New Parker Shavettes in!
Posted by Tom Trueman on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 6:27 pm | Filed under Product News
We’ve been anticipating these for a while but they are here now, the 31R, 32R, 33R and 34R from Parker. These are very distinctive shavettes that stand out from the crowd, with our favourite being the S32R Stainless Steel All Metal Shavette. Check them out here:
Shaving Shack Shavettes section
Tags: Parker 33R Shavette, Parker Shavette, Parker Shavettes, S32R Stainless Steel All Metal Shavette, shavette, shavettes
Long Handled Progress back in stock!
Posted by Tom Trueman on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 5:26 pm | Filed under Product News
We also have a limited number of Long Handled Merkur Progress safety razors in stock. These are quite difficult to keep in stock so get them while they’re here!
Tags: Long Handled Merkur Progress safety razors, long handled razor, long handled razors, merkur razor, merkur razors, progress razor, progress safety razors, safety razors
Limited number of Merkur 34C available!
Posted by Tom Trueman on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 5:22 pm | Filed under Product News
OK, we’ve just taken stock of a limited number of Merkur 34C but we’re still expecting a shortage after these have gone, so snap them up whilst they’re here!
Tags: merkur 34c, merkur razor, merkur razors
Blade alignment on a double edged razor
Posted by Tom Trueman on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 1:14 pm | Filed under Information, Product News
1. Chrome Plating
The chrome plating is typically not the same thickness all over the razor due to the curving surfaces, so this might lead to slight differences in the blade gap on one side of the razor head versus the other.
2. Razor blade cutout tolerances
You also have to factor in the tolerances built into where the cutouts of the razor blade sit (see picture below). If you place a razor blade on to the head and see how much wriggle room there is you’ll see that it is quite a feat for it to naturally rest perfectly aligned.
Razor Blade cutouts
3. Hand assembled tolerances
Double edged razors are assembled by hand so there will always be tolerances that do not influence the function of the razor, nor its performance.
Is this a problem?
No. These razors have been hand built for many years using the same casts so these tolerances have always been there. Some people have the expectation that it should be the same as the mass made plastic Gillettes you find in supermarkets, which are of course, manufactured using precision machinery. Although the function is the same, they can’t really be compared because the production methods are different. As an analogy, think about the individually assembled coachbuilt cars versus the typical robot built modern cars. Both drive perfectly well but the coachbuilt cars will have more production ”quirks”!
On a functional level it does not present a problem when shaving as the blade never actually sits perfectly square onto the face as the skin is not flat and unyielding.
So, I know its not a problem but even so I’d like to straighten it, what should I do?
Simply take the time to load and straighten the blade before you clamp it down.
Take this razor as an example. As you can see it appears not to sit flush when I let the blade rest in it’s default position. However, after tweaking the razor blade before I clamp it down, I am able to get it as straight as it can be.
Before: Uneven razor blade when allowed to rest naturally
After: Blade now straight after a bit of attention before blade clamped down
Tags: Chrome Plating, double edged razor, double edged razors, Hand assembled tolerances, razor, razor blade, Razor blade cutout tolerances, razor head, razors
Merkur 34C not available till 2010!
Posted by Tom Trueman on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 4:45 pm | Filed under Product News
Oh dear, just coming up to our busiest season and the Shack’s favourite, the Merkur 34C, is out of stock and unavailable till 2010 due to manufacturing problems at Merkur! With this in mind we’ve decided to reduce it’s longer handled variant, the Merkur 38C, down to £27.99 as a viable alternative. Don’t forget that they both use the same head so the real difference is in the handle length.
Tags: Merkur, merkur 34c, merkur 38c, merkur razor, merkur razors
Shavettes…the low maintenance option!
Posted by Tom Trueman on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 5:36 pm | Filed under Product News, Shaving Shack News
We’ve just taken stock of our eagerly anticipated Shaving Shack branded shavettes, available in black and white here:
You may have experienced these in barber shops when you’ve gone to get your haircut, as they are often used to finish off the back of the neck. These are however, a truly low cost and low maintenance alternative to straight razor shaving.
Imagine being able to shave as close as a straight razor shave, using exactly the same technique, yet without the stropping and the honing (sharpening) involved!
We have many customers who use these as their daily shaver having made the jump from DE shaving to straight razor shaving. It’s a cheap way to learn the straight razor shaving technique as detailed in our FAQ section here:
How to use a Straight/Cut-Throat Razor (remembering that you won’t need to strop or hone!)
They also make an inexpensive and cool gift for dads and sons!
Tags: cheap shave, cheap shavette, cheap shaving, shavette, shavettes, shaving shack, straight razor shaving
Shaving Shack products take up acting…
Posted by Tom Trueman on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 5:26 pm | Filed under Shaving Shack News
We’ve just donated one of our razors (a Parker 60R to be precise) to the Guildford School of Acting for a production called “110 in the Shade”, a musical set in 1936 Texas during a drought. So, if you’re in the Guildford area between the 4th and 7th of November be sure to check it out, details are on this website:
Guildford School of Acting - Current Productions
Tags: Guildford School of Acting, Parker 60R, shaving shack
Newbies…always start with Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream!
Posted by Tom Trueman on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 6:03 pm | Filed under Information, Product News, Shaving Tips
One of the common newbie questions I get asked is which cream to try first.
I would always recommend any of the Taylor of Old Bond St shaving creams as I feel they offer the best mix of quality/value so consequently are an excellent starting point. I would start by choosing a scent you think you might like so if, like me, you have a penchant for Almond slices, then the Almond scent may be a safe scent to begin with. My personal favourite is Avocado, not because it smells of Avocado (it doesn’t!) but because the unique scent is refreshingly different from the others and I quite like the Guacamole-esque appearance! There is no discernible difference between the lather that the different scents produce, they’ll all work the same just in case you were wondering!
Tags: shave cream, shave creams, Shaving Cream, shaving creams, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream
To adjust or not adjust….the best double edge razor for a newbie
Posted by Tom Trueman on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 5:14 pm | Filed under Information, Product News, Shaving Tips
I frequently get asked this and often the decision is between a fixed head Merkur 34C (and it’s long handled version, the Merkur 38C) and the adjustable headed Merkur Futur.
Most fixed head razors we sell will fit the bill 99% of the time. However:
- if you have particularly heavy growth or
- are the tinkering kind who likes to experiment with different blade gaps or
- simply like futuristic designs…
then the Futur could be the one to go for.
To complicate matters, if you like the Futur, chances are you will like it’s bigger brother, the Vision 2000. The Vision is a bit heavier, bigger and can dial a wider blade gap than the Futur - the ultimate safety razor for all occasions! It also has a claim to fame in that it made an appearance in an episode of the 2004 series of Battlestar Galactica, a great little fact to accompany the perfect gift for a sci fi fan!
Tags: double edge razor, fixed head razors, futur, Merkur, merkur 34c, merkur 38c, merkur futur, merkur razors, Merkur safety razors, Merkur shaving, shaving shack, Shaving Tips, vision 2000, wet shaving tips
Muhle razors in stock
Posted by Tom Trueman on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 1:21 pm | Filed under Product News
I often cite Merkur as being the best in terms of the quality and finishing of their razors. However, after handling our latest Muhle Pinsel razors I can honestly say these beautifully finished DE razors are as good (I have a particular penchant for the Muhle R89!). As well as being beautifully crafted they are, by comparison, quite light which sometimes benefits newbies who are used to the lightweight Mach 3s they’ve binned!
Tags: muhle, muhle pinsel razors, muhle razor, muhle razors, muhle shaving
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