This doesn't look good - Is my Slant corroding?

[Daedalus207]

I happened to notice this tonight while I was shaving. It looks like the finish on my Merkur Slant is starting to flake off on the underside of the razor. I've been wetshaving for a while now, but I don't consider myself an expert in razors themselves by any means - this isn't normal, is it?

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l130/Daedalus83/SlantFlaking.jpg

[MacDaddy]

I've been wetshaving for a while now, but I don't consider myself an expert in razors themselves by any means - this isn't normal, is it?

No, that is decidedly not normal. It does look like the plating is flaking away and the base metal is corroding on both ends of your guard plate. Is that a new Merkur doing that?

[xillion]

It looks that way. The same thing happened to my Futur. It started with plating flaking off.
http://www.christophermendoza.com/razors/futur1.jpg
Then some chunks of metal fell out while I was rinsing it. I wrote Merkur and they said it was a problem with my water.
I have not bought a razor from them since then.

[MacDaddy]

Some chunks of metal fell out while I was rinsing it. I wrote Merkur and they said it was a problem with my water.


Yeah... You know, your hydrochloric acid content must be a bit higher than normal there. :blink:

[bakerbarber]

It looks that way. The same thing happened to my Futur. It started with plating flaking off.
http://www.christophermendoza.com/razors/futur1.jpg
Then some chunks of metal fell out while I was rinsing it. I wrote Merkur and they said it was a problem with my water.
I have not bought a razor from them since then.

YOUR WATER?

That's CRAZY.

Did they replace it?

That's like saying you're tv went caput because you have bad cable or bad air in your house.

Scary...

[john.bradburne]

It looks that way. The same thing happened to my Futur. It started with plating flaking off.
http://www.christophermendoza.com/razors/futur.jpg
Then some chunks of metal fell out while I was rinsing it. I wrote Merkur and they said it was a problem with my water.
I have not bought a razor from them since then.

Yeah I hate when my water eats metal plating off of things... I can't believe Merkur wouldnt stand behind their product.. They better watch out or they may become a banned vendor..:tongue_sm

[xillion]

Yeah... You know, your hydrochloric acid content must be a bit higher than normal there. :blink:

Some other members received similar responses such as:

"Thank you very much for your email and the link to the photos.

The corrosion your razors show is part of the normal wear and tear that occurs

especially in areas with poor water quality and/or a high concentration of chemicals in the tap water.

I am sorry for not being able to give you more favorable news.

Best regards...."


Original thread here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=135882

[xillion]

Did they replace it?



No.

[Daedalus207]

I received the razor for Christmas 2009, so it's fairly new. At least compared to my Gillette "Old Type."

[MacDaddy]

Some other members received similar responses such as:

"Thank you very much for your email and the link to the photos.

The corrosion your razors show is part of the normal wear and tear that occurs

especially in areas with poor water quality and/or a high concentration of chemicals in the tap water.

I am sorry for not being able to give you more favorable news.

Best regards...."


Wow... They might as well have said, "You used your razor in water?! What are you, crazy?" That's a pretty shocking response from a company that's supposedly making high-end wetshaving products.

I just can't get over that... "Our crap falling apart is part of the normal wear and tear that occurs." I swear, a thousand years from now space archaeologists will think that the Romans had developed the technology to make plastic bags, because everything else our generations have made will have crumbled into dust long before.

[GreekGuy]

Another reason to buy vintage. They've withstood the test of time (aka real QA)

[Pbalkan]

Some other members received similar responses such as:

"Thank you very much for your email and the link to the photos.

The corrosion your razors show is part of the normal wear and tear that occurs

especially in areas with poor water quality and/or a high concentration of chemicals in the tap water.

I am sorry for not being able to give you more favorable news.

Best regards...."


Original thread here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=135882

Something to look forward to! :mad3:

You know... my first reaction was to just shake my head. Why post to say that I think that it sucks and that Merkur sucks for their attitude? After all, that's already been said.

But then I decided to post and I think we ought to encourage everyone who reads this to post and say that it sucks. Then maybe someone will send the thread to Merkur.

So..... THAT SUCKS! :sad:

[TYdeFan05]

My 34C HD is doing the same thing after three years. Granted, it saw three years of dedicated service as it was my only razor at the time. My slant isn't (for now), but it's a fairly recent addition.

Since buying my 34C, I've added a few razors. It's noteworthy that my vintage Gillette's are not doing this. My Muhles, EJ's, Feather, etc. are not.

Brassing on a 90 year old razor is one thing. Surface metal spalling off of a 3 year old razor (leading to ugly razors or rough patches where it will touch my face) just doesn't work.

I don't know if vintage Merkurs (80's and before) suffer from this issue, but I'm not thrilled about the idea of purchasing another new Merkur at this point. There's way too many new and vintage razors out there that perform in my "harsh" water flawlessly.

Since yours was a Christmas present I'm sure it has some sentimental value. I hate that for you.

[gollum83]

Yeah... You know, your hydrochloric acid content must be a bit higher than normal there. :blink:

Yeah, I certainly hope you aren't drinking the water there. :rolleyes:

[xillion]

I don't know if vintage Merkurs (80's and before) suffer from this issue, but I'm not thrilled about the idea of purchasing another new Merkur at this point.

I have a vintage Hoffritz (Merkur made) slant that I have been using in my rotation for years and it is as pristine as the day I received it. I wonder if it is made of brass?

[huck1680]

So you live near 3 Mile Island? Seriously, that is a terrible response from a company that isn't shy about asking you for a fair chunk of change for their product. All they had to do was exchange once, ask for your razor in return and study the possibility that maybe just maybe ...there's a quality issue with the product and not your terrible water. Any chunks falling off you and your family?

[Crixus]

That's like saying you're tv went caput because you have bad cableGood one! :laugh:

I think Merkur has a pretty good reputation for trouble-prone finishes on their razors. I agree that vintage is a great way to go and barring some of their "gold" finishes, the Gillette folks mostly got it right back in the day.

The EJ folks seem to take a lot of pride in their razor heads if you prefer new. Don't know who makes a "slant" though.

[TYdeFan05]

I have a vintage Hoffritz (Merkur made) slant that I have been using in my rotation for years and it is as pristine as the day I received it. I wonder if it is made of brass?

I actually bought a Progress from cooncatbob recently (as in, I haven't even received it yet). His correspondence with Merkur has it dated somewhere between '78-'83. Either way, if it has passed the CCBob test of time then it'll probably outlast me. I'm not ready to give up on new razors totally (the 2009 muhle/EJ head gives a fine shave and no signs of spalling), but the "vintage" models sure have a better reputation. If for no other reason than they haven't made it to landfills by now.

[Haiku]

The heads are made of zamac and so without the chrome plating they will corrode.

I regret that Merkur no longer seems to stand by their products. They used to. I had a problem with a finish on a slant and they replaced the razor free of charge, they also replaced a cap that I damaged on another razor. Sad to learn that they've gone the way of other companies and that they no longer seem to stand behind their products.

[noahpictures]

Nope it is not normal. I hope that doesn't happen to my Merkur razors. Thanks for the post because I was about order a Merkur razor but now I won't! Instead I'll order a Edwin & Jagger.

[Pbalkan]

Nope it is not normal. I hope that doesn't happen to my Merkur razors. Thanks for the post because I was about order a Merkur razor but now I won't! Instead I'll order a Edwin & Jagger.

Are you listening.... Merkur?

[tvldatsi]

total BS. those guys have a lot of nerve turning people off to their products in this Gillette dominated world we live in. I knew their plating sucked from past threads but had no idea they responded so ineptly. I personally have never recommended a merkur DE to anyone, as I've never used one, but now I have a reason to flat out denounce, and never purchase a single product from, them

[franz]

That's.... wow.

