Shave review of Janus Adjustable razor and Shave Off vs Gillette F4 Toggle

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Welcome to the October 2019 Newsletter
In the October Newsletter – a production update and a progress check against the project schedule.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Production Update

All the blanks have been produced and they meet print. The surface finish is on point which means that these parts will polish well without much elbow grease. Not only are these parts the hardest to produce, but also the most time consuming. These parts are normally produced using tools – Stamping, Metal Injection Molding, Casting or Press & Sinter.

What’s next for these parts? The milling machine to take these parts to the final form for use in the final assembly.[/font][/font]
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[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/u4dZxk6Sq0Sy9ORksDzEcv1zfJShTbNZwf8zcMisP4KRv2mWBUsOphhIr2zOQD6PGNaDBrpDNIdlADpzK_cq673qocs-6-D3jkMqJAPtLOWI5k28UY9XrvC2UfZ4zOFJqJQj92HiQVxnDinuYzCx1rWe6tZftkaNUiw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/9ec3bb99-7d1e-4db1-8f22-76a89d11926e.jpg[/img][/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]The packaging and handbook artwork updates are done.
 
All that is left is me giving the green light to produce. I will wait until I’m just a few weeks out from shipping before I give the green light to just in case something changes and I need to update the artwork one more time.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Project Schedule

How are we tracking against the schedule?
 
The project is still running ~3 weeks behind schedule. In the September update, the project was running ~3 weeks behind schedule – so, unfortunately, we didn’t pick up any time against the schedule in October.

The parts for the spider, the part that the blade loads onto, are taking a little longer than anticipated because we slowed things down to get a good surface finish.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/mWYrvGiGK-kehKssJCqhDCbhbZJ79BW0QWtkERIb3lcHOuEjwrT2lzpeKeW4Hi38VhgKBte-xeUKoyFq87sjBlgy5jntfs5XEwBlp_C_uuv5c3gEyKBcb7SKxAvExNODqI3SWrwO8IGJKZtPRa-eEr4BxMndfNzoKEI=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ef207c82-2ad1-4f5a-8d2d-733e5f6fb8ce.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Finishing the door blanks as the last part in the entire assembly is a new tweak to the work breakdown in the schedule.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/5zZKEt5LMC9tvaGcsJWIiwsjEMd2mkcK_XiE3zFlB3kZL0DeZhpuSCXeZPnsRtMsFcS-JXwU2wxkywj__SdZQ54cT-TZSpahA1FVszbLeCvSq-nEdRpIAP2cmBZDySl4Dmq_JWAYUBeb7E0iABjR-PB58VFyDIDI8JU=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ba1aeb89-f242-4412-b7b0-46a858a2291b.png[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]This tweak de-risks the project by following the same path for aspects that worked great in the prototyping phase. The milling set-up includes sneaking up on some dimensions to get firm blade clamping. This can only be confirmed using a 'full' assembly.

This will be an exact repeat of a trick that worked during the prototyping phase.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/GVOL--6WnpN0AttCGSM50aFFxn6JyPGN4bnHodKbSR4-VGZV-hw80byxV6eqfX6iYtY6QX27td5Agb1pWJA5yT-7r_XFF7yAegxGgyjU4GgKEI0hZVSEwy8ijQyXlbmyw5C31Qp7Rc6BXEbC9tQY5XD_LOHsLyHKeSE=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/3487596d-19cd-40b3-bed9-61febfd3415e.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]We will take another good stab at trying to claw back some time in November. Speed, within reason, is secondary to producing good parts.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]As always, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions. Feel free to share. Thanks for subscribing
 
Cheers!
Janus Razors.[/font][/font]

Thanks for the detailed update Eric it is much appreciated my friend!

Looking good, Eric!

Very impressed, talk about getting it right!

l wasn't a fan of the red, particularly on the toggle knob itself.  I can't remember all the details right now and haven't seen the pics in a while, but if I recall correctly, I also didn't care for the changes on the dial.  

