Janus razors Modern Machined Stainless Steel Adjustable Toggle

im curious if he is going to fix the mechanism problem

I would love to have one, but I think I have a t-shirt budget.

Here is the full article. It’s a real good read.....


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Welcome to the May 2018 Newsletter
May was just like April – lots happening but little to show and/or brag about. I finally have the Janus Razor priced. In this issue, I you will find an update on product development, and delve into what influences cost, and consequently, price. Please read on.

The doors are not done yet. This is the last step to wrap up the blade clamping fix. Like you, I’m dying to know - is the fix legit? Same story like last month - the CNC program is done, and doors are working their way up the queue of the sole mill in the shop.

Prototypes compete with production for machine time, new accounts (like Janus Razors) compete with repeat customers, and hiccup on preceding jobs domino through entire the queue. Toss in me not having a clue what the hell I’m doing here and there, and stuff will take long. I know this sounds like endless excuses! I’m a tad embarrassed. From a while back – the Door, Handle and Toggle knob needed a redo. The Handle and Toggle Knob fixes check out which means the diagnosis was correct.
I finally finished stack-up analysis. This important task is my least favorite thing to do. I hang out with engineers quite a bit, and I don’t know any misfit who enjoys this. This task puts Fit and Function into Form, Fit and Function. Will parts with acceptable variation always go together (slipping parts not grinding and mates not slipping)? Will mechanisms like detents still perform even when assembled from parts at the tolerance limits? Which dimensions have generous allowances that need reasonable tightening? Which allowances are too stingy, and jacking up cost?
Let’s talk price! Two options - Passivated and PVD coated (‘white gold’, ‘yellow gold’ and ‘black gold’) priced at $525 and $625 respectively. The Janus Razors tee is $25.

Why is this thing expensive?

Material choice influences cost in two ways: raw material cost and machinability cost. The Janus Razor is made out of 316 Stainless Steel for corrosion and chemical resistance that is superior to options such as 303 Stainless Steel, Brass and Aluminum 6061. This choice is costlier than 303 and Al 6061. Take a look at what ½” dia., 12’ long round bar stock costs.
Similar trend for stock used to make stamped components such as the safety bar.

Wanna investigate RM costs further? Click here and here.
Machining 316 with the cheapest tools won’t do it. There are reasonably tight tolerances to hold, a surface finish callout to meet, and interruptions to change tools will add more to cost than savings from cheaper tools can offset. 316 is tougher to cut than 303, Brass and Al 6061, and as a result consumes more tools (end mills, taps, drill bits, thread mills, burs, drills and reamers). Material choice could mean a tool makes tens (316), or hundreds (303), or even several hundreds (Al 6061).
PVD is an upgrade - the hard ceramic PVD coating adds to the 316 corrosion resistance, offers abrasion resistance and different aesthetics (besides the ‘dull’ passivated look). After polishing, the parts undergo a cleaning step to remove surface contaminants, and then are hand loaded onto a wire rack to be individually coated in an 8000F vacuum chamber. Try to PVD sub-assemblies (instead of parts) to save on cost, and the vapor won’t get into the nooks and crannies.
A part like the dial adjustment knob has detailed internal and external geometries that will cost more to make: more cutting time to machine all the features, reasonably tight tolerances for multiple dimensions, and a surface finish callout to meet.

Additionally, no manufacturing process is defect free. For example, 110 pcs might have to be produced to meet an order of 100. Who absorbs this cost? Sometimes, manufacturers will "hide" this in the unit cost quote.
A cost not readily visible to most is the unavoidable raw material waste. Remnants - the 12’ bar eventually becomes a stub (6”) that is difficult for the machine to feed to the cutting tools, and then there’s sheet metal waste even after tight nesting when laser cutting the blanks for stamping. Just because a part is ½” long, it doesn’t mean you will get 288 pcs from a 12’ bar.
The skill and experience of a talented machinist isn’t cheap. The complexity in a part needs to match the experience and competence of the machinist running the job. Skilled and experienced machinists know how to program tricky parts, quickly dial-in on set-ups, correctly read the chips and listen to the machine to make the necessary adjustments, and have an intuitive feel for inspection frequencies and how to inspect.
I certainly don’t expect to move tens of thousands of units. This is a project that lacks economies of scale. Many parts in the design require lots of distinct operations/touches requiring disparate capabilities that are hard to find under one roof. The Gillette Toggle operation most likely had all the operations under one roof, and multiple designs shared parts thus accentuating the benefits of economies of scale.

Let’s track the safety bar from stock to finished razor.

Stamping shops will rarely be experts are Swiss CNC and vice versa. Shops with both capabilities under one roof are enticed by large volumes which this project lacks, and a successful product launch history. Vendors will cover their costs, and then some (a mark-up for profit). Businesses that don’t turn a profit never stick around for long. Profit to a contract manufacturer means a future with increased capability and capacity from new equipment they can purchase using profits, and in some instances improved work conditions. Profit for Janus Razors means R&D for new cool and useful products.
I certainly don’t expect to move tens of thousands of units. This is a project that lacks economies of scale. Many parts in the design require lots of distinct operations/touches requiring disparate capabilities that are hard to find under one roof. The Gillette Toggle operation most likely had all the operations under one roof, and multiple designs shared parts thus accentuating the benefits of economies of scale. Let’s track down the safety bar from stock to finished razor.
Made in US was a decision made on day one. I didn’t even bother considering manufacturing anywhere else other than Minnesota. Local means addressing issues in timely face-to-face interactions. No conference calls! Made in US needs more nuance – making in Minnesota is a lot more expensive than in some other States. Heck, manufacturing in Greater Minnesota vs. the Twin Cities Metro will yield different cost. The Janus Razor is assembly intensive and has lots of components compared to 3-piece designs.
That’s the partial cost story. A year ago, the aggregate cost from stamping, machining, surface modification, marking, assembly and packaging would have surprised me.

Hopefully, the assurances I have received from the machine shop will mean I get to write a June update confirming stuff works. I will be meeting some locals from the email list to show the Janus Razor, and talk Wet-Shaving & Design on 06/29. Email me if you wanna be part of the gang, and I will forward you the details.
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Cheers!
Janus Razors

That’s a great read. I love having a little insight into the process. I’m sure this Razor will be a thing of beauty, but I’ll never pay that much for a Razor.

Thanks for posting the update, GlazedBoker! That's really interesting.

I respect what Janus Razors is doing, but I'm officially "out"!! I'd never pay that much for a razor... I feel you have to draw the line somewhere and double the price of other premium razors is a good place to draw that line. Hope those interested enjoy it though...

Both the Janus and original Gillette Toggles are priced far beyond what I’d pay. Obviously some do pay that for originals on EBay, and I’m sure some collectors of modern high-end razors will pay for the Janus too, but I suspect its a small market.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I hope there’s a realistic, viable business case and/or the development expense is manageable as a hobby.

I love everything about what Janus is doing with this, but I don't see myself ever spending anywhere close to that on a razor for the simple fact that I have other hobbies that $625 would be a better investment in. That being said I completely understand why the razor may end up costing this much, between R&D, upfront investment costs, eventual manufacturing, etc combined with Janus wanting to make some sort of profit, I am not knocking them for pricing it accordingly.

Some pics on the prototype that Janus has created. Quite larger than the original Gillette Toggle, but not too bad. The time and resources that’s being put into R&D is admirable but, like most have stated here though, that steep price of entry is a real deal breaker. Still, an extremely interesting read on the process itself. Got to give it to him for not giving up.....



















https://janusrazors.us15.list-manage.com...caf91ad915

If I had the funds I would be in. It would be great to support this level of domestic ingenuity.