[Bestarrkin]

Nick, some members asked me why I bought vintage. This is first thing that I point. Viva la vintage.:biggrin1:


Another reason to buy vintage. They've withstood the test of time (aka real QA)

Chris, I think Hoffritz razors were made of brass which had silver plated handles and chrome plated heads. Mines were made in 50s and were still in very good condition.:thumbup1:


I have a vintage Hoffritz (Merkur made) slant that I have been using in my rotation for years and it is as pristine as the day I received it. I wonder if it is made of brass?

[infabo]

Some other members received similar responses such as:

"Thank you very much for your email and the link to the photos.

The corrosion your razors show is part of the normal wear and tear that occurs

especially in areas with poor water quality and/or a high concentration of chemicals in the tap water.

I am sorry for not being able to give you more favorable news.

Best regards...."


Original thread here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=135882

That's a standard-response. A text-block.
You just have to inquire again and again. At best, if you can prove you have excellent water and you have a test report from your water distributor - scan it and send it to them. Then they are out of arguments and HAVE to exchange your razor!

DOVO-Merkur's support is kind of random. Some people get replacement-parts without any trouble, even though they damaged the razor on purpose...
others won't. "but hey! bud light?"

But mate, you should really clean your razor regularly. Flaking off chrome just doesnt happen over night. This is a process.

[TYdeFan05]

That's a standard-response. A text-block.
You just have to inquire again and again. At best, if you can prove you have excellent water and you have a test report from your water distributor - scan it and send it to them. Then they are out of arguments and HAVE to exchange your razor!

DOVO-Merkur's support is kind of random. Some people get replacement-parts without any trouble, even though they damaged the razor on purpose...
others won't. "but hey! bud light?"

But mate, you should really clean your razor regularly. Flaking off chrome just doesnt happen over night. This is a process.

Where did you study materials and/or chemical engineering? I clean mine with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs twice per week every week. At first, I noticed some light spalling on the contact surfaces. Over time, it's starting to happen in random spots elsewhere. Right now I'm seeing pitting on the order of pin holes up to 5 mm. However, they are growing a small amount each time I shave and each time I clean. Furthermore, as others have shown, some of these razors are arriving at their front doors from the factory with these defects. To dismiss these claims as a function of people not cleaning their razors is baseless and incorrect.

[rockviper]

Is this something that replating would fix, or is the metal in the head just sub-standard and the same thing would happen again? I'm not suggesting a replate (Merkur should stand behind their products IMO), but I also have a slant and would like it to stick around for a while.

[TYdeFan05]

Is this something that replating would fix, or is the metal in the head just sub-standard and the same thing would happen again? I'm not suggesting a replate (Merkur should stand behind their products IMO), but I also have a slant and would like it to stick around for a while.

If you read the thread linked on page 1, cooncatbob explains it best. Long story short, it could be replated but it would cost about what a new razor would anyway. The issues at hand are:
1. Merkur could do a bit better job plating in the first place
2. They could do a MUCH better job with customer service

[infabo]

@TYdeFan05
I have no claimed, that cleaning would have prevented plating loss!!!
I just said, IF he would have cleaned his razor regularly he maybe would have discovered this damages way earlier.
I think he got his razor on christmas 09. 1.5 years ago.
The progress of plating loss looks to me like maybe 7 to 10 months from a scratch to this state.

The sooner you place your complaint the better your negotiating position.
So never inspecting your razor isn't a good idea. Now Merkur can think up excuses and go with the "bad water"-theory and you're out and not getting a replacement.
But if you discover starting plating-loss in a early state soon after purchase - then you have better cards getting an exchange from Merkur

That's what I said. I have not studied chemical engineering. I just know, chlorine affects/attacks chrome.
I don't know how "bad" your water in the states is (where Daedalus207 lives), how much chlorine is added to it in the process of chlorination. I'm here in Austria and here even swimming lakes have drinking water quality...
...so if I ever discover plating loss on one of my Merkurs, DOVO will never ever get trough with their strange "bad water chemicals theory"...

[wulfgar1976]

I didn't own a Merkur long enough to see how the plating held up long-term but it's fair to say that the quality wasn't what it should have been.

Muehle, on the other hand, are impeccable quality and have an excellent reputation when it comes to customer service.

[Don Barbiere]

Tell them to prove it to you that it was your water, if they do, then live with it , if they cant they better replace it or never buy from them again and you let them know. That water BS argument is just silly. I have really hard water and owned my Progress for more than 3 years and its like brand new.

[TYdeFan05]

@TYdeFan05
I have no claimed, that cleaning would have prevented plating loss!!!
I just said, IF he would have cleaned his razor regularly he maybe would have discovered this damages way earlier.
I think he got his razor on christmas 09. 1.5 years ago.
The progress of plating loss looks to me like maybe 7 to 10 months from a scratch to this state.

The sooner you place your complaint the better your negotiating position.
So never inspecting your razor isn't a good idea. Now Merkur can think up excuses and go with the "bad water"-theory and you're out and not getting a replacement.
But if you discover starting plating-loss in a early state soon after purchase - then you have better cards getting an exchange from Merkur

That's what I said. I have not studied chemical engineering. I just know, chlorine affects/attacks chrome.
I don't know how "bad" your water in the states is (where Daedalus207 lives), how much chlorine is added to it in the process of chlorination. I'm here in Austria and here even swimming lakes have drinking water quality...
...so if I ever discover plating loss on one of my Merkurs, DOVO will never ever get trough with their strange "bad water chemicals theory"...

Fair enough. I thought maybe you had a more technical explanation as to why "city" water/soap combinations that seem to have no impact on some razors will spall others. For instance, most modern day productions seems to have similar metallurgy, casting technology, and plating sequences. I wasn't sure if the difference was a function of plating thickness, sequences, or some targetted attack on a specific impurity etc. in a particular brand. I was actually kind of hoping to have better insight into what I needed to keep away from my Merkurs in particular to keep them healthy. For instance, the user with well water was intersting to me. If another user who has an advanced filtration system or something like that could share a similar experience maybe we could better understand the chemistry behind this failure (and ultimately develop a prevention plan).

All that aside, I don't see us being able to figure out a solution to the newly adopted customer service philosophy :huh:

A couple of side notes. Given the supposed similarities in manufacturing techniques, it is worth mentioning that many users may alternate several brands in the same water and only one brand consistently fails. Another interesting thougth, by using the term "spalling" I meant to make it clear that the imperfections don't start small. They actually flake off in "chunks" at a time. Regular inspection and cleaning didn't catch this error until one day I passed a cotton swab over an area and a "large" (relatively speaking) chunk of plating came with it.


All that aside, I still shaved with my 34C this morning. Right now the damage is cosmetic and doesn't impact the quality of shave. My ideas of one day passing this piece along to the next generation in my family may be a bit tainted now that it's already in a slow decline mode, but most Merkurs still give a darn fine shave. Putting it into perspective, even if Merkurs only lasted 5-10 years the savings over cartridges and the superiority of the shaves still exist. It's still perplexing that some modern manufacturers have little or no issues with this and the ones that do seem to have a great customer service philosophy. Sorry for the rambling.

[mattface]

They can blame the water quality if they like. perhaps there IS c=some veracity to the claim that certain chemicals used to treat water react badly with their plating If that's the case they should change their plating process, because clearly there are plenty of plating processes that DON'T respond badly to tap water. I believe most faucets and other sink fixtures are currently made of chrome plated base metal similar to the materials used by Merkur in their razors. Do you think they could get away with claiming that the plating flaking off is the fault of bad tap water? No way, and most any faucet will see more exposure to tap water in a couple of months than most any razor will see in a couple of years. THat claim is a baseless absurd brush-off. Shame on them.