I'm hoping to pick up one of regular production models when they come out, though.  My wife says I can buy one provided that I pay for it with funds obtained by selling other things that I have acquired/collected over the years (in addition to razors, I also collected fountain pens for a long time).  I have several fairly valuable fountain pens, so I am hoping it will be pretty simple to acquire the funds needed.

You can always get a second mortgage

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Welcome to the October 2019 Newsletter
In the October Newsletter – a production update and a progress check against the project schedule.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Production Update

All the blanks have been produced and they meet print. The surface finish is on point which means that these parts will polish well without much elbow grease. Not only are these parts the hardest to produce, but also the most time consuming. These parts are normally produced using tools – Stamping, Metal Injection Molding, Casting or Press & Sinter.

What’s next for these parts? The milling machine to take these parts to the final form for use in the final assembly.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/fcovvimNkdmaEglF9FbJRa4QP-uXCkS9Vb7y_wK0uJYt1KLCSKoWKzNARhv6mJUS6TzM3W00ZfNaLhY02zv16wmFz2oOPCN0bfnBeuv_idO4LB-9EEKOxaTtyaWXonGxfdkRPeGZ5CoOOZt3wGlz6UeR6IEBFQLf1zQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/81ffc8d7-0ab8-403d-8f6c-a57f9ab787d7.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
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[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]The packaging and handbook artwork updates are done.
 
All that is left is me giving the green light to produce. I will wait until I’m just a few weeks out from shipping before I give the green light to just in case something changes and I need to update the artwork one more time.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Project Schedule

How are we tracking against the schedule?
 
The project is still running ~3 weeks behind schedule. In the September update, the project was running ~3 weeks behind schedule – so, unfortunately, we didn’t pick up any time against the schedule in October.

The parts for the spider, the part that the blade loads onto, are taking a little longer than anticipated because we slowed things down to get a good surface finish.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/mWYrvGiGK-kehKssJCqhDCbhbZJ79BW0QWtkERIb3lcHOuEjwrT2lzpeKeW4Hi38VhgKBte-xeUKoyFq87sjBlgy5jntfs5XEwBlp_C_uuv5c3gEyKBcb7SKxAvExNODqI3SWrwO8IGJKZtPRa-eEr4BxMndfNzoKEI=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ef207c82-2ad1-4f5a-8d2d-733e5f6fb8ce.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Finishing the door blanks as the last part in the entire assembly is a new tweak to the work breakdown in the schedule.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/5zZKEt5LMC9tvaGcsJWIiwsjEMd2mkcK_XiE3zFlB3kZL0DeZhpuSCXeZPnsRtMsFcS-JXwU2wxkywj__SdZQ54cT-TZSpahA1FVszbLeCvSq-nEdRpIAP2cmBZDySl4Dmq_JWAYUBeb7E0iABjR-PB58VFyDIDI8JU=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ba1aeb89-f242-4412-b7b0-46a858a2291b.png[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]This tweak de-risks the project by following the same path for aspects that worked great in the prototyping phase. The milling set-up includes sneaking up on some dimensions to get firm blade clamping. This can only be confirmed using a 'full' assembly.

This will be an exact repeat of a trick that worked during the prototyping phase.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/GVOL--6WnpN0AttCGSM50aFFxn6JyPGN4bnHodKbSR4-VGZV-hw80byxV6eqfX6iYtY6QX27td5Agb1pWJA5yT-7r_XFF7yAegxGgyjU4GgKEI0hZVSEwy8ijQyXlbmyw5C31Qp7Rc6BXEbC9tQY5XD_LOHsLyHKeSE=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/3487596d-19cd-40b3-bed9-61febfd3415e.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]We will take another good stab at trying to claw back some time in November. Speed, within reason, is secondary to producing good parts.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]As always, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions. Feel free to share. Thanks for subscribing
 
Cheers!
Janus Razors.[/font][/font]

Quick Update

One of the improvements in the Janus Razor (over the Vintage Toggle) is that the blade loads to a close running fit – the blade has imperceptible play when it is loaded while ensuring removal without snagging. This means both sides of the razor will have the same blade exposure - both sides of the razor will shave the same!

