How straight should a blade sit?

**heyjaffy** · 05-15-2009, 01:14 PM

I'm a new DE user and have already acquired a few razors - a couple of merkurs and a NEW. As I'm still getting accustomed to this type of shaving, I'm sticking with using one razor for now, my merkur HD classic, but I'm still fiddling with the others to get an idea as to how they fit and feel. I noticed today when I load a blade (actually, two different blades) in the NEW, the blade does not appear to sit flat - there's a slight curve toward the ends of the blade. I thought maybe, just maybe, the first blade that I put in had a defect, so I tried putting another new blade in and it appeared to take the same deformity, that the Merkur does not present when a blade is loaded. I'm not talking about the curve when looking at the blade from the side of the razor, I'm talking about looking at it straight on, it has a slight frown look to it. If this doesn't make sense, I suppose I can try to illustrate it.

Is this a problem or is this common for a blade to have any type of deformity when loaded?

**strat1117** · 05-15-2009, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by heyjaffy

I'm a new DE user and have already acquired a few razors - a couple of merkurs and a NEW. As I'm still getting accustomed to this type of shaving, I'm sticking with using one razor for now, my merkur HD classic, but I'm still fiddling with the others to get an idea as to how they fit and feel. I noticed today when I load a blade (actually, two different blades) in the NEW, the blade does not appear to sit flat - there's a slight curve toward the ends of the blade. I thought maybe, just maybe, the first blade that I put in had a defect, so I tried putting another new blade in and it appeared to take the same deformity, that the Merkur does not present when a blade is loaded. I'm not talking about the curve when looking at the blade from the side of the razor, I'm talking about looking at it straight on, it has a slight frown look to it. If this doesn't make sense, I suppose I can try to illustrate it.

Is this a problem or is this common for a blade to have any type of deformity when loaded?

Do you mean that the cutting edge of the blade is curved?

I suppose I could be wrong, but I do not believe that is correct.

**heyjaffy** · 05-15-2009, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by strat1117

Do you mean that the cutting edge of the blade is curved?

I suppose I could be wrong, but I do not believe that is correct.

Yep, cutting edge, if you looked at it straight on, curves slightly downward at the sides, making it look like it's frowning at me.

**wizard** · 05-15-2009, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by strat1117

Do you mean that the cutting edge of the blade is curved?

I suppose I could be wrong, but I do not believe that is correct.

I have to agree here. I think something is wrong too!
Your razor or maybe the blades you are using. And unless you are using a strange type of blade that is wider brings us back to your razor. Now some tops do have a notch at the corners, but none of the blades I use have that affect on my razors. I own 4 Gillette New & none have a curve in the blade. The blade sit flat across the top piece.The blade has tension on the top so there is a gap along the bottom part where the teeth are. Now if the top was bent on all 4 corners then it would have a downward curve at each end, but you should see that the top has the same downward curve at each end. Sometimes razors get dropped on a hard surface & it could get bent. I can't believe that all 4 sides of the top would be bent in the same manner to cause the effect you are having though. Owners may modify their razors thinking it will give them a better shave. When you buy used items sometimes this happens. I have bought a couple Auto Strop razors that someone tried to modify the teeth to get a better shave.

It didn't work!!!