Franken Razors and Hybrids (Chimeras)

I love to play with my DE razors.
Not just to have new toys to SOTD.
But to have different experiences.
Sometime, to fix some issue about weight and balance.
Because I do not like heavy handles.
Or maybe too shorts.

This is the main reason I've make a lot of frankenrazors.
Chimeras that are not available directly on the market.
Hybrids that mostly have the better part of diffenent worlds.

I take notes about my "creations".
Here is my list:

• Eddy Vip3erA
  (Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled / Edwin Jagger DE87BL Faux Ivory)
  
• Focus 42115
  (FaTip 42115 "Originale v2 Gold Metal" / Cumbo Srl Focus Tritok Blue)
  
• Focus 42115 Mellon Aggressive
  (Yaqi “Mellon” Chrome / FaTip 42115 "Originale v2 Gold Metal" / Cumbo Srl Focus Tritok Blue)
  
• Focus 42115 Mellon Mild
  (FaTip 42115 "Originale v2 Gold Metal" / Yaqi “Mellon” Chrome / Cumbo Srl Focus Tritok Blue)
  
• Generale Fatip
  (FaTip 42115 "Originale v2 Gold Metal" / Colonial Razors "The General V1" Aluminium 6061)
  
• iKonDE87BLS
  (iKon Torsionshobel Slant / Edwin Jagger DE87BL Faux Ivory)
  
• iKonDE87BLSDLC
  (iKon Torsionshobel Slant DLC / Edwin Jagger DE87BL Faux Ivory)
  
• Luna Nera
  (LunaWerk "Slim Gold" / Colonial Razors "The General V1" Aluminium 6061)
  
• Mellon Vip
  (Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled / Yaqi RAC 1712-02 Chrome Aluminium)
  
• MrAlHyTech
  (Gillette Tech 1939 Hybrid Rhodium Plated / Maggard Razors "MR14" Aluminium Handle)
  
• MrOttoFamex
  (Famex DE BrtSGDG Open / Maggard MR8 18x90mm SS316L)
  
• MrOttoFat
  (Fatip 42109 Grande Nichel Nero / Maggard MR8 18x90mm SS316L)
  
• MrOttoFatHyTech
  (Gillette Tech 1939 Fat Handle Hybrid Rhodium Plated / Maggard MR8 18x90mm SS316L)
  
• PP1489
  (Edwin Jagger DE89 / Maggard Razors "MR14" Aluminium Handle)
  
• Relax
  (Edwin Jagger DE89 / CSB Shaving RL05 Tortoiseshell)
  
• Relax HyTech
  (Gillette Tech 1939 Hybrid Rhodium Plated / CSB Shaving RL05 Tortoiseshell)
  
• Relax Tech
  (Gillette Tech 1939 Fat Handle Classic / CSB Shaving RL05 Tortoiseshell)
  
• TheMellonTip
  (Yaqi “Mellon” Chrome / FaTip 42115 "Originale v2 Gold Metal" / Colonial Razors “The General V1” Aluminium 6061)
  
• Vip3rA Chubby Tech
  (Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled / Gillette Tech 1939 Fat Handle Hybrid Rhodium Plated)
  
• Vip3rA Generale
  (Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled /  Colonial Razors "The General V1" Aluminium 6061)
  
• Vip3rA Light
  (Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled / Maggard Razors "MR14" Aluminium Handle)
  
• TheVip3raTip
  (FaTip 42115 "Originale v2 Gold Metal" / Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled / Colonial Razors "The General V1" Aluminium 6061)
  
• The Zorro
  (Zorro Bakelite Schrägschnitt Slant / Colonial Razors "The General V1" Aluminium 6061)
  
• UfoHyTech
  (Gillette Tech 1939 Fat Handle Hybrid / UFO Golia 15x85mm SS 316L)
  
• UfoTech
  (Gillette Tech 1940 Ball End / UFO Golia 15x85mm SS 316L)
  
• Vip3erOtto
  (Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled / Maggard MR8 18x90mm SS316L)
  
• Z1a Nera
  (Colonial Razors "The General V1" Aluminium 6061 / Windrose Z1 "Darwin")
  
• Z1o Generale
  (Colonial Razors "The General V1" Aluminium 6061 / Windrose Z1 "Darwin")
  
• Z1a Vip3ra
  (Maggard V3A "Vip3rA" Cobbled / Windrose Z1 "Darwin")
  
• Zorro Light
  (Zorro Bakelite Schrägschnitt Slant / Maggard Razors "MR14" Aluminium Handle)
  

SE razors can be updated too.
But mostly DE have better benefits.
Specially about balance.
But sometime a new profile of the topcap or plate, can really change the feeling.
Primarily I look for the balance, so many times changing the handle is enough.
Doing this I've found Fatip too can use different handles.

Today, my absolute fav is the Frankenrazor PP1489.
https://i.imgur.com/c7CGBWh.jpg

The long and light handle enhance the good qualities of the Edwin Jagger DE89 head.
The Standard geometry is one of the most balanced, and the handle helps to make it perfect for my tastes.
I've compared this with many pricey razors, and just best of them have the same performances.
But, because of the price, my champion have been always the winner having a better overall efficiency.
Specially the value of the tool about the performance.