For the close running fit, I optimized for Feather HS, Kai, Gillette SB & P and Astra SP & Astra SS. Trying to optimize fit for more brands is a losing battle. However, the Janus Razor will play nice with the following brands: Polsilver SI, Persona P, Rapira PL, Gillette 7 O’clock, Voskhod, Derby Extra, Shark & Wilkinson Sword. Regardless of the blade brand, the fit in the Janus is far much much better than that of the Toggle.

l wasn't a fan of the red, particularly on the toggle knob itself.  I can't remember all the details right now and haven't seen the pics in a while, but if I recall correctly, I also didn't care for the changes on the dial.  

I'm hoping to pick up one of regular production models when they come out, though.  My wife says I can buy one provided that I pay for it with funds obtained by selling other things that I have acquired/collected over the years (in addition to razors, I also collected fountain pens for a long time).  I have several fairly valuable fountain pens, so I am hoping it will be pretty simple to acquire the funds needed.

You can always get a second mortgage

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

So...today I completed my vintage Toggle set-up.  Back to front: 1960 F4 Chrome (in original nickle) Toggle by Razorplate, 1958 D1 Standard Toggle in 24kt by Razorplate, 1960 F4 Standard Toggle in White Rhodium by Razor Emporium .

The Razor Emporium rhodium came today. It is very well done.  The kurling is crisp and the rhodium is very nice.  I'm looking forward to taking it for a drive.  It's been a while since I've used a Toggle.  That needs some correcting.

The trio awaits the addition of the Janus Razors razor.  I can't wait to get them all lined up.

So...Eric, a couple of questions.

Will the mirror finish be on the "visible" (when closed) surfaces only...or will it extend to all surfaces (underside of doors, blade tray, etc.)?

Any idea on packaging?  You may have covered it earlier in the thread. Just curious if there are any updates?  I'm hoping it will come with a premium case...or at least offer it as an option.

Wow...those Toggles look incredible!!!

The individual parts will be polished in batches before assembly i.e. the doors will get polished together, the safety bars together etc. Polishing sub-assemblies won't do because the polishing media won't get to the nooks and crannies. 

I'm all set on packaging but haven't cut anything just in case there's a last minute update to the artwork required. Additionally, for cutting the insert, the shop needs a full assembly to dial in how the razor stays put and how easily it pulls out. An unpolished razor will do for this set-up. I'm actually using a Mn shop (a different shop than one I used for the prototypes). As far as the packaging goes, it is much better than the Kraft box I used for the prototypes but not as premium as the Rex Ambassador case.

Regarding the blade fit. My go-to Nacet isn’t on your list. Does that indicate that it may have the tiniest bit of play prior to clamping, that may fractionally affect alignment?
Thanks
Dan

l wasn't a fan of the red, particularly on the toggle knob itself.  I can't remember all the details right now and haven't seen the pics in a while, but if I recall correctly, I also didn't care for the changes on the dial.  

I'm hoping to pick up one of regular production models when they come out, though.  My wife says I can buy one provided that I pay for it with funds obtained by selling other things that I have acquired/collected over the years (in addition to razors, I also collected fountain pens for a long time).  I have several fairly valuable fountain pens, so I am hoping it will be pretty simple to acquire the funds needed.

