Thread: Mehaz razor

A few weeks ago I purchased from a barber supply a Mehaz razor, yes I know a what. It has on the shank "Mehaz International" It is made in Solingen, Germany. I then purchased a new TI and comparing the two is like comparing a Rolls Royce to a Ford Pinto. Anyway when I tried to shave with the Mehaz it would not shave very well even after stropping. I looked at the edge thru a 100x/150x microscope and the very edge (fin maybe) seemed to be somewhat irregular. In comparison to the TI the TI's edge was very straight and all of the edge was a steel silver in color. Oh! the very edge (fin) of the Mehaz had somewhat of a bronze color whereas the rest of the edge was a silver color. I honed the Mehaz using the aggressive honing ratio that you guys put out a few days ago with my Norton 4000/8000 hone. I shaved with it and it was actually better but nothing near to the TI. The edge still showed those minute irregularities and that bronze color on the very edge. So I honed it again using the same method except I used the 1000 and the 4000 grit Norton on it and then did the same thing again with the 4000/8000 Norton. After each honing I stropped it with an Illinois 361 only on the leather side. After the honing I looked at the edge again thru the microscope and again the edge had those very minute irregularities with the slight bronze color whereas the TI's edge is really straight.
What gives here am I doing something wrong or is the edge flaking off? I noticed that someone on this forum sent a razor to Lynn and he said that he could not keen it because of the edge flaking off.

Bill Watkins

Do you have a URL for us to look at?

No I don't have a url. I don't have any pics of this blade. My microscope is not set up to take pics. I suppose I could try and put the lens real close and try a pic. The pics on the thread "got microscope-where do I go now" were awesome. I know my description is somewhat desirable. If you have any specific questions to ask feel free to ask.
Here is a url with pics of the razor: http://www.adiscountbeauty.com/page463.html

Bill Watkins

Boy thats an odd pick, Randy do you suspect Pakistani steel? It has that look...

Thanks for the URL. The pics show a blade with a reinforcing rib. That is not commonly used in Paki razors. The second good sign is that the blade is "stamped" on the shank(tang). Paki's are not, usually. Third is that the word "Solingen" is on the handle. If the back of the shank is stamped with Solingen then this would be an excellent indicator of a good quality razor. The face of the blade has the word "Solingen" etched on it, not the dreaded "Rockwell Solingen".

Let us know if the back of the shank is stamped with anything.

The bronze color on the edge of the blade may be rust. If the razor was sitting at the distributors for a number of years then the edge could have oxidized. That edge would have to be removed by honing with a 1000 grit hone and a new bevel established.

I just read your post again.

Go back to the 1000 hone and stay on it until the bronze is gone and the edge has a uniform bevel and evenness of the edge. The move up to the 4000/8000 stone using the aggressive 4000/8000 sequence using the thumb and thumbnail tests to check your progress. Repeat the sequence as necessary and modify it as you get closer.

Hope this helps,

OK, the blade that is on my razor is not the one that is etched, it is the plain one. Solingen is stamped on the scales just like the pic in the url shows. The shank says Mehaz International just as the pic in the url shows. Solingen is not displayed anywhere else on the razor.

Bill Watkins

Another unusual thing is that the model number of mine is alledegly MCR0058. This is the one with the etched blade and the tortoise scales. Mine has the plain blade with the tortoise scales kind of a hybrid I quess. I paid $48 for it not the $67 as in the url.

Bill Watkins

Thanks Randy I appreciate the help that you and all have given me. BTW I have a Shapton 12000 coming, maybe this week. I will do as you mentioned and keep you informed. Maybe this razor was meant to be a learning device instead of a shaving device. But whatever it is I will whip or strop it whichever comes first and shave with it.

Bill Watkins