[xillion]

That's a standard-response. A text-block.
You just have to inquire again and again. At best, if you can prove you have excellent water and you have a test report from your water distributor - scan it and send it to them. Then they are out of arguments and HAVE to exchange your razor!


That was not the exact response I received, but mine was similar. Please see the original thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=135882) for a couple others. I wrote then three time regarding my specific problem when I first noticed issues with small lines in the plating. The first time I received no response from Anna. The second I received the standard response. I then wrote back stating that I have a water softener and whole house water filtration. The response I received back was that there was nothing they could do. That response has pretty much put me off from buying modern Merkur products. My razors are always cleaned and dried thoroughly after each use. I have never had any corrosion issues with any of my Gillette, Edwin Jagger, or Mühle razors.

[Daedalus207]

Another interesting thougth, by using the term "spalling" I meant to make it clear that the imperfections don't start small. They actually flake off in "chunks" at a time. Regular inspection and cleaning didn't catch this error until one day I passed a cotton swab over an area and a "large" (relatively speaking) chunk of plating came with it.

Agreed, I do clean my razors every time I change the blade. I have a Barbicide jar so I just dunk it in there for 10 minutes and wipe it down before putting a fresh blade in. I would have expected to catch this a lot earlier if it were a gradual thing. Maybe I should pay more attention when I'm wiping it down.

My slant is still safe to shave with for the moment, although a close inspection reveals that the plating is chipped on the top side near the comb, so it may not be long for this world.

I like the closeness of the shave - the Slant is one of the few razors that I've tried that can really give me a BBS shave on my chin and neck. Any recommendations for something to replace it with?

[xillion]

Any recommendations for something to replace it with?

Slants are great shavers. You might look for a vintage one such as a Hoffritz, Coles, or Pomoco.
All of them are re-branded Merkur. I have a Hoffritz and it looks fantastic for its age.

[TheGravedigger]

Recent posts have shown that Merkur has problems with more than their plating. Lots of people have had problems with inconsistencies on Progress razors recently. Also, their use of pot metal doesn't speak well for a commitment to quality products.

The bottom line? Vote with your wallets. Increasing profits by cutting quality is a self-defeating philosophy. There are other companies out there that still believe in quality, and we should support their commitment. Maybe Merkur will get the message.

If not, tough.

[shrubble]

This thread really is shocking. I've heard of people having plating problems with Merkurs, but I haven't seen them myself, and honestly assumed we were talking about very minor plating loss, but this is incredible! And then to treat customers like that?

I hope they're reading this thread, because after seeing this I'm pretty sure I'll never buy a product from them again... there's just too many quality alternatives.

[Haiku]

If they switched to brass for the heads instead of zamac the problem would be solved. If plating flakes off brass the razor is still perfectly usable.

Gillette used brass in all their TTO razors and all their three piece razors.

[Haiku]

Agreed, I do clean my razors every time I change the blade. I have a Barbicide jar so I just dunk it in there for 10 minutes and wipe it down before putting a fresh blade in. I would have expected to catch this a lot earlier if it were a gradual thing. Maybe I should pay more attention when I'm wiping it down.

My slant is still safe to shave with for the moment, although a close inspection reveals that the plating is chipped on the top side near the comb, so it may not be long for this world.

I like the closeness of the shave - the Slant is one of the few razors that I've tried that can really give me a BBS shave on my chin and neck. Any recommendations for something to replace it with?

I hate to say this, but that may be your problem right there. Barbicide is corrosive. Says so right on the bottle. If you're dunking your razor in Barbicide every three days or so, I don't think it's your water that took the plating off.

I don't think there really is a replacement for the slant. Merkur's is the only one out there. There are a number of vintage slants around, but many were made by Merkur such as the Coles and the Hoffritz. I would be surprised to learn that the older Merkur razors were anything other than zamac in any event.

[DamnFineBob]

This thread really is shocking. I've heard of people having plating problems with Merkurs, but I haven't seen them myself, and honestly assumed we were talking about very minor plating loss, but this is incredible! And then to treat customers like that?

I hope they're reading this thread, because after seeing this I'm pretty sure I'll never buy a product from them again... there's just too many quality alternatives.

Ditto. I'll stick to my 49 year old Gillette adjustable... it still has all of its original metal intact.

[TYdeFan05]

If they switched to brass for the heads instead of zamac the problem would be solved. If plating flakes off brass the razor is still perfectly usable.

Gillette used brass in all their TTO razors and all their three piece razors.

Brass would solve the problem. An improved plating technique would too (look at EJ etc.). A better attitude towards the end users would help more than anything.

[wulfgar1976]

If they switched to brass for the heads instead of zamac the problem would be solved. If plating flakes off brass the razor is still perfectly usable.

Gillette used brass in all their TTO razors and all their three piece razors.

Muehle use zamac on their heads but the manufacturing and plating is done to perfection, which is why they don't seem to have the problems that Merkur has. Brass would be preferable but as long as you don't drop a Muehle on its head, I'd expect it to last as long as a Gillette.

[hypo_style]

I don't think there really is a replacement for the slant. Merkur's is the only one out there. There are a number of vintage slants around, but many were made by Merkur such as the Coles and the Hoffritz. I would be surprised to learn that the older Merkur razors were anything other than zamac in any event.


I have several vintage Merkurs and most of them have similar corrosion issues (and have since I have owned them). They all appear to be the same dull grey base metal, which I have assumed to be a zinc alloy. My Le Coq adjustable razors also have the same problems. I now just assume that any non-Gillette European-made razor has zinc alloy as a base metal, and take care to make sure that they are thoroughly dried when I use them. I would be surprised if a Hoffritz or Coles is not made of zinc alloy.

[Bestarrkin]

Well, I said vintage Hoffritz razor were made of brass I mean that their handle parts were made of it. I think their heads and caps are mode of that gray matter.

[Aquaman]

Bummer to read this. I have been shaving with a new slant (and Personna medical blades) now for a week---BEST shave ever.
I hope I do not end up having problems. Based on their response--I will NOT buy another razor from them.

Previously been shaving with an EJ-DE89L--nice razor--very pretty chrome--very worthy of being a hood ornament on my truck, just was not aggressive enough--but high quality.

[Suzuki]

Some other members received similar responses such as:

"Thank you very much for your email and the link to the photos.

The corrosion your razors show is part of the normal wear and tear that occurs

especially in areas with poor water quality and/or a high concentration of chemicals in the tap water.

I am sorry for not being able to give you more favorable news.

Best regards...."


Original thread here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=135882

I would not accept this response and would ask to speak to someone other than a flunkie.

You may also be able to get water quality information from your local municipality (assuming you're on municipal water and not a well), which I'm sure will confirm that your water quality is within acceptable norms.

Finally, I assume you have other razors with plating that you have had for a similar period of time and, if so, I would mention this fact to Merkur.

Long post short, this is unacceptable from either a quality or customer service standpoint.

Good luck and keep on fighting the good fight!

[kitsrock]

Oh wow. Here I was, quite set on my next non-vintage razor being a Merkur.

I thought any decent quality razors would be tested for usage in water. After all, it's not like the users (or at least the majority of) are going to use it with chemical run-off.

It makes me sad. Especially because I had my heart set on Merkur 39C or HD34C.

[franz]

I thought any decent quality razors would be tested for usage in water.

Preposterous. :lol:

[Go West Young Man]

I've seen a few responses like that over a couple years, but 99% of the time Merkur stands by their products.

