Janus Razors AMA, October 30th, 2021

When will you be updating your website to reflect V2?

I have deliberated this in my head several times. My hesitancy has been updating with stuff that is still up in the air due to manufacturing. I will rethink this some more.

I would definitely update the website asap.  You can share information without being too specific in order to keep interested parties tuned in.  The website feels dead and it should be kept alive with updates, even if it means only posting your thoughts and general plans.  Tell folks about what you are planning to keep, what is being changed and why.

Keeping folks on the edge of their seats while you overcome the obstacles will serve to increase anticipation and interest.  Once you get the proverbial ducks in a row folks will be eager to hear about it.  News of accomplishments and setbacks all serve to keep the Janus Toggle on the minds of those who are interested and waiting for good news re. a big reveal lets interest wane.

By all means stay tuned to this page and others covering Janus Toggle developments and jump in as much as you can with your thoughts, plans, and concerns.

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 for the explanation!

First time I saw a toggle in person was in an antique shop in San Antonio, Texas. When I go out of town, if time allows, I try to visit local antique shops just to see what they have.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

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 for the explanation!

First time I saw a toggle in person was in an antique shop in San Antonio, Texas.  When I go out of town, if time allows, I try to visit local antique shops just to see what they have.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

I visit local antique shops here and there when time allows. I have noticed they are already picked over and the good stuff (toggles, fatboys) are now rare to find. Nonetheless, I still visit them. The hunt is always exciting.

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 for the explanation!

First time I saw a toggle in person was in an antique shop in San Antonio, Texas.  When I go out of town, if time allows, I try to visit local antique shops just to see what they have.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

I visit local antique shops here and there when time allows. I have noticed they are already picked over and the good stuff (toggles, fatboys) are now rare to find. Nonetheless, I still visit them.

No doubt. Or, if you do find an old razors, it's ridiculously overpriced.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

Andrew, thanks for giving me the opportunity to chat with your community. I appreciate it. Take care and be safe.

Andrew, thanks for giving me the opportunity to chat with your community. I appreciate it. Take care and be safe.

Eric, Thank you and know that I'm sure there were many like me that didn't get into the questions but were reading with interest. No doubt more interest than even the discussion showed, Thanks !!

A big thanks to Eric for interacting with us and Andrew for hosting this AMA.

Andrew, thanks for giving me the opportunity to chat with your community. I appreciate it. Take care and be safe.

Eric, Thank you and know that I'm sure there were many like me that didn't get into the questions but were reading with interest. No doubt more interest than even the discussion showed, Thanks !!

Ditto!