Good to Great - Improvements To Existing Razors

People complain about Zamak, but has anyone really had any significant issues with it?

People complain about Zamak, but has anyone really had any significant issues with it?

Some folks claim to have. I have not, but I have read posts.

There are a few Gillette razors with Zamak (maybe quite a few? I'm not an expert on vintage... Or anything, lol). They've lasted for decades and decades. So, there's definitely a right way to do it, and still have a long lasting product. But... Some might say, "Things just aren't made like they used to be".

Now get off my lawn you darn kids! Lol.

People complain about Zamak, but has anyone really had any significant issues with it?

When I first started wetshaving in 2013 my first razor was a EJ89. After a lot of use (and probably a bit of abuse), the Zamak coating on the threads wore off and got corroded making it a little tricky to thread on to the handle. I mention it to Edwin Jagger and they were kind enough to send me a brand new head for free. They said its a common problem and you should wipe off/dry the threads after every use since that is a point of friction. The replacement head was snagged by my Wife and has lived in the shower for years with no issues (even after being dropped, etc).

I think Zamak is a fine, cost effective alternative to stainless and holds up well... unless you somehow damage the coating.

LOVE my AlanH81 Highly Polished 6s with Plate 5. I just need the equivalent polish on my rubber set 400 now

That is just so beautiful. AlanH81 does such a good job.

People complain about Zamak, but has anyone really had any significant issues with it?

When I first started wetshaving in 2013 my first razor was a EJ89. After a lot of use (and probably a bit of abuse), the Zamak coating on the threads wore off and got corroded making it a little tricky to thread on to the handle. I mention it to Edwin Jagger and they were kind enough to send me a brand new head for free. They said its a common problem and you should wipe off/dry the threads after every use since that is a point of friction. The replacement head was snagged by my Wife and has lived in the shower for years with no issues (even after being dropped, etc).

I think Zamak is a fine, cost effective alternative to stainless and holds up well... unless you somehow damage the coating.

The EJ DE89 was my starter razor too. I love that razor. I had three but wound up giving them all away to guys who were just starting out. I went out and bought myself another last year because I always want to have one in hand. Very nice shaver and they look good too.

People complain about Zamak, but has anyone really had any significant issues with it?

Some folks claim to have. I have not, but I have read posts.

There are a few Gillette razors with Zamak (maybe quite a few? I'm not an expert on vintage... Or anything, lol). They've lasted for decades and decades. So, there's definitely a right way to do it, and still have a long lasting product. But... Some might say, "Things just aren't made like they used to be".

Now get off my lawn you darn kids! Lol.

Nothing wrong with zamak. It’s functional and cost effective and if you take care of it - rinse and wipe after use and don’t drop it, it should last you maybe forever or at least as long as you will need it.

Cool thread Marko

I love the 6S. Honestly, I could have stopped buying razors after getting mine. Its a USA-made, Stainless and comes with various plates all for $99. Hard to beat that IMO. If they offered polishing, intricate machining, titanium, etc, it would be a lot more than $99. So keep that in mind. I do like the idea of a "slim" version, but I think part of why this razor works so well for me is how it bends and secures the blade. So a slim version may change the performance to something else.

Now, another razor that is awesome, but could be tweaked is the WSC Winning Razor. Its also USA-made and Stainless. I think I bought mine new for ~$45 shipped. I dig it a lot, but it has some large flat surfaces that create a suction/drag on the face. If they could somehow add some scallops or minimize the flat surfaces, it would be an incredible offering (assuming they were able to keep the price down).

That’s an amazing price for an all stainless steel razor made in USA. While any additional processing will add to labour costs I can’t imagine an extra step or two in the CNC machine would add too much cost. I like it when the makers tweak their products. It shows they’re listening to feedback and open to improvement.

What are the general feelings on aluminum construction?

What are the general feelings on aluminum construction?

A majority of the aluminum you find from the vendors we see these days is single piece aircraft grade aluminum. It's pretty durable and should last decades with care.

People complain about Zamak, but has anyone really had any significant issues with it?

The only issue I can think of is if you have a vintage razor you’d like replated it’s not feasible if it’s zamack. At least that’s what Chris at RazorPlate told me a few years ago. I don’t recall if it can’t be done or if it’s a case of unsatisfactory results.