[jwcarlson]

They can blame the water quality if they like. perhaps there IS c=some veracity to the claim that certain chemicals used to treat water react badly with their plating If that's the case they should change their plating process, because clearly there are plenty of plating processes that DON'T respond badly to tap water. I believe most faucets and other sink fixtures are currently made of chrome plated base metal similar to the materials used by Merkur in their razors. Do you think they could get away with claiming that the plating flaking off is the fault of bad tap water? No way, and most any faucet will see more exposure to tap water in a couple of months than most any razor will see in a couple of years. THat claim is a baseless absurd brush-off. Shame on them.

Not commenting on anything but this...

Government regulations have done all sorts of disaster to plating processes. Assuming Germany is similar to US regulations, you're better off finding a vintage razor which was plated using 1960s technology... or buying a razor that's plated in a country that doesn't regulate the process. I'm particularly referring to what types of cleaning agents/processes are able to be used.

I do have a Merkur 34C which is only a little over a year old that has no plating issues, however. Hardly old enough to consider it "good".

[Haiku]

If the OP is soaking the razor in Barbicide 10 minutes every blade change, assuming he changes blades once a week, that means it's soaking in a corrosive bath of chemicals 40 minutes per month, or 8 hours every year. And that's the minimum amount of time the razor is soaking.

If he just wipes down the razor as he says rather than washing it well after the Barbicide bath, the Barbicide residue stays on the razor.

I'm no expert on any of this, but it may be that that much soaking in corrosive chemicals might be the real reason that the razor has corroded.

[Daedalus207]

If the OP is soaking the razor in Barbicide 10 minutes every blade change, assuming he changes blades once a week, that means it's soaking in a corrosive bath of chemicals 40 minutes per month, or 8 hours every year. And that's the minimum amount of time the razor is soaking.

If he just wipes down the razor as he says rather than washing it well after the Barbicide bath, the Barbicide residue stays on the razor.

I'm no expert on any of this, but it may be that that much soaking in corrosive chemicals might be the real reason that the razor has corroded.

That's ridiculous. Do you have any idea how corrosion resistant chromium is? It's the element added to steel to make "stainless steel." Electroplating a razor with pure chromium should make it nearly invulnerable to corrosion from any source, much less 10 minute soaks in a weak solution of Barbicide.

The ONLY way for a chromed razor to corrode is if the chromium plating is damaged or incorrectly applied.

[spindlecone]

The new merkurs I have seen in the past 6 mos have had crap for plating,new out of the box,pure junk.have seen 3 of them.
have a feeling that some vendors are selling factory rejects.JMO

[Pbalkan]

Dear Merkur:

I'm so sorry that our crummy American water is corroding your razors.

I understand that you are not repairing or replacing them. I don't blame you... it's not your fault if American cities and the Federal government don't know how to provide decent water.

I've written some letters to my city and to the US government telling them that you have said so and demanding that they change their standards and facilities to meet the requirements of an obscure German company that manufactures an obsolete product.

I haven't heard back from anyone but... you know governments.

Rest assure that I am a loyal customer and will continue to buy your products as soon as you've changed your plating for our crummy water or until our government has changed it's crummy water..... whichever comes first.

Thanks,

[IrkMe]

From my own personal experience Merkur's QC/plating is a bit hit & miss.

My 37c went back for replacement due to the plating bubbling after less than 2 months, while its nothing like as bad as Daedalus's its hardly pretty.

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u20/Irkme-ATR/threadbar.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u20/Irkme-ATR/bubble.jpg

The replacement is like night & day to the original, better plating, the knurling & stamping is crisp & even the blade fit is better than the original.

While I truly can say the 37c cured my rad if EJ or Muhle made a slant I think it would be unlikely a Merkur would be in my bathroom.

[ShavinBacon]

Dear Merkur:

I'm so sorry that our crummy American water is corroding your razors.

I understand that you are not repairing or replacing them. I don't blame you... it's not your fault if American cities and the Federal government don't know how to provide decent water.

I've written some letters to my city and to the US government telling them that you have said so and demanding that they change their standards and facilities to meet the requirements of an obscure German company that manufactures an obsolete product.

I haven't heard back from anyone but... you know governments.

Rest assure that I am a loyal customer and will continue to buy your products as soon as you've changed your plating for our crummy water or until our government has changed it's crummy water..... whichever comes first.

Thanks,
:lol::thumbup:

[Clovis Man]

It looks that way. The same thing happened to my Futur. It started with plating flaking off.
http://www.christophermendoza.com/razors/futur1.jpg
Then some chunks of metal fell out while I was rinsing it. I wrote Merkur and they said it was a problem with my water.
I have not bought a razor from them since then.

Geez, I just bought a Progress XL and had it converted to a Mergress XL. Just got it back last week. It's a fine razor, but if this thread had started a couple of months ago, I wouldn't have bought it.

[mikey]

Are EJ razors (heads and handles) made of brass?

Thanks,
Mike

[Habemeajaja]

I was thinking to buy Merkur, but now Im not so sure anymore. Estonian water might be also fatal to Merkurs. :P

[Haiku]

Are EJ razors (heads and handles) made of brass?

Thanks,
Mike

There's a good question, perhaps you ought to email them to find out. Somehow I have an idea that Muehle and Pinsell heads are zamac, but I honestly don't know.

One thing I do know, as far as new razors go, Feather All Stainless razors are great.

[tvldatsi]

there was a thread earlier bemoaning the lack of Penhaligon's samples in the US, and within an hour a rep from Penhaligon's USA joined the forum and posted. clearly Merkur is either ignoring, or ignorant to us, but it really seems to be their loss. Too bad Mantic recommends the HD, these guys get a lot of business they don't seem to deserve because if it.

[Doug_in_NNY]

IF I were facing this problem (and I am not as yet), there are several things I would do. Each step is marked with persistence and resolve, and is as free of anxiety as I am able to muster. Anxiety is the enemy of every good outcome.

First, I would not be confrontational. Most businesses want to stay in business. If they are dealing with a complaint that is presented in a responsible and respectful tone, someone is likely to listen. I would not make strident demands.

Second, I would be crystal clear as to the problem, beginning with detailed photos. Description would include a history of usage, etc. I would be willing to send the item to them for analysis/review.

Third, if/when I received a There's-nothing-we-can-do response, I find a way to engage that person's supervisor. I respect chain of command in any organization (I'm a USAF veteran and I learned that straight away out of high school and it has served me well throughout my life). I don't try end runs and I don't try to trash someone who may well be simply trying to do a job.

Fourth, if there is a similar response from a supervisor, I dial up one step further. At some point I start cc-ing senior managers and/or executives in the organization, but not right off. I want to give the process a chance to work, so I plan to take things one step at a time.

I will keep dialing up, taking the process all the way to the top only when and if it is necessary. Only when there is no resolution at any stage of the company's chain of command do I take the story outside to others.

I own several Merkurs and two Mergress razors. I am not concerned for myself, because I believe that this plating issue is not necessarily a really widespread problem. If I were to learn otherwise, I would still conduct myself with self-control, great clarity, and firmness of resolve.

I've engaged problems in these ways over time. When resolution is possible (and some times it is not), these are tools that can optimize the possibility of a good outcome.

Doug

[cooncatbob]

There's a good question, perhaps you ought to email them to find out. Somehow I have an idea that Muehle and Pinsell heads are zamac, but I honestly don't know.

One thing I do know, as far as new razors go, Feather All Stainless razors are great.

The way to tell is to weigh them, a part made from brass will weigh about 50% more.
I have this problem will Gillette zinc razor caps, they will screw up the plating solution.
Brass cap weigh around 15 grams and the same cap made from zinc will weigh around 10 grams.

[JohnnyDemonic]

It looks that way. The same thing happened to my Futur. It started with plating flaking off.
http://www.christophermendoza.com/razors/futur1.jpg
Then some chunks of metal fell out while I was rinsing it. I wrote Merkur and they said it was a problem with my water.
I have not bought a razor from them since then.

