Janus Razors AMA, October 30th, 2021

Hi all,


First I'd like to thank Janus Razors for taking the time to do an AMA (ask me anything) with the Damn Fine Shave community.  Eric has said that he'll be popping in and out of the forum from 10am-1pm CST to answer questions that we have for him. 

Please keep in mind that the questions that are asked NEED to follow our site rules.  Failure to follow our rules will result in the removal of your post(s).

Check out Eric and his Janus Razors at: https://www.janusrazors.com/




Thanks,

Andrew

Eric, thanks for doing this.

Why did you decide to design a razor, especially one as intricate as a toggle?

Thanks Eric:

Did you design your razor to be an exact replica of the toggle? Have you changed blade geometry etc?

Hi Eric, thanks for doing this. I’m sure DFS community is highly appreciative of you doing so.

My Qs: 
1. When are you planning to re-release the Janus?
2. If so, will it be a different redesign from Janus v1 or will it be more like the prototype?
3. Will you plan on a Titanium offering?
4. With adjustable competitive offerings from other makers, How is the Janus different and unique? 
5. Will you be able to offer any different handle designs?

Thank You for taking time and answering our Questions.

Best,
C_S aka Marius

What is the general timeline on the V2 Janus Toggle?

Will a Special Edition V2 be offered with color/finish options in addition to a regular production V2?

Will there be a limited number produced of the V2 as with the LE?

Will there be a titanium version?

Hey, it speaks volumes for you to come and interface directly with the hobbyist so thank you first of all.

Have you been thinking about any packaging updates, a stand(would be awesome to showcase this piece), or any other accessories with V2?
Any changes you can speak of for CAD design, fabrication, or finishing that you're excited about?
How many units are you planning for this run?
Thank you!

I agree with some of the others who have said it's good of you to come on here to do this on DFS.
    There's plenty of shaving enthusiast really like nice modern razors, on this site.
    I'm curious if you're making razors because you're a hobby shaver, entrepreneur, like a good challenge or something else?
   In the future if you completed your adjustable to satisfaction, would you ever consider making other forms of razors, plate type or other?
      I wish you the best success  also nice very close comfortable shaves.
   
             Thank you for your time

Hi Andrew. I was a pleasure talking a few weeks ago. I enjoyed catching up. I'm on here a little early but happy to hang around until past 1 for sure.

Eric, thanks for doing this.

Why did you decide to design a razor, especially one as intricate as a toggle?

I'm a fun of flea markets - every summer (except 2020) I visit nearby flea markets hoping to get incredible vintage watches - vintage chronographs and if lightning strikes a vintage Patek or Rolex. No luck so far on that front so far. 

I didn't even know the toggle when I bought it at a flea market. So, my intro to safety razors was with a toggle, then I bought a fatboy and couple more later as I learnt more about safety razors. 

After using both the TTO and toggle, as a design engineer, I started seeing things I can do to improve them. I thought surely with modern CAD, prototyping tools and CNC, I could do better. So, I toyed with the idea of redesigning the TTO in my head for like another year and then when the Mrs. bought me a 3D printer for a christmas present, I had the nudge i needed to start prototyping. I toyed a little with the TTO but then shifted to the toggle because it was tastier challenge with more I could improve. The toggle mechanism appealed to me more than the TTO feature. Easier said than done. Obviously now after prototyping and doing an LE, I have even more respect for the Gillette teams that did both razors. I always did. They had the form, fit and function right over 6 decades ago and with my modern 'stuff', I couldn't 'beat' them. I also have a ton of respect for other creators/artisans, including other razor makers, soap makers, brush makers, etc. for the manufacturing (& other) challenges they plow through. Talk to a soap maker and what looks simple and straight forward to do has some intricate manufacturing (& other) challenges that have to sorted out often to get product available for sale. Manufacturing challenges resonate with me coz I struggled there mightily. So, mad props to creators!

Thanks Eric:

Did you design your razor to be an exact replica of the toggle?  Have you changed blade geometry etc?

My thinking was an inspired by the toggle but with like ~10 improvements. Tops on the list was because of modern CAD & CNC, I could produce razors with very little variation in shaving performance from side to side and from razor to razor. With the exception of high BE, I think I had a really good design in the LE but my manufacturing fell short. Gillette nailed the design, they had a robust manufacturing process that I bet was heavy in manufacturing equipment investment and a bunch of smart & experienced folks on those projects. People, people, people - it always takes good people to get amazing stuff. The same equipment in other hands wouldn't necessarily yield good results. In V2, I have dialed back BE & simplified the design which was complex because of the tool-less goal.