I still plan on climbing to "10". I'll use it at "6" tonight.

[HoratioCaine]

Rainman, how long is the handle on your Progress (or is it Mergress)? I'm trying to get an idea how much longer it is than a standard Progress. Are you able to compare it a standard Progress, or to another razor, say a 38C, or do you know its actual length from tip to where it meets the head?

[rainman]

It is 4 inches total length and 4 ounces in weight. I got this razor recently on the BST forum. A long handled progress from bullgoose and a stainless knob from pureslab. The thread below is my purchase:


http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=100837

[rainman]

To add, I believe a standard progress is 3 1/2 inches at about 3.5 oucnes.

[HoratioCaine]

Thanks for the info. Looks pretty nice, and you just got it - how fun. From the sound of it, it's about the same length as the 38C barberpole, which is essentially a long-handled HD. That stands to reason, as even Merkur's "long" handles aren't super long. (And you're right; the standard Progress is 3.5 inches total.)

After saying I hardly ever use my Progress any more, another thread on a Progress got me to thinking about it, and I went ahead and used mine again for the first time in years. I kept it dialed down to two, which is a bit milder than my fixed-head Merkurs. I got a good shave with it, with seemingly more comfort than I get with my fixed-heads. Now I'm having to think if I want to spring for a long-handle Mergress or not. I always felt my Progress is a little short for my taste, and the plastic knob is kitschy. The Mergress looks mighty nice. But I'll need to shave a few more times with the one I've got to see if it's worth the upgrade. $110 ain't chump change. How are you liking yours, btw?

[rainman]

I'm liking the razor. Fun mixed with some danger. Looks great as well. The stainless knob matches the rest of the razor more than it seems on the photos. You could go with a Futur. The cheapest I've seen is WCS and Bullgoose or you could also get an extra long custom knob to go on you current progress. There is Mer, Bob, and Pureslab to choose from. Here is a picture of the Mer one. The only one I can find.

[rainman]

Anyone ever try their Progress on 10? I'm taking about once the blade becomes tight and no more twisting.


It looks like I won't make it to 10. I tried the 6. No wounds, it just took ultimate control to perform and caused slight irritation. I've settled on 5 and down to 3 for touch up.