That's like a sharp kick to the groin after being slapped in the face.
I don't own any new razors because I think modern quality sucks; which is amazing considering the technology of today. A company will produce something good, but try to cut corners to make it cheaper and this is the end result.

I almost bought a new 37C, but the plating looked horrible compared to my Hoffritz, so I passed.

Seeing how Merkur treats their customers, I'll never buy anything from them. :thumbdown

[cooncatbob]

Companies use zinc alloy because it has a low melting temperature around 800 degrees while brass is around 1600 degrees.

[inspiringK]

That's ridiculous. Do you have any idea how corrosion resistant chromium is? It's the element added to steel to make "stainless steel." Electroplating a razor with pure chromium should make it nearly invulnerable to corrosion from any source, much less 10 minute soaks in a weak solution of Barbicide.

The ONLY way for a chromed razor to corrode is if the chromium plating is damaged or incorrectly applied.

This seems a but harsh. There is merit to the concern, Barbicide is corrosive. Yes, there seems to be a problem with the Merkur plating. I have two Merkurs right now and have no problems with them. Yet, because of this thread I probably won't buy a third. But, I won't feel comfortable soaking even the best made razor in a corrosive solution.

[brucered]

There's a good question, perhaps you ought to email them to find out. Somehow I have an idea that Muehle and Pinsell heads are zamac, but I honestly don't know.

One thing I do know, as far as new razors go, Feather All Stainless razors are great.

the FEATHER is awesome.

hope my 39C on order doesn't get this problem any time soon :thumbdown but it was the only slant i could afford :glare:

[polod]

Merkur should make their HD, Classics, adjustables and slant razor heads out of solid brass, plated with copper, then chrome. But all of their razor heads seem to be made of Zamic 3 which will corrode. Their plating seems to be crappy so moisture finds it's way underneath the chrome plating. If their heads were made out of brass (top cap and bottom plate), there would be no issue with corrosion. They could even make their razor heads out of stainless steel. As far as I know, the handles of the Merkur HDs, slants and classics are made of solid brass, the plated with chrome. Why not just make the whole razor out of brass?

[spindlecone]

cost,thats why merkurs are cheap.

[polod]

I'd pay the extra $10-20 for an HD or classic razor if Merkur made their razors out of solid brass.

[Haiku]

I'd pay the extra $10-20 for an HD or classic razor if Merkur made their razors out of solid brass.

Same here. I would in fact prefer brass without any plating at all. That way I would be able to shine it or let it develop a patina.

[Bestarrkin]

Well, vintage rebranded Merkurs had suffered that issue too. The razor came to me in this condition. So I post pictures of my Henckels razor which is a rebranded Merkur HD.

[matthew86]

This is going out to the poster who was taking about the corrosion resistance of chromium. It is true that chromium is added to steal to make it stainless and it is also true that chromium is virtually inert as a metal which is why you plate razors and wheels and exhaust tips. However it is very important to know that ALL of these things will corrode, and the answer is even found in the statement you provided. Chromium is corrosion resistant, not corrosion proof. There is a difference in those two statements if not ask someone who makes/buys body armor. If you would like to know my credentials for this since if you look at some of my other post you will see that I am a current nursing student, I have a BS in BioChemistry with a minor Physics from University of South Carolina. (The change to nursing is because I like to interact with people and it is hard to do that in a lab) In all honesty you really shouldn't have to use the barbicide that often if it is just for you. You can get away with 90% isopropyl alcohol and it will be just fine. And if you want to up the power of that you add about 10 drops of Iodine (the least reactive of the halogens) as it will kill any bacteria and viruses and fungi in less than 40 seconds. Just don't rub your razor with the iodine straight as it could "tinge" the chrome, hence the dilution 10 drops to 1 cup of alcohol.

That being said it is more likely that the razor itself is defective since the amount of time seems way to short for any plating loss to have occurred. The only other way that this may happen is if the plating itself is extremely thin. At that point it means that the company is just making inferior quality merchandise and making you pay for a brand name. (This is the case for most things).

Sorry for the wall of text.

[Daedalus207]

This seems a but harsh. There is merit to the concern, Barbicide is corrosive. Yes, there seems to be a problem with the Merkur plating. I have two Merkurs right now and have no problems with them. Yet, because of this thread I probably won't buy a third. But, I won't feel comfortable soaking even the best made razor in a corrosive solution.

Re-reading my post, I do come across as something of a jerk, don't I? That was not my intent, and I apologize for any stepped-on toes.

With several people warning of the corrosiveness of Barbasol, I decided to re-read my bottle to see what exactly was said. The front of the bottle says the exact opposite in fact - it proudly proclaims, "Anti-Rust Formula."

The only mention I could find of corrosiveness on the bottle was part of a list under the heading "Precautionary Statements: Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals." The placement of the word "Corrosive" appears to me to be describing the dangers of chemical burns if you were to get the full-strength solution on your skin or in your eyes.

Did soaking my razor in Barbasol (in accordance with Barbasol's recommendations, I can confirm after re-reading the bottle) accelerate the damage to my razor? That's entirely possible. My position remains, however, that it should not have made a difference.

I don't expect a chrome plating to last forever, but it ought to last longer than ~18 months.

[Haiku]

Re-reading my post, I do come across as something of a jerk, don't I? That was not my intent, and I apologize for any stepped-on toes.

With several people warning of the corrosiveness of Barbasol, I decided to re-read my bottle to see what exactly was said. The front of the bottle says the exact opposite in fact - it proudly proclaims, "Anti-Rust Formula."

The only mention I could find of corrosiveness on the bottle was part of a list under the heading "Precautionary Statements: Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals." The placement of the word "Corrosive" appears to me to be describing the dangers of chemical burns if you were to get the full-strength solution on your skin or in your eyes.

Did soaking my razor in Barbasol (in accordance with Barbasol's recommendations, I can confirm after re-reading the bottle) accelerate the damage to my razor? That's entirely possible. My position remains, however, that it should not have made a difference.

I don't expect a chrome plating to last forever, but it ought to last longer than ~18 months.

Apology accepted. You sounded like you were more angry than a jerk. Your anger is justified. I'd be angry at Merkur as well

My bottle of Barbicide says, among other things this:

CAUTION: Danger: Corrosive. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves when handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. Use in ventilated area.

It also says "Anti Rust Formula" My guess is that it works by dissolving rust.

But all that having been said, it's clear to me that Merkur does have some quality control issues.

[Haiku]

This is going out to the poster who was taking about the corrosion resistance of chromium. It is true that chromium is added to steal to make it stainless and it is also true that chromium is virtually inert as a metal which is why you plate razors and wheels and exhaust tips. However it is very important to know that ALL of these things will corrode, and the answer is even found in the statement you provided. Chromium is corrosion resistant, not corrosion proof. There is a difference in those two statements if not ask someone who makes/buys body armor. If you would like to know my credentials for this since if you look at some of my other post you will see that I am a current nursing student, I have a BS in BioChemistry with a minor Physics from University of South Carolina. (The change to nursing is because I like to interact with people and it is hard to do that in a lab) In all honesty you really shouldn't have to use the barbicide that often if it is just for you. You can get away with 90% isopropyl alcohol and it will be just fine. And if you want to up the power of that you add about 10 drops of Iodine (the least reactive of the halogens) as it will kill any bacteria and viruses and fungi in less than 40 seconds. Just don't rub your razor with the iodine straight as it could "tinge" the chrome, hence the dilution 10 drops to 1 cup of alcohol.

That being said it is more likely that the razor itself is defective since the amount of time seems way to short for any plating loss to have occurred. The only other way that this may happen is if the plating itself is extremely thin. At that point it means that the company is just making inferior quality merchandise and making you pay for a brand name. (This is the case for most things).

