Blade alignment on a double edged razor
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
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