You can always get a second mortgage

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

Regarding the blade fit. My go-to Nacet isn’t on your list. Does that indicate that it may have the tiniest bit of play prior to clamping, that may fractionally affect alignment?
Thanks
Dan

DanG, a blade brand being on the list means that it loads and is removable without snagging while still maintaining a close fit. This is a list I plan to keep on updating by checking fit with the brands that are very popular with Forum shavers. For the brands with a looser fit than the ones ( Feather HS, Kai, Gillette SB & P and Astra SP & Astra SS) I used to dial in the bridge thickness, the sides of the razor could behave like they are a setting apart (e.g. Right is on setting 4, while left is on setting 5). Heck, even for the ones I dialed in with, acceptable batch to batch variation of the same brand might make the razor sides behave like they are a setting apart. What I want to emphasis is that the side to side shift in the Janus is so so tiny compared to that of the Vintage Toggle.    

l wasn't a fan of the red, particularly on the toggle knob itself.  I can't remember all the details right now and haven't seen the pics in a while, but if I recall correctly, I also didn't care for the changes on the dial.  

I'm hoping to pick up one of regular production models when they come out, though.  My wife says I can buy one provided that I pay for it with funds obtained by selling other things that I have acquired/collected over the years (in addition to razors, I also collected fountain pens for a long time).  I have several fairly valuable fountain pens, so I am hoping it will be pretty simple to acquire the funds needed.

You can always get a second mortgage

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

You can always get a second mortgage

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Welcome to the October 2019 Newsletter
In the October Newsletter – a production update and a progress check against the project schedule.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Production Update

All the blanks have been produced and they meet print. The surface finish is on point which means that these parts will polish well without much elbow grease. Not only are these parts the hardest to produce, but also the most time consuming. These parts are normally produced using tools – Stamping, Metal Injection Molding, Casting or Press & Sinter.

What’s next for these parts? The milling machine to take these parts to the final form for use in the final assembly.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/fcovvimNkdmaEglF9FbJRa4QP-uXCkS9Vb7y_wK0uJYt1KLCSKoWKzNARhv6mJUS6TzM3W00ZfNaLhY02zv16wmFz2oOPCN0bfnBeuv_idO4LB-9EEKOxaTtyaWXonGxfdkRPeGZ5CoOOZt3wGlz6UeR6IEBFQLf1zQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/81ffc8d7-0ab8-403d-8f6c-a57f9ab787d7.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
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[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]The packaging and handbook artwork updates are done.
 
All that is left is me giving the green light to produce. I will wait until I’m just a few weeks out from shipping before I give the green light to just in case something changes and I need to update the artwork one more time.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Project Schedule

How are we tracking against the schedule?
 
The project is still running ~3 weeks behind schedule. In the September update, the project was running ~3 weeks behind schedule – so, unfortunately, we didn’t pick up any time against the schedule in October.

The parts for the spider, the part that the blade loads onto, are taking a little longer than anticipated because we slowed things down to get a good surface finish.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/mWYrvGiGK-kehKssJCqhDCbhbZJ79BW0QWtkERIb3lcHOuEjwrT2lzpeKeW4Hi38VhgKBte-xeUKoyFq87sjBlgy5jntfs5XEwBlp_C_uuv5c3gEyKBcb7SKxAvExNODqI3SWrwO8IGJKZtPRa-eEr4BxMndfNzoKEI=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ef207c82-2ad1-4f5a-8d2d-733e5f6fb8ce.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Finishing the door blanks as the last part in the entire assembly is a new tweak to the work breakdown in the schedule.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/5zZKEt5LMC9tvaGcsJWIiwsjEMd2mkcK_XiE3zFlB3kZL0DeZhpuSCXeZPnsRtMsFcS-JXwU2wxkywj__SdZQ54cT-TZSpahA1FVszbLeCvSq-nEdRpIAP2cmBZDySl4Dmq_JWAYUBeb7E0iABjR-PB58VFyDIDI8JU=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ba1aeb89-f242-4412-b7b0-46a858a2291b.png[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]This tweak de-risks the project by following the same path for aspects that worked great in the prototyping phase. The milling set-up includes sneaking up on some dimensions to get firm blade clamping. This can only be confirmed using a 'full' assembly.