Sorry for the wall of text.

Thanks for the iodine tip. I wouldn't have thought of it.

[w33ble]

Man, kind of wish I would have known about the Merkur plating problems before buying my slant a couple weeks ago. For the price, the razor is amazing, but like others, I gladly would have plunked down some more cash for better plating or a brass construction.

I was under the impression that Merkur was a quality brand. People talk about and recommend them a lot anyway. Maybe it's just that they are cheap enough to be affordable and feel a lot nicer than the ultra cheap Parker's...

[spindlecone]

Bingo

[infabo]

I would not accept this response and would ask to speak to someone other than a flunkie.

No. Merkur's (DOVO's) Technical Engineer is quite a "hard-liner". He would never ever admit that their "superior" plating was faulty applied. It's sad but true.


Merkur should make their HD, Classics, adjustables and slant razor heads out of solid brass, plated with copper, then chrome. But all of their razor heads seem to be made of Zamic 3 which will corrode.

Their heads are made of Zamac - that's correct. But you should know, for plating Zamac you need to do apply the following: copper, nickel and finally chrome!
In fact this should be a really durable plating, but I think the REAL problem is their mediocre pretreatment. Look at your Merkur - except of the head's topside and the handle - the less visible areas are not pre-polished. So it could be possible that there are foreign particles under the plating which will damage the plating "from inside".


The bottom line? Vote with your wallets. Increasing profits by cutting quality is a self-defeating philosophy. There are other companies out there that still believe in quality, and we should support their commitment. Maybe Merkur will get the message.

If not, tough.

Indeed. My problem with this approach - which other companies produce slant bar safety razors? Like none? Merkur has a monopoly on slants :laugh:

[GarageBoy]

I thought EJ used Merkur heads?
Muhle used to
I like my razors brass or stainless, especially if I'm paying $50+ for them
Is the Feather and PILS my only option?

[luvmysuper]

Here's a pic of member IronHammers 1904 Gillette.
Looks like the plating and base metal has held up pretty good for the last 107 years.
Regardless of your general cleaning methods (barbicide, soap and water etc) and regardless of the debate about the plating preps done or not done by Merkur - Less than two years life out of a product of this cost before it starts to fall apart on you is totally unacceptable.

http://rtccom.net/~sledge/Razors/1904%20Double%20Ring/Images/9.jpg

[Flannelmeister]

Maybe it's just that they are cheap enough to be affordable and feel a lot nicer than the ultra cheap Parker's...

I have a Parker, a heavyweight 98R barber pole model.

Know what? It is a cracking razor. Quality is 1st rate, certainly no problems with the chrome plating.

You can keep your flakey Merkurs, I will stick with my Parker thank you.

It is a terrific shaver too - if you like your razors on the aggressive side.

[wulfgar1976]

I thought EJ used Merkur heads?
Muhle used to

Muehle still use the Merkur open comb head. The other head is an EJ head.

[wulfgar1976]

I have a Parker, a heavyweight 98R barber pole model.

Know what? It is a cracking razor. Quality is 1st rate, certainly no problems with the chrome plating.

You can keep your flakey Merkurs, I will stick with my Parker thank you.

It is a terrific shaver too - if you like your razors on the aggressive side.

I think Parkers are also made of brass. I have the 98R and the 96R and although I have to take care to align the blade properly (which is also a feature of the Gillette New Improved razors and the Merkur 37C), their performance is first rate.

I'm thinking of putting mine on the BST as I prefer something a bit less aggressive these days. I might keep the 96R.

[JohnnyDemonic]

Nick, some members asked me why I bought vintage. This is first thing that I point. Viva la vintage.:biggrin1:


I haven't really thought about it, but I don't even own a new razor. I was going to buy a Merkur 37C, but not now. In fact, I'll never buy any Merkurs knowing that they treat their customers like they're idiots.

"It's your water." Well let me wait for my testicles to fall back into place before I respond to that...
I still can't get over that Futur. It looks like a 4000psi pressure washer was taken to it. Unreal.

[TYdeFan05]

Here's a pic of member IronHammers 1904 Gillette.
Looks like the plating and base metal has held up pretty good for the last 107 years.
Regardless of your general cleaning methods (barbicide, soap and water etc) and regardless of the debate about the plating preps done or not done by Merkur - Less than two years life out of a product of this cost before it starts to fall apart on you is totally unacceptable.

http://rtccom.net/~sledge/Razors/1904%20Double%20Ring/Images/9.jpg

"Viva la vintage"...speaking of custom titles.

[GarageBoy]

Oops, I always thought it was EJ using Muhle heads

[michiganlover]

Oops, I always thought it was EJ using Muhle heads

You are correct. Bad information is sometimes spoken on this board.

Muhle at one point sold razors that featured Merkur heads, however this has not been the case since 2009 when they designed their own head from scratch. The Muhle head is also used on the Edwin Jagger models. So basically except for the handle, Muhle, and Edwin Jagger razors are identical. :thumbup1::thumbup1:

I am not 100% positive, but the Open Comb Muhle razors do I believe still feature the Merkur heads (although at one point they featured the Italian made FatTip heads).

[infabo]

I am not 100% positive, but the Open Comb Muhle razors do I believe still feature the Merkur heads (although at one point they featured the Italian made FatTip heads).

You're correct. Mühle OC razors featured Merkur heads too.
But they are currently redesigning their OC-heads (like they did with their solid comb heads in 2009).

[TYdeFan05]

You're correct. Mühle OC razors featured Merkur heads too.
But they are currently redesigning their OC-heads (like they did with their solid comb heads in 2009).

For what it's worth:
I was curious, and needed to know for myself if Muhle would ever consider a slant design. I sent them an e-mail last night and when I woke up this morning the had already responded. "It is not in the pipeline right now but something to think about for the future. Best Regards".

Hopefully, they are spending their free time overhauling the OC the way they did the 2009 head. If that's a success, the only logical direction to go from there would be the slant. Right? On second thought, based on my prior experiences with the shaving world, their next move will be to reinvent the wheel and ruin the design that's working...they'll probably take the tallow out of it :lol:

[mikey]

Hello,

Does anyone know when EJ will release their redesigned OC head?

Thanks,
Mike


You're correct. Mühle OC razors featured Merkur heads too.
But they are currently redesigning their OC-heads (like they did with their solid comb heads in 2009).

[kend]

I hate to say this, but that may be your problem right there. Barbicide is corrosive. Says so right on the bottle. If you're dunking your razor in Barbicide every three days or so, I don't think it's your water that took the plating off.

I don't think there really is a replacement for the slant. Merkur's is the only one out there. There are a number of vintage slants around, but many were made by Merkur such as the Coles and the Hoffritz. I would be surprised to learn that the older Merkur razors were anything other than zamac in any event.

Does Merkur hold some kind of patent on the slant design? If not, why don't other manufacturers make them? :001_huh:

[Doodi1]

Here is a picture of my brand new 39C with plating loss and corrosion. :glare:

This razor is going to be exchanged by the WCS. This is an example of poor QC by Merkur.

[Daedalus207]

I just wanted to post again RE: corrosiveness of Barbicide. I've done some more extensive research, and just wanted to share what I've learned. The last thing I want to do is ruin any additional razors, particularly vintage ones, in my well-meaning attempts to keep them clean.

Firstly, according to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) on Barbicide, Barbicide is not labelled as corrosive or an oxidizer per the NFPA 704 standard (used by emergency response personnel to quickly discern the danger of chemicals present). The Health hazard is Level 2, meaning that "Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury." It is listed as having a pH of 10.0-11.0, meaning that it is not acidic, but basic. Spills of less than 1 gallon of concentrate "May be washed down a drain with lots of water or cleaned up and disposed of into a sanitary sewer system". It is not considered Hazardous Waste by the RCRA 40 CFR 261 guidelines.

