Merkur Progess/Mergress

[pymmdcp]

I pulled the trigger on purchasing a Merkur progress to be converted into Eric’s Mergress and am awaiting its arrival some time next week. I have never tried the progress so I will not be able to tell the difference between it and the modification but I figured if I was going to do something I was going to do it right and go big or go home. I was wondering if any of you who have either the Progress or the Mergress would be able to give me advice on how to first start using this adjustable wonder. Which setting do you think would be comparable to the EJ DE89? (which is what I currently use) I am hoping that I can use a more aggressive setting on my face and a more mild setting on my neck to perhaps be able to go against the grain and achieve BBS on my neck for once without razor burn. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[RCC]

My mergress is in rotation so I guess I can comment.
If yours is like mine, it has 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 markings around the tip.
I find that around 3 it feels similar to a 34C (HD) and perhaps as mild as an EJ 89 around 1 1/2.
That being said you're not really comparing apples to apples.
The mergress is a massive weighty razor in comparison to the sleek EJ 89.
The head of a mergress is significantly larger that the EJ. You can see the way it curls down and back in the pic.
the guard is also quite rounded.
So because of the differences in heft and head it's hard to comment exactly on the aggression of the blade angle exclusively.
IMO - They're both winners, just very different in the technique one uses to get a good shave with them.
FWIW - I always go past the number or setting I want and tighten back up again to guard against the internal screw shifting.
it's like tuning a guitar string. come up from flat.

HTH

[Adam M]

I sent my Progress long handle off to Eric last week. Looking forward to it returning a Mergress! It was my first and only safety razor until a Weber showed up on Monday, so don't have a lot to draw on for comparison. The Weber to me feels like the Progress did on 3. But it's hard to compare the two they feel different, both good though.

I consider myself to have sensitive skin. With the Progress I would go twice WTG on 3, then once XTG and touchups on 2.

[Icebear]

My mergress is in rotation so I guess I can comment.
If yours is like mine, it has 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 markings around the tip.
I find that around 3 it feels similar to a 34C (HD) and perhaps as mild as an EJ 89 around 1 1/2....

I second that, 1.5 is usually my standard mark to try a new blade. You can open up further, if you don't get the shave you expect, that's the beauty of an adjustable. Apart from the only suitable knob on this razor (i.e. Mer's), the performance itself is most likely identical. So to find out if you like it or not, you can always try the original Progress and pretend not to see the plastic uglyness at the bottom of the handle. If you like it, you sent it in for the upgrade. You could also have sent Lee a mail to notify you, once he has some completed Mergress on stock. They ususally sell so quickly he doesn't even post them on the website, though I was lucky once .

[swcarter]

When I first got into DE, I early on got a Progress due to Mantic ("you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands"). Ugly razor that really does a good job. Too bad that you didn't try it first before sending off to Eric. Used it at 1.5 and 2 and was perfectly happy...hated the knob. Later, when I found out about the Eric upgrade, had that done with the long knob. By then I had acquired a EJ 89, bunch of Gillettes, etc. (yes, RAD set in early) Once getting my Mergress, it became my favorite razor (Gillettes going on the market soon, keep the EJ for quick shaves during the work week, but fast becoming too mild for me). I now believe my Mergress is/was the best of my razors - really favor the weight, balance and head design - very close shaves regardless of blades (Personna med preps preferred blade at the moment). In other words, Eric's changes are more than just a change in the knob.

I say, "is/was" above because I got my R41 a couple of weeks ago...what a close shave. Maybe its just an expression of the development of my technique development, but at the present time, I use the R41 for when I want my closest shave (you really have to pay attention although I have yet to even have a knick or burn with it - probably because it makes you really pay attention, which BTW, really improves your technique), the Mergress as my everyday "unrushed" razor set at 4 (never thought I would go that high, but the R41 has made me somewhat fearless) and the EJ if I really have to rush a shave during the week.

In short, I think you'll love your Mergress. I would start out at 1.5, see how it goes, then move up depending on where you are in your technique development. 3.0 is a good place to land balancing close shave vs. risk for nick/burn. Settle in there for a while, then its up to you. Remember, once you are at BBS, you are BBS - you can't get any better. Of course, YMMV. Good luck. Have fun!

[California Cajun]

My mergress is in rotation so I guess I can comment.
If yours is like mine, it has 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 markings around the tip.
I find that around 3 it feels similar to a 34C (HD) and perhaps as mild as an EJ 89 around 1 1/2.
That being said you're not really comparing apples to apples.
The mergress is a massive weighty razor in comparison to the sleek EJ 89.
The head of a mergress is significantly larger that the EJ. You can see the way it curls down and back in the pic.
the guard is also quite rounded.
So because of the differences in heft and head it's hard to comment exactly on the aggression of the blade angle exclusively.
IMO - They're both winners, just very different in the technique one uses to get a good shave with them.
FWIW - I always go past the number or setting I want and tighten back up again to guard against the internal screw shifting.
it's like tuning a guitar string. come up from flat.

HTH

I believe your estimates are spot on. A 34C is about 3 on the Progress and the Jagger is milder than the 34C.

[Sledgehammer39]

You won't be disappointed, I have a regular Progress and Mergress. The Mergress tweaks make a good razor even better.

[Sqratch]

Who is this Eric gentleman? And where can I see some of his work?

[Adam M]

Who is this Eric gentleman? And where can I see some of his work?

Eric a.k.a. Mer http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...ogress-Upgrade

[mhdena]

I have a Progress with 1!2!3!4 markings, I use mine on 4 in rotation with a R41.

While curious I haven't seen the need for the modification. I like the Ivory knob

[Batman]

I too am waiting for my converted Progress from Eric, hopefully arriving in a few days. I purchased the Progress and shaved with it twice before shipping it to Eric. So far, a setting of 2 ish for my first passes and down to a 1.5 for ATG and touch ups. That may change with the new weight.

Cant wait for it to arrive...

[Sargon]

I don't have a Mergress, but my Progress is one of my go-to razors. I tend to go 3 wtg, 2 xtg, and 1 atg. YMMV of course.

[ackvil]

I have two Megresses a regular and XL handle one. They are great razors. I can't comment on your settings. However, I use a milder setting for my neck.

[akira2a]

While I don't have the Mergress, I do have the Progress and it was the first razor to give my DFS without any burn. I can give you Three basic tips even though I don't use the Progress anymore.

1) Make sure you have the top plate installed correctly, the top plate has a noch that lines up with a small triangle on the base plate for proper scale on the adjustment knob.

2) make sure you have proper blade alinement. even though the Progress is a very good razor, you still need to make sure the blade has even exposure on both sides of the razor head. This is the only thing I hated about my Progress.

3) Learn how to hold the razor correctly, I don't know about the Mergress, but after watching mantic59's video called 'Merkur Progress Annoyances' and learned on how to hold the darn thing my shaves have improved with the Progress and any razor the same size and shape since.

here is the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FZvM...nHtmGhuaa5k%3D

[pymmdcp]

Thanks guys. Very helpful.