Karve Shaving Co. A new DE Brass razor to market.

Thanks to Wolverine for posting the youtube link. I listened to some, fast forwarded through much of it. 

The relevant parts for me began at around 10 minutes, and ran on until 26 minutes or so. At that point they asked the young lady about her soap making, and it seemed that took up all but the last 5 minutes. 

I think it was at 12 minutes that Jack (is that his name) brought up customer service. Nothing that I heard about dissatisfied customers and how to address the problem. 

At some point Chris Kitchen mentioned that they began thinking razor making would be 15% of their output, and machinist jobs 85%.

Now it is the other way around. That was revealing to me, because it is obvious that the guy doesn't want to turn down jobs that come in, and it will cut into the razor making.

He didn't say that, but I imagine that to be an issue. 

Bead blasting, and finishing, difficulty in getting reliable and skilled help are also issues. If I understood correctly Chris is working alone some, or much of the time, in terms of the machinist end of the process. 

Anyway ... time will tell whether Karve will survive or go under.

Karve "In Stock" = We have the raw materials here and will make it when we aren't at the drawing board coming up with our next big NON-Release........

Post #1,561 ten pages back.

Karve "In Stock" = We have the raw materials here and will make it when we aren't at the drawing board coming up with our next big NON-Release........

Post #1,561 ten pages back.

That was for an aluminium?

I expect those will have undergone finishing prior to anodising, i.e. when they return from anodising, they truly are ready to ship.

Karve "In Stock" = We have the raw materials here and will make it when we aren't at the drawing board coming up with our next big NON-Release........

Post #1,561 ten pages back.

1 single success post. Read the other 168 pages and 1600+ posts

Karve "In Stock" = We have the raw materials here and will make it when we aren't at the drawing board coming up with our next big NON-Release........

Post #1,561 ten pages back.

1 single success post. Read the other 168 pages and 1600+ posts 

I have waited four months for a Karve, another three months, and have had two other Karve's delivered by DHL overnight next day included. I have been through it as much as anybody. The interest free loans and long wait are easy for me.

The guy Jack is irrelevant. I just call or email Chris Kirchen directly at his Karve Machine shop and have always been taken care of...eventually. He makes the finest DE razor available and is a one man shop. 

Blackland's Blackbird is great but I experienced too much blade chatter in that particular construction. Those are not made in house. Chris designed and makes the razors as a one man unit and he nailed it. Perfect design and construction with no blade chatter. Wolfman is beautiful but the design is off in my use.

vtmax how is the new aluminum razor? If you could only get one plate in titanium, which would you get?

After reading through this thread you’ve been a supporter throughout while others have turned.

vtmax how is the new aluminum razor? If you could only get one plate in titanium, which would you get?

After reading through this thread you’ve been a supporter throughout while others have turned.

Love the Aluminum. I use B, C & D. Higher than D is unnecessary...only needed for blade feel. Looking forward to Titanium. Probably the C plate.

Thanks to Wolverine for posting the youtube link. I listened to some, fast forwarded through much of it. 

The relevant parts for me began at around 10 minutes, and ran on until 26 minutes or so. At that point they asked the young lady about her soap making, and it seemed that took up all but the last 5 minutes. 

I think it was at 12 minutes that Jack (is that his name) brought up customer service. Nothing that I heard about dissatisfied customers and how to address the problem. 

At some point Chris Kitchen mentioned that they began thinking razor making would be 15% of their output, and machinist jobs 85%.

Now it is the other way around. That was revealing to me, because it is obvious that the guy doesn't want to turn down jobs that come in, and it will cut into the razor making.

He didn't say that, but I imagine that to be an issue. 

Bead blasting, and finishing, difficulty in getting reliable and skilled help are also issues. If I understood correctly Chris is working alone some, or much of the time, in terms of the machinist end of the process. 

Anyway ... time will tell whether Karve will survive or go under.

This explains so much.  A contractor never knows when his next job will come in, so he never wants to turn down work.  I can sympathize.  Keeping all of those balls in the air isn't easy.  My advise to him would be to come clean with the razor customers and explain that his deliveries will be erratic. Then let the customers decide whether they want to go forward.  We are all a patient bunch,  but nobody wants promises that can't be kept.

We are all a patient bunch...

LOL, I almost spit out my coffee when I read that. Some of are are, but if you've read any of this thread, you would come to quite a different conclusion.

Thanks to Wolverine for posting the youtube link. I listened to some, fast forwarded through much of it. 

The relevant parts for me began at around 10 minutes, and ran on until 26 minutes or so. At that point they asked the young lady about her soap making, and it seemed that took up all but the last 5 minutes. 

I think it was at 12 minutes that Jack (is that his name) brought up customer service. Nothing that I heard about dissatisfied customers and how to address the problem. 

At some point Chris Kitchen mentioned that they began thinking razor making would be 15% of their output, and machinist jobs 85%.

Now it is the other way around. That was revealing to me, because it is obvious that the guy doesn't want to turn down jobs that come in, and it will cut into the razor making.

He didn't say that, but I imagine that to be an issue. 

Bead blasting, and finishing, difficulty in getting reliable and skilled help are also issues. If I understood correctly Chris is working alone some, or much of the time, in terms of the machinist end of the process. 

Anyway ... time will tell whether Karve will survive or go under.

This explains so much.  A contractor never knows when his next job will come in, so he never wants to turn down work.  I can sympathize.  Keeping all of those balls in the air isn't easy.  My advise to him would be to come clean with the razor customers and explain that his deliveries will be erratic. Then let the customers decide whether they want to go forward.  We are all a patient bunch,  but nobody wants promises that can't be kept.

I'm 71 years old and have seen a lot of the best laid schemes o' mice an' men often go askew.

A guy that was a mentor to me in the world of tobacco pipe collecting 35 years ago, at 77 years old was killed in a head on collision on a mountain road in WVA.

Just day before yesterday my boss where I worked for 15 years got T-boned and is in the hospital with broken ribs and a punctured lung.

In the past 2 months, since the first death was reported on Feb 29 more people in the USA alone have died of the Covid 19 virus than we lost KIA in all the years of the Viet Nam War. 

Stuff happens. I don't want to put all my eggs in Chris Kitchen's basket. I was uncomfortable with my $$ for the polished SS sit in his account for a couple of months, and no light at the end of the tunnel. I won't do that again.

I know chances of Chris getting run over by a truck are slim, or becoming infected with the Wuhan virus ... but less dramatic ... look at Brian Twilly of Charcoal Goods. Moving to another state in September and doesn't know if he will be manufacturing razors himself, or jobbing it out to a machinist.

Just because something is the way it is now, and has been for an extended period, doesn't mean things won't change.