Secondly, "official" Barbicide jars contain a stainless steel basket that remains submerged in the Barbicide solution at all times. Barbicide offers a lifetime warranty against any corrosion or rust on any of the metal parts used in the jars. The basket in my Barbicide jar is still in "like new" condition, despite it having spent an order of magnitude more time submerged in Barbicide than any of my razors.

Thirdly, in it's marketing materials, Barbicide recommends use on "acrylic tanning beds, stainless steel, plastics, combs, brushes, rollers and shears" and proclaims that it's "Anti-rust formulation protects your expensive shears." Most shears sold at my local salon supply place are made from stainless steel.

Fourthly, Barbicide is specifically required to be used by barbers in at least 2 states, with most states requiring a disinfectant without specifying a brand name. All barbershop implements are required to be given the 10 minute soak 'n rinse in between each customer.

Finally, as Haiku posted, the Barbicide bottle does indeed say "CAUTION: Danger: Corrosive. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves when handling. Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. Use in ventilated area." However, as I mentioned earlier, this is part of a list under the heading "Precautionary Statements: Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals" and thus I believe is referring to corrosiveness to skin rather than to metals. If you aren't familiar with this use of the term "corrosive," the Wikipedia article on "Corrosive substances" contains a good overview.

My conclusion: Regular soaks in Barbicide will not harm a safety razor as long as the manufacturer's instructions are followed. I can find no reason to believe that Barbicide will damage or corrode any stainless steel, chrome plated, or plastic razor.

Thus, the damage to my Merkur is due to faulty materials or workmanship, not being cleaned once a week in Barbicide.

If you disagree with my conclusion, please post up. I'm more than willing to change my opinion if any of my information is incorrect! As I said, I really hate the idea of damaging any of my other razors, particularly my great-grandfather's Gillette Ball-End Old Type.

[rolisrgti06]

Glad I found this thread. I have been seriously considering buying a slant. Now I guess it will be a EJ DE-89 instead.

[infabo]

Here is a picture of my brand new 39C with plating loss and corrosion. :glare:

This razor is going to be exchanged by the WCS. This is an example of poor QC by Merkur.

It shows a small damage of the plating.
But the larger spot of the two, the one on the bottom which looks like a black spot - this is what the Chief Technician from Merkur would call the "contact point of the frame for the galvanic plating. This is not a defect - it is system-related"...
I know what I'm talking about - had the same issue - it looked even weirder because the underlying copper-plating was visible.

But, look yourself. This was a NEW 37g. Sent it back to the shop.
http://uppix.net/9/e/b/857fbf09d74fa007b87af3839328a.jpg

[matthew86]

Wow I was really hoping that there were just a few bad apples and that this whole thread was not so much exaggerated but rather illuminating a few rare instances. So not only is Merkur the only slant razor but it is also the only "current" adjustable razor also? This is very sad, it seems like I must put my recently acquired slim in a air tight temperature and moisture controlled vault after use to ensure that I will at least have that till I die. That means that the razor is going to be close to 90 year old razor if I die at 70. Someone better make something by the time I am 30 so I don't have to buy up some straight razors and learn those things which they will last a lifetime as long as I treat them right.

[Daedalus207]

Just FYI, here is the response I got from Merkur after I sent them the exact picture I posted in the thread starter.



Hello,

Thank you very much for your email.

Though the warranty is for 2 years, it does not cover what seems to have
happened to your razor. The chrome in the picture of the razor head where
the plating came off and on the entire underside of the top and the entire
"neck" of the razor, is whitish-matt, a sure indicator of either not
cleaning away the soap residue in those areas, or lime (the difference is a
bit difficult to see in the photo).

Though it won't reverse the process, we strongly suggest to thoroughly clean
the razor after each shave, and (if it was lime) to decalcify it according
to the attached information.

The part cannot be exchanged for a new one, as it is pressure-pressed into
the handle with a special tool.

I am sorry for not being able to give you better news.


The attachment was a Word Document which reads:


Dear Customer,

In order to prolong the live of your safety razor it is necessary to clean the moving
parts of your razor after each shave, for example with a soft nail brush or tooth
brush. Only if the soap residue is removed thoroughly, the mechanics of your razor
will work satisfyingly in the long run. We suggest to completely break down your
razor for a thorough cleaning with each new blade that you install in the razor.

IN CONTACT WITH HARD, CALCIFEROUS WATER all parts of the razor need to be
decalcified regularly, depending on the concentration of lime in your water. The parts
should be put into a diluted and lukewarm decalcifying solution for a maximum of
15 to 30 minutes and should be moved in the solution every few minutes. It is also
recommended to move the mechanical parts a few times, so the solution can get into
every crevice.
A more extended contact with the decalcifying solution will destroy the surface and
corrode the metal of your razor.

DOVO/MERKUR Stahlwaren
Solingen-Germany


As the water in my area is not hard in the least, apparently my highly corrosive TOBS creams are responsible for the damage. :001_huh:

Protip: be sure to clean your razor before sending in a picture to Merkur.

I ended up buying a few vintage razors from the BST, as well as a new EJ. The plating on the EJ is flawless, and believe me I inspected it very carefully before I used it! The head is a 3-piece style similar to the one used on my Gillette Old Type. It does not resemble the Merkur head in any significant way, so although I don't have a Muhle razor to compare it to, I would feel comfortable saying that it's probably a Muhle head. It shaves great, I can actually get a closer shave on my neck with it than I was getting with the slant.

[Haiku]

Just FYI, here is the response I got from Merkur after I sent them the exact picture I posted in the thread starter.



The attachment was a Word Document which reads:


As the water in my area is not hard in the least, apparently my highly corrosive TOBS creams are responsible for the damage. :001_huh:

Protip: be sure to clean your razor before sending in a picture to Merkur.

I ended up buying a few vintage razors from the BST, as well as a new EJ. The plating on the EJ is flawless, and believe me I inspected it very carefully before I used it! The head is a 3-piece style similar to the one used on my Gillette Old Type. It does not resemble the Merkur head in any significant way, so although I don't have a Muhle razor to compare it to, I would feel comfortable saying that it's probably a Muhle head. It shaves great, I can actually get a closer shave on my neck with it than I was getting with the slant.

Well they sure have changed their customer service policies since they sent me my new razor and a new cap for my slant. Times change and often not for the better.

I can't help but note that none of the instructions they provided by email are provided with their products when bought new. It never would have occurred to me that I had to clean my razor thoroughly including cleaning soap residue after ever shave to prevent the plating from coming off and the razor corroding. I certainly would never have thought that one had to do a complete break down of the razor and a complete cleaning at each blade change. They don't even give instructions for taking the bottom knob off the slant for a complete break down cleaning. I'm sure if I did that every time I changed a blade the press-fit collar holding the knob would self-destruct after a month or two.

[Den]

A Slant is the only razor I might buy from Merkur. I'm taking part in the Traveling Slant thread and if I like how it shaves....maybe. If I did pull the trigger and there was a flaw in any way, then all 3 Merkurs I purchased would of had issues. Ranging from the top cap not being cut evenly to subpar plating.

We need EJ and Muhle to put out a Slant and Adjustable so Merkur looses alot of $$$!!

[-Jake-]

That's ridiculous. Do you have any idea how corrosion resistant chromium is? It's the element added to steel to make "stainless steel." Electroplating a razor with pure chromium should make it nearly invulnerable to corrosion from any source, much less 10 minute soaks in a weak solution of Barbicide.

