Improve look of Merkur Progress

• Apr 21, 2008

• #1

180pilot

Looked at Mer's all metal Progress, it's very nice, but for $41, it won't shave better. I decided the white plastic knob is what bothered me. sooooo. I got out the black Rit dye heated it to just boiling in Microwave and dipped the handle in it. It's a very dark Carmel Black/Brown now. Another dip should turn it real black. But it looks kind of nice this way.

 

• Apr 21, 2008

• #2

john.crissman

I think the red tip looks pretty cool. Well done!

 

• Apr 21, 2008

• Thread starter
• #3

180pilot

Well, you can use any darker color dye you like, the white plastic takes it pretty well.

 

• Apr 21, 2008

• #4

jkh

Nice work, I like that a lot!

 

• Apr 21, 2008

• #5

Limey

I like the dye job.

I wonder if one could be done to look like a Gillette Redtip?

 

• Apr 21, 2008

• #6

V

VR6ofpain

Am I the only one who likes the cream/ivory tip of the Progress?

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #7

E

emberke

Looks cool! Well done!

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #8

col conk

Nice job! .... Not my color though.

Am I the only one who likes the cream/ivory tip of the Progress?
__________________
- Gabe

Click to expand...

I like mine too.

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #9

htownmmm

jkh said:

Nice work, I like that a lot!

Click to expand...

Limey said:

I like the dye job.

I wonder if one could be done to look like a Gillette Redtip?

Click to expand...

Isn't it amazing that no other forum member had come up with this idea until now? Looks good and you can come up with any flavor you prefer. Absolutely amazing it took this long for the idea to surface.


marty

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #10

D

DogcatcherDrew

There you go...now you can have your own line of red tips, blue tips, and with a little aluminum foil, flare tips

Good thinking!

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #11

michaelskar

very good idea! I like the color you got from the 1st dye job

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• Thread starter
• #12

180pilot

michaelskar said:

very good idea! I like the color you got from the 1st dye job

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Yes it is interesting, a slightly translucent coffee color.

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #13

P

Perfect_shave

VR6ofpain said:

Am I the only one who likes the cream/ivory tip of the Progress?

Click to expand...

Yes

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #14

MTgrayling

That does look a whole lot better!

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #15

MotoMike

VR6ofpain said:

Am I the only one who likes the cream/ivory tip of the Progress?

Click to expand...

Nope. I like it too. I think that the name Progress was given the razor when Merkur added it to it's line many years ago. They wanted you to think you were getting state of the art. (I don't know how many years ago because I can't find much history on the company) The razor probably seemed modern then. I am guessing that plastic was high-zoot in a Buck Rogers sort of way so it met with the modern theme. Now I think with changing times we miss the historic perspective. Now plastic = cheap.

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• Thread starter
• #16

180pilot

When you pull the shaft out of the body, (held in by split ring), one wonders why they just didn't machine knob on shaft in one operation. Instead they melted plastic knob onto a knurled portion??? The number ring could have been splined on shaft so it could be lifted and re-referenced to zero if needed. Maybe it's my Engineering background and too much time on my hands...........

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• #17

doc_paul

I have a gold progress and when I first got it (gift), I thought it was incredibly ugly. I must say though, the look of the cream nob with the gold plating has grown on me and I find it to be fairly nice looking razor. So my 2 cents: get the gold plates progress instead.

 

• Apr 22, 2008

• Thread starter
• #18

180pilot

It's rumored Merkur is redesigning some razors, I'd wait before buying anymore. I'm most happy with my Injectors, but more blade selection with DE.

 

• Apr 23, 2008

• #19

D. B. Cooper

nicely done!

 

• Apr 24, 2008

• #20

chtinavion

Sorry, but what is black Rit dye?