You wanna play?
Show me.

I have been a hardcore Frankenrazor fan for a long time and I even have a small parts box with many sections loaded with just caps and base plates so I can fool around occasionally with them. I personally do not consider swapping whole heads with handles for balance or aesthetic purposes a tru Frankenrazor, however many do and so no dis on you. My main concentration with Frankenrazors is swapping heads and base plates to get great combinations. Last year, I did a Frankenrazor February on another forum, which was interesting.  Anyway, some examples of great (and interesting) Frankenrazors:

Feather ASD2 cap and handle/ Gillette New De Lux base plate



Windrose IdF clone cap/Fatip OC base plate/PAA Prismatic handle





Fine Marvel cap/Swing base plate and handle

I don't break up razor heads, but I like to mix and match my heads and handles in addition to using the stock combinations.

Carbon CX-Ti/UFO Little Titan
Carbon CX-Ti/Wolfman WRH7 Ti
Carbon CX-Ti/Stork Advoco Ti
Gillette New SC (cerakoted)/UFO U2
Gillette New SC (cerakoted)/Stork Advoco Ti
Gillette New LC/Bob's Razor Works Bull Mastiff
Gillette New LC/Triad Polished-Satin Diamond Ti
Paradigm 17-4/Bob's Razor Works Amboyna Burl
Paradigm 17-4/UFO Colibri
Paradigm Ti II/UFO Titan Fine
Paradigm Ti II/UFO Little Titan
Wolfman WR1-OC/Stork Advoco Ti
Wolfman WR1-OC/Triad Polished-Satin Diamond Ti
Wolfman WR1-SB Ti/UFO Little Titan
Wolfman WR1-SB Ti/UFO Titan Fine
Wolfman WR2-SB/UFO Colibri
Wolfman WR2-SB/UFO Titan Fine
Wolfman WR2-SB/Bob's Razor Works Amboyna Burl

I must be in the minority as I never change the handles of my razors. I blame OCD.

My main concentration with Frankenrazors is swapping heads and base plates to get great combinations.

Normally, I do not purchase razors with geometry that I do not trust.
For me topcap must be wide, and with a nice arch.
And blade gap is good if not too high.

Sometime I do "true" frankenrazors too ...

FrankenRazor TheVip3raTip
(FaTip 42115 "Originale 2.0 Gold Metal" / Maggard V3A Cobbled / Colonial Razors "The General" Aluminium 6061)


FrankenRazor TheMellonTip
(Yaqi “Mellon” Chrome / FaTip 42115 "Originale 2.0 Gold Metal" / Colonial Razors "The General" Aluminium 6061)


FrankenRazor Focus 42115 Mellon Aggressive
(Yaqi “Mellon” Chrome Aluminium / FaTip 42115 "Originale 2.0 Gold Metal" / Cumbo Srl Focus Tritok Blue)


FrankenRazor Focus 42115 Mellon Mild
(FaTip 42115 "Originale 2.0 Gold Metal" / Yaqi “Mellon” Chrome Aluminium / Cumbo Srl Focus Tritok Blue)

Feather ASD2 cap and handle/ Gillette New De Lux base plate

Lovely!!!

Not actually a frankerazor, this hybrid is seriously challanging my champion !!!

Relax Tech
(Gillette Tech 1939 Fat Handle Classic / CSB Shaving RL05 Tortoiseshell)

I'm interested in franken razors.
I recently realized, trying to mix and match top caps and baseplates, that the R41 top cap (2013), even though it almost covers the blade, it doesn't give it enough curvature.
I then remembered another aggressive razor, the Yaqi Helmet and from the photos it seems it has a similar geometry, in the sense that it doesn't bend the blade for rigidity.

Does anyone that owns this baseplates ever tried using a top cap that bends the blade more and see if it reflects in less blade exposure and/or comfort?

I'm interested in franken razors.
I recently realized, trying to mix and match top caps and baseplates, that the R41 top cap (2013), even though it almost covers the blade, it doesn't give it enough curvature.
I then remembered another aggressive razor, the Yaqi Helmet and from the photos it seems it has a similar geometry, in the sense that it doesn't bend the blade for rigidity.

Does anyone that owns this baseplates ever tried using a top cap that bends the blade more and see if it reflects in less blade exposure and/or comfort?

Yes, by definition a greater bend will change the angle and thereby reduce exposure. I've tried the R41 with a bunch of caps and most I prefer to the original but not enough to keep in regular rotation.

Sent from my LG-US998 using Tapatalk

Raided the spares box.

Adam

... using a top cap that bends the blade more and see if it reflects in less blade exposure and /or comfort?

More arched, more comfort of the angle and less reveal (mostly exposure too, It's a different thing).
Wider, more stiffness of the blade.
The problem is that topcap must match the base plate.
A little better with R89 top.
Not that much.

Raided the spares box.

Nice job Adam, this is a new way to me to think what is a frankenrazor.