Thread: New Ikon slant? Any users?

Gents, I have had the original Ikon SS Slant for about six months and the DLC version since it was first released. I think this thread poses a couple of questions that people would be interested in: 1) is the Ikon Slant any better than the Merkur 37c and 2) is the DLC version worth getting if you have the original SS Slant? I can't say enough good things about the Ikon DLC Slant, but I think the answer to both questions is "no", depending on your budget.

As for the question of whether the Ikon Slant is better than the Merkur Slant, I think it is a matter of taste. They both produce exceptional shaves. I prefer the heft of the stainless steel slant. I think that is why the Ikon Slant is my daily shaver. If you have some money to burn, go for it. Otherwise the Merkur is the way to go.

The original Ikon SS Slant had some significant staining issues. I found that blades left stains on the razor and my attempts to remove these stains only contributed more stains. The DLC coating solves this problem. The DLC coating also adds a little more glide to the razor. It is a little hard to explain but the razor glides slightly better with the DLC coating than the SS version.

I have seen on other forums where people complain about the difficulty in seating the DE blade without the sides being exposed for manual manipulation. For a month or two I had the same complaint. I have since come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter. I haven't really noticed a difference in the shave when I deliberately change the orientation of the blade and when I let the razor seat naturally. If you have noticed any of the discussions on the new Razorock Slant you will see that its blade gap is deliberately asymmetric. I suspect the same of the Ikon Slant.

In the interest of full disclosure, the Ikon DLC Slant with a Gillette Silver Blue blade is my daily DE razor. I highly recommend it if you are interested in a razor that will last you for decades to come. I am not sure I can say the same of the Merkur. I have already had one wear out of me. As an aside, I recommend buying the head separately and purchasing a SS bulldog handle from Weber razors. The long handled razor included with the DLC Slant is too long for my taste. As always, YMMV.

I may have generated more questions for you than I answered, but I hope the response was useful nonetheless.

Hope this helps,
Peyton

Originally Posted by Phurls

I have seen on other forums where people complain about the difficulty in seating the DE blade without the sides being exposed for manual manipulation. For a month or two I had the same complaint. I have since come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter. I haven't really noticed a difference in the shave when I deliberately change the orientation of the blade and when I let the razor seat naturally. If you have noticed any of the discussions on the new Razorock Slant you will see that its blade gap is deliberately asymmetric. I suspect the same of the Ikon Slant.

Thanks for the review. FWIW, with my particular 1st gen Ikon slant I haven't had any staining problems. I've only used it with Feather stainless blades, and I immediately disassemble the contraption and rinse everything after the shave. Dunno if that is different than your procedure, but just to say that staining hasn't been an issue.

The blade adjustment/exposure being deliberately asymmetric is something I hadn't thought of. It just seems to me to be somewhat dangerous to leave it cocked, rather than equal exposure, and each blade edge parallel with the edge of the top cap. Of course I've not tried shaving with it in that attitude, but I will give it a shot ........ carefully.

Somebody on another forum posted an email from Merkur that answered the symmetrical vs asymmetrical blade exposure issue. There should be even blade exposure along both sides of the top cap was the answer from Merkur if I read the email correctly. Here is a link http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...he-Blade/page2 and it is post #40.

Bob