The ONLY way for a chromed razor to corrode is if the chromium plating is damaged or incorrectly applied.

Yes and no, if what you said was true old chrome bumpers on cars wouldn’t need replanting. No finish is perfect, there are always imperfections and when you add contact areas such as where the razor screws together over time you cause more flaws. Barbicide is corrosive, so is plain shaving soap, alcohol and plain water. BTW, even stainless steel will pit and corrode over time if not taken care of properly.

[-Jake-]

Yes and no, if what you said was true old chrome bumpers on cars wouldn’t need replanting. No finish is perfect, there are always imperfections and when you add contact areas such as where the razor screws together over time you cause more flaws. Barbicide is corrosive, so is plain shaving soap, alcohol and plain water. BTW, even stainless steel will pit and corrode over time if not taken care of properly.


That said, what I do is coat my razors with car wax every couple of months, the wax seals the imperfections that are inherent with any finish, as I said before no matter how well a finish is, it will never be perfect there will always be flaws even if it looks perfect.

[noel15v]

New to this forum and I must say that I purchased a Merkur 34C HD off Amazon in December 2012 and was excited about shaving with this tool after one side of the plastic connector on my Gillette Sensor wore away....after years since 2001.

Now I see/noticed the week of January 6th 2013 that the Merkur 34C has developed slight pits of rust/corrosion inside the holes left and right both sides, NOT THE CENTER Hole for the long screw but these two areas where the bar aligns.

I cleaned and wiped this razor DRY after each and every shave for the past month and this happens!!http://badgerandblade.com/vb/images/icons/icon9.png

I emailed Ursula at MERKUR and she was kind when I simply and only asked if the Merkur 34C is stainless steel...her reply:

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________
AW: MERKUR 34C Razor...stainless steel??
Show Details
From
Ursula Christ
To
'noel hill'

Dear Noel,
thanks for your e-mail of January 11, 2013.The Merkur No. 34 C safety razor is not stainless steel. The upper parts – lidand comb – of our razors are zinc die-cast, the handle brass, all partschrome-plated.
Kindest regards
Uschi Christ



Sales dept.
MERKUR Stahlwaren GmbH & Co. KG
Boecklinstr. 10
42719 SOLINGEN
GERMANY
phone: ++49-212-2300113 fax: ++49-212-313612
email: [email protected] website: www.dovo.com (http://www.dovo.com)
UID-No. DE811951654 HRA: 20249 - HRB: 15557 Solingen

GF: Markus Kirschbaum
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________________________________

I sent her another email on what should I do to care for my new MERKUR razor (absent the discovery about the new formation of rust/corrosion) her response:

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________

Dear Noel,

thanks a lot for your e-mail of January 18,2013. I am sending you here enclosed our information on the maintenance of MERKURsafety razors.

Kindest regards

Uschi

DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH & Co. KG
Boecklinstr. 10
42719 SOLINGEN
GERMANY
phone: ++49-212-2300113 fax: ++49-212-313612
email: [email protected] website: www.dovo.com (http://www.dovo.com)
UID-No. DE811951654 HRA: 20249 - HRB: 15557 Solingen

GF: Markus Kirschbaum

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________________

So now as one member suggested, I will look into vintage DE razors

[Haiku]

New to this forum and I must say that I purchased a Merkur 34C HD off Amazon in December 2012 and was excited about shaving with this tool after one side of the plastic connector on my Gillette Sensor wore away....after years since 2001.

Now I see/noticed the week of January 6th 2013 that the Merkur 34C has developed slight pits of rust/corrosion inside the holes left and right both sides, NOT THE CENTER Hole for the long screw but these two areas where the bar aligns.

I cleaned and wiped this razor DRY after each and every shave for the past month and this happens!!http://badgerandblade.com/vb/images/icons/icon9.png

I emailed Ursula at MERKUR and she was kind when I simply and only asked if the Merkur 34C is stainless steel...her reply:

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________
AW: MERKUR 34C Razor...stainless steel??
Show Details
From
Ursula Christ
To
'noel hill'

Dear Noel,
thanks for your e-mail of January 11, 2013.The Merkur No. 34 C safety razor is not stainless steel. The upper parts – lidand comb – of our razors are zinc die-cast, the handle brass, all partschrome-plated.
Kindest regards
Uschi Christ



Sales dept.
MERKUR Stahlwaren GmbH & Co. KG
Boecklinstr. 10
42719 SOLINGEN
GERMANY
phone: ++49-212-2300113 fax: ++49-212-313612
email: [email protected] website: www.dovo.com (http://www.dovo.com)
UID-No. DE811951654 HRA: 20249 - HRB: 15557 Solingen

GF: Markus Kirschbaum
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________________________________

I sent her another email on what should I do to care for my new MERKUR razor (absent the discovery about the new formation of rust/corrosion) her response:

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________

Dear Noel,

thanks a lot for your e-mail of January 18,2013. I am sending you here enclosed our information on the maintenance of MERKURsafety razors.

Kindest regards

Uschi

DOVO Stahlwaren GmbH & Co. KG
Boecklinstr. 10
42719 SOLINGEN
GERMANY
phone: ++49-212-2300113 fax: ++49-212-313612
email: [email protected] website: www.dovo.com (http://www.dovo.com)
UID-No. DE811951654 HRA: 20249 - HRB: 15557 Solingen

GF: Markus Kirschbaum

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________________

So now as one member suggested, I will look into vintage DE razors


I would think it's still under warranty. Have you contacted the seller? Some time ago, Merkur sent me a replacement cap no questions asked.

Be careful about vintage by the way. I've a number of vintage razors that have zamac heads. If the plating gets damaged they too corrode.

[Maxime D.]

IMHO if you paid 60$ for a razor, it have to be built like a tank. I shaved with a Mach3 during 6 years and the blue paint didnt flaked, why on earth should a 'high-end' razor star corroding after 3 years ? No excuses for carelessness, they should be ashamed.

[tubaguy]

I love these threads, guys...it helps out my RAD.
I have looked at slants, and whenever I look at slants, I see one of these threads, remember that the only maker is Merkur, and the RAD goes away! :thumbup1::biggrin1:

[Maxime D.]

So Merkur still have plating problem, it seems. Anyone had a similar problem with ED.J or Muhle ?

[Ruski]

I'm glad my 50 year old Gillette shows no signs of corrosion... I guess only age will tell which new brands live up to their name, and which are just expensive imitations of a good product.

[Daedalus207]

So Merkur still have plating problem, it seems. Anyone had a similar problem with ED.J or Muhle ?
I've been using a Jagger DE89L since my Slant started corroding. I've had no issues at all with the plating.

I've significantly dialed back my use of Barbicide. I'm still not convinced that it caused the issue with my Slant, although I do believe that it accelerated the corrosion. In any case, as matthew86 and others have posted, it really isn't necessary to use on a regular basis since I'm the only one using my razors. I've been using Scrubbing Bubbles instead - I don't know if it's any less corrosive than Barbicide, but it does a much better job on soap deposits.

[Haggises]

If I ever bought a modern razor it would have to be one of the stainless steel models I think.
don't care for chrome most of the time, especially over a corrodable alloy.
Vintage all the way.

[Maxime D.]

Most of the time, I use liquid soap, hot water and a tooth brush (For the weekly cleaning) + I soap it in Isopropyl alcohol once in a while. I only have my 34C for a bit more than a year, so I can't tell if it will corrode or not :-/ I'm desapointed when I read these thread, you purchase a high end quality product and it end up with corrosion ?...

[mikelz777]

I was going to PIF my German bakelite slant and replace it with Merkur 37C but after reading through this thread, I may just forget about the 37C and keep the bakelite. It's too bad there aren't alternatives out there. I can't spend what I see the vintage slants going for on Ebay.