This will be an exact repeat of a trick that worked during the prototyping phase.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/GVOL--6WnpN0AttCGSM50aFFxn6JyPGN4bnHodKbSR4-VGZV-hw80byxV6eqfX6iYtY6QX27td5Agb1pWJA5yT-7r_XFF7yAegxGgyjU4GgKEI0hZVSEwy8ijQyXlbmyw5C31Qp7Rc6BXEbC9tQY5XD_LOHsLyHKeSE=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/3487596d-19cd-40b3-bed9-61febfd3415e.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]We will take another good stab at trying to claw back some time in November. Speed, within reason, is secondary to producing good parts.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]As always, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions. Feel free to share. Thanks for subscribing
 
Cheers!
Janus Razors.[/font][/font]

Quick Update

 One of the improvements in the Janus Razor (over the Vintage Toggle) is that the blade loads to a close running fit – the blade has imperceptible play when it is loaded while ensuring removal without snagging. This means both sides of the razor will have the same blade exposure - both sides of the razor will shave the same!

For the close running fit, I optimized for Feather HS, Kai, Gillette SB & P and Astra SP & Astra SS. Trying to optimize fit for more brands is a losing battle. However, the Janus Razor will play nice with the following brands: Polsilver SI, Persona P, Rapira PL, Gillette 7 O’clock, Voskhod, Derby Extra, Shark & Wilkinson Sword. Regardless of the blade brand, the fit in the Janus is far much much better than that of the Toggle.

Update

For those in the US, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Production of the Janus LE is chugging along. Except for the doors, the milling portion of the project is done. Now onto the Swiss to make the 'cylindrical' parts. Here is a sampling... 





The project is still tracking 3 weeks behind the timeline I communicated just before I started taking pre-orders. I think everyone who pre-ordered has Jan 16th/17th locked as a reference point to gage against every month rather than tracking new dates. I'm pushing without souring the awesome camaraderie I have with the shops. They have been very accommodating to my OCD, they get the nuances & they are passionate about the project which is key for me. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

l wasn't a fan of the red, particularly on the toggle knob itself.  I can't remember all the details right now and haven't seen the pics in a while, but if I recall correctly, I also didn't care for the changes on the dial.  

I'm hoping to pick up one of regular production models when they come out, though.  My wife says I can buy one provided that I pay for it with funds obtained by selling other things that I have acquired/collected over the years (in addition to razors, I also collected fountain pens for a long time).  I have several fairly valuable fountain pens, so I am hoping it will be pretty simple to acquire the funds needed.

You can always get a second mortgage

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

You can always get a second mortgage

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

Seems somebody hasn't investigated the secondary fountain pen market lately.......

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Welcome to the October 2019 Newsletter
In the October Newsletter – a production update and a progress check against the project schedule.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Production Update

All the blanks have been produced and they meet print. The surface finish is on point which means that these parts will polish well without much elbow grease. Not only are these parts the hardest to produce, but also the most time consuming. These parts are normally produced using tools – Stamping, Metal Injection Molding, Casting or Press & Sinter.

What’s next for these parts? The milling machine to take these parts to the final form for use in the final assembly.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/fcovvimNkdmaEglF9FbJRa4QP-uXCkS9Vb7y_wK0uJYt1KLCSKoWKzNARhv6mJUS6TzM3W00ZfNaLhY02zv16wmFz2oOPCN0bfnBeuv_idO4LB-9EEKOxaTtyaWXonGxfdkRPeGZ5CoOOZt3wGlz6UeR6IEBFQLf1zQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/81ffc8d7-0ab8-403d-8f6c-a57f9ab787d7.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/ZTV4iE5cAaI_YrrzHcOqPmC7eubKziZWJWbwv87cU5zuxkRW63v7XXvGfB_ao0a4gig61aFeusL6jnroTmiCYpWfUYi3hWBW3xRHZgZhHZhtwgKhsf5lZrhD3UESET5pYcShKcbIxvnJoJhB7atQ6gZT-LmlXZ7vbws=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/d566433f-3edd-4205-a5e1-9843005f0f4b.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/u4dZxk6Sq0Sy9ORksDzEcv1zfJShTbNZwf8zcMisP4KRv2mWBUsOphhIr2zOQD6PGNaDBrpDNIdlADpzK_cq673qocs-6-D3jkMqJAPtLOWI5k28UY9XrvC2UfZ4zOFJqJQj92HiQVxnDinuYzCx1rWe6tZftkaNUiw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/9ec3bb99-7d1e-4db1-8f22-76a89d11926e.jpg[/img][/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]The packaging and handbook artwork updates are done.
 
