Thread: New Merkur 34C should I Laquer it up straight away?

Hi Guys,
I was just looking for some advice please, I got my first DE, a Merkur HD 34C... I see a lot of reviews on AMazon about the chrome peeling off after a year or 2 if you're careful..What are your experiences? I know the laws of physics might be different for SRP users People who take care of Razors but is there any harm is can spraying a bit of Laquer on the top Chrome parts?



I had a small bathroom mirror that had a chrome plated base and stand, and I noticed a few rust/cancer spots starting on it, I sprayed it up and that has stopped the rot for years now.

It might feel a little different on the face, touching a lacquered side instead of metal but that wouldn't bother me.

Thanks

I have had mine for a few years with no issues

Just do it and let us know if it works, or if you use it and the finish comes off send it out to be replated, I just don't know how it would glide on your face after laquer. Or if you already know it will be a problem send it back and get an older one and have it refinished. Tc

Unless the plating process was defective during manufacture you should be OK for quite a number of years. If you drop it and chip the plating on the head I think you would be in trouble because Zamak/pot metal is used in the making of modern Merkur DE heads. Exposed pot metal deteriorates quickly. I don't think any private replating sources will touch a pot metal replating job. Good thing is modern Merkurs are not terribly expensive in the general scheme of things if you do have to replace it.

Bob

THanks guys, I know the Merkur is not all that expensive, and giving it a few shots with a can of laquer is quite cheap too, so if it gaurentees a couple more years of service, I think it's worth it.
I think most of the glide comes from the soap/cream on your face, and a chrome finished metal or slightlt plastic/laquer finish shouldn't make much of a difference, but I could be wrong, so I'll try a good few shaves before laquering it to test..

a little talk here about "rust-proofing chrome plate"
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!to...-y/32lmOdUq6Ic

Very interesting, standard Chrome plate is porous who knew

Finally chrome because it's shiny but is otherwise utterly useless as
a plating material. It's only platable from cyanide solutions (vapour
hazard, whereas most plating baths are only acutely toxic if you drink
them), doesn't stick worth a damn (nickel is a little better as a
substrate, but directly to copper is poor) and plates so slowly and
badly that it has to be done as a really thin layer, so it remains
permeable.

"Hard chrome" (hydraulic rams and machine gun barrels) is a different
process to shiny, polishable, decorative soft chrome. That has its own
problems, but at least it's thick and hard enough to provide a robust
layer.

Sure I'll report back here in 5 years if I've any trouble with the plating, the Amazon reviews mentioned that Merