Merkur Heavy Duty Contemporary

I'm new to the forum, and typically shave with straights, but I got the red Merkur Heavy Duty Contemporary DE recently for traveling. Head is not adjustable, and it seems to me the blade is too tightly clamped.

I'm not very good at using it, and I'd like to show my son, 17, how to use it.

Suggestions? Good videos?

Matt M

Quote:

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Originally Posted by memullins

I'm new to the forum, and typically shave with straights, but I got the red Merkur Heavy Duty Contemporary DE recently for traveling. Head is not adjustable, and it seems to me the blade is too tightly clamped.

I'm not very good at using it, and I'd like to show my son, 17, how to use it.

Suggestions? Good videos?

Matt M

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Hello memullins:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place.

By the Merkur Heavy Duty Contemporary DE do you mean the Merkur 34C? This is a great little razor with a relatively short handle. It is not adjustable.

Also, how tightly are you screwing in the handle into the shave head? You want it tight but not overly tight. On the other hand, you don't want it loose so that the blade wobbles inside the shave head.

There are many U-Tube videos available on double edge shaving. The best is a series by Mantics.

Regards,
Obie

It's not the 34C, but its head it seems is pretty much the same. Perhaps I do have it too tight. I'll check out those vids; gotta be something simple I'm missing.

Thanks Obie.

Matt M

Matt,

++1 on Obie's advice about the Mantic59 YouTube videos. He has a complete series on shaving with DE razors, including making lather. Check them out.

First time I've seen the contemporary, as sold by SRD. Looks to me like a regular HD with a fat handle attachment.

There's not really any way you can have the head/blade too tight; it's supposed to be locked down as far as it'll go, that stops any blade movement. Unlike a cart, it's not supposed to adjust.

I think it's only a matter of practice and familiarity, I doubt there's anything amiss with the razor.

The handle end should be sticking out at about a 45 degree angle from the face. That produces the appropriate tilting angle on the head.

Thanks, all of you. I am sure you're right that it's a familiarity thing. I believe the DE is, as you say, simply a regular HD head on a different handle.

I'll try the 45-degree tip and let you know.

M

Quote:

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Originally Posted by memullins

Thanks, all of you. I am sure you're right that it's a familiarity thing. I believe the DE is, as you say, simply a regular HD head on a different handle.

I'll try the 45-degree tip and let you know.

M

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Some of the replies assumed you expected a pivoting head. Of course that's not the case, the blade head angle has to be set and kept by the user, just as you would with your straight.

Merkur do make a few adjustables, but that's not one of them.

Different razors give different results. You have to find the one best for you.

I used use a 34C and didn't like it. Then I used a Gillette fat boy and thought it was pretty good. Now I use an EJ Barleycorn and think it's fantastic.

The hd is one of my favorite de razors and hard to beat on shave quality and price, hope you get used to it as it will give you fantastic shaves.