All that is left is me giving the green light to produce. I will wait until I’m just a few weeks out from shipping before I give the green light to just in case something changes and I need to update the artwork one more time.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Project Schedule

How are we tracking against the schedule?
 
The project is still running ~3 weeks behind schedule. In the September update, the project was running ~3 weeks behind schedule – so, unfortunately, we didn’t pick up any time against the schedule in October.

The parts for the spider, the part that the blade loads onto, are taking a little longer than anticipated because we slowed things down to get a good surface finish.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/mWYrvGiGK-kehKssJCqhDCbhbZJ79BW0QWtkERIb3lcHOuEjwrT2lzpeKeW4Hi38VhgKBte-xeUKoyFq87sjBlgy5jntfs5XEwBlp_C_uuv5c3gEyKBcb7SKxAvExNODqI3SWrwO8IGJKZtPRa-eEr4BxMndfNzoKEI=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ef207c82-2ad1-4f5a-8d2d-733e5f6fb8ce.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]Finishing the door blanks as the last part in the entire assembly is a new tweak to the work breakdown in the schedule.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/5zZKEt5LMC9tvaGcsJWIiwsjEMd2mkcK_XiE3zFlB3kZL0DeZhpuSCXeZPnsRtMsFcS-JXwU2wxkywj__SdZQ54cT-TZSpahA1FVszbLeCvSq-nEdRpIAP2cmBZDySl4Dmq_JWAYUBeb7E0iABjR-PB58VFyDIDI8JU=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/ba1aeb89-f242-4412-b7b0-46a858a2291b.png[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]This tweak de-risks the project by following the same path for aspects that worked great in the prototyping phase. The milling set-up includes sneaking up on some dimensions to get firm blade clamping. This can only be confirmed using a 'full' assembly.

This will be an exact repeat of a trick that worked during the prototyping phase.[/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][img=564x0]https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/GVOL--6WnpN0AttCGSM50aFFxn6JyPGN4bnHodKbSR4-VGZV-hw80byxV6eqfX6iYtY6QX27td5Agb1pWJA5yT-7r_XFF7yAegxGgyjU4GgKEI0hZVSEwy8ijQyXlbmyw5C31Qp7Rc6BXEbC9tQY5XD_LOHsLyHKeSE=s0-d-e1-ft#https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e2b82b11c3814238c76ac0f31/images/3487596d-19cd-40b3-bed9-61febfd3415e.jpg[/img][/font][/font]
[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]We will take another good stab at trying to claw back some time in November. Speed, within reason, is secondary to producing good parts.[/font][/font]

[font=Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][font=Helvetica]As always, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions. Feel free to share. Thanks for subscribing
 
Cheers!
Janus Razors.[/font][/font]

Quick Update

 One of the improvements in the Janus Razor (over the Vintage Toggle) is that the blade loads to a close running fit – the blade has imperceptible play when it is loaded while ensuring removal without snagging. This means both sides of the razor will have the same blade exposure - both sides of the razor will shave the same!

