Merkur Razor..am I doing it wrong?

**Jastiger** · 03-25-2009, 07:00 PM

I've looked for a post on this and I haven't found one that addresses this problem that I've literally just run into.

I've been wet shaving for about a month now, and its great! Usually I let my face get all scraggly and then I shave it down. I took a late shower tonight and thought, what the hey, good chance to get more practice in and see how well I can trim my shorter hair growth. Well, I get prepped and am shaving and as I take my first pass I notice that hey....its cutting kind of like a clogged up Mach 3. I've NEVER had this happen! Whats going on!?
Well I change out the Derby blade for a Merkur and still the same thing, so its not the blade. Then I realized that I can loosen the head of my razor a little bit and get it close enough to count as a shave, but no where near as close as normal. I've never had to loosen the head like this before, and I don't like it. I have to hold it in place, and it swivels a bit as I move down my face.
Is this due to my shorter stubble? Is my razor not working right? Is it holding the blade too flush so I get no cut? I'm thoroughly confused as to whats going on here, and I've never had this happen. Should I just wait until my facial hair is longer and then go for it?

I use a Merkur 33C for the record and have Derby AND Merkur blades available.

**jrcrow79** · 03-25-2009, 07:03 PM

1st thing is DONT touch a Mach-anything blade!
2nd thing..always clean your razor n blade well under cold/hot/warm water after each full pass
3rd thing..ALWAYS re-lather your face when shaving

Nuph said!..go to work!

**mmack66** · 03-25-2009, 07:08 PM

I don't know what your issue is but I would avoid shaving with a razor that is not tightened down all the way, especially if the head is swivelling to and fro. Some old Gillettes allowed this, but not new razors.

**biomesh** · 03-25-2009, 07:11 PM

My guess is that you have the safety bar piece on upside down.

**biomesh** · 03-25-2009, 07:13 PM

Incorrect:

Correct:

**Fnord5** · 03-25-2009, 07:15 PM

It is a merkur...

**mk-ultra** · 03-25-2009, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by mmack66

I don't know what your issue is but I would avoid shaving with a razor that is not tightened down all the way, especially if the head is swivelling to and fro. Some old Gillettes allowed this, but not new razors.

+1 I was using either my Parat or British Aristocrat Junior the other day (it's getting hard to keep track) and the blade buffing on my neck was REALLY rough. I realized that the TTO had loosened during my shave. Once I tightened it up again, all was well. That never happened before. No alcohol nor illicit substance was involved.

**Jastiger** · 03-25-2009, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by biomesh

Incorrect:

Correct:

Oh man I'm such an idiot! That picture had me thinking..man I DID reassemble the thing before shaving. I just shaved my face completely with the base plate on upside down.

One quick fix and I'll be back on my way. And uh..don't tell anyone I did this the wrong way lol.

Thanks guys.

**biomesh** · 03-25-2009, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Jastiger

Oh man I'm such an idiot! That picture had me thinking..man I DID reassemble the thing before shaving. I just shaved my face completely with the base plate on upside down.

One quick fix and I'll be back on my way. And uh..don't tell anyone I did this the wrong way lol.

Thanks guys.

You're not the first and won't be the last. That's why I took the pictures, for demonstration purposes.