For the close running fit, I optimized for Feather HS, Kai, Gillette SB & P and Astra SP & Astra SS. Trying to optimize fit for more brands is a losing battle. However, the Janus Razor will play nice with the following brands: Polsilver SI, Persona P, Rapira PL, Gillette 7 O’clock, Voskhod, Derby Extra, Shark & Wilkinson Sword. Regardless of the blade brand, the fit in the Janus is far much much better than that of the Toggle.

Update

For those in the US, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Production of the Janus LE is chugging along. Except for the doors, the milling portion of the project is done. Now onto the Swiss to make the 'cylindrical' parts. Here is a sampling... 





The project is still tracking 3 weeks behind the timeline I communicated just before I started taking pre-orders. I think everyone who pre-ordered has Jan 16th/17th locked as a reference point to gage against every month rather than tracking new dates. I'm pushing without souring the awesome camaraderie I have with the shops. They have been very accommodating to my OCD, they get the nuances & they are passionate about the project which is key for me. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

December Update

Gents here is the latest.

There are 8 ½ PNs (out of 21 in the design) not yet machined. The ½ is from the doors’ milling op. From the Swiss list, 8/16 PNs are complete. We are staying true to the machining order list. The 9th PN is being set-up now; should be done by end week. Here is what I can show.
  

What is machined but I’m not showing? The miniature dial detent (very different execution from Vintage Toggle), the part between the handle/barrel and the dial knob (it will give away how machined dial detent is housed & functions) and a miniature flange that retains the dial knob in place.

I pulled the trigger on ½ of the packaging stuff (box & handbook) because
1)[font=Times New Roman]   [/font]I’m past the ½ way mark, and to date, I haven’t had to modify any of the CAD models and prints
2)[font=Times New Roman]   [/font]The shop hasn’t requested any adjustments to dimensions & tolerances
3)[font=Times New Roman]   [/font]The most complex parts (‘doors’, plates + spider) are done
4)[font=Times New Roman]   [/font]My daily design checks haven’t picked up any tweaks/issues

Unlike the kraft boxes for the prototypes, the new box is smaller and uses premium stock. As soon as the boxes and booklets come in (~Jan 4th-ish), I will share photos.
  

[font=Helvetica, sans-serif]The foam insert design is complete – just waiting for an unpolished but finished razor assembly before cutting and dialing in fit. I’m using Minnesota shops so there’s no time being lost to shipping stuff back and forth.

[font=Helvetica, sans-serif]Projection Schedule
[/font][/font]
How are we tracking against the schedule?

The project is running 4 weeks behind schedule. Shipping in mid-February.

How did I get to 4 weeks? The project has been running 3 weeks behind schedule à took 3 weeks to get all the LEs sold, and understandably, the shop wanted to wait until all the units were spoken for before cutting metal. We were never able claw back the 3 weeks – some PNs have taken longer to machine + unusually high volume the small shop in the last 3 months.

[font=Helvetica, sans-serif]I checked with all shops for the remaining bits - the machine shop will keep their timeline but the shop handling polishing, passivating & laser marking requested an extra week to their previously quoted total lead time because of how busy they are. So, shipping in mid-February.[/font]

[font=Helvetica, sans-serif]Here is the work breakdown structure that I'm working from.[/font]

[font=Helvetica, sans-serif][/font]

As always, do not hesitate to email me if you have any questions. I will be logging on this week & next here and there to chat back & forth and answer any questions. Odds are high I will have one more update before the end of the month.

[font=Helvetica, sans-serif][font=Helvetica, sans-serif][font=Helvetica, sans-serif]Finally, I wanna wish everyone here a Very Merry Christmas!!! Still can't believe 2020 is just around the corner. Time flies![/font][/font][/font]

[font=Helvetica, sans-serif][font=Helvetica, sans-serif][font=Helvetica, sans-serif]Cheers,[/font][/font][/font]
[font=Helvetica, sans-serif][font=Helvetica, sans-serif][font=Helvetica, sans-serif]Eric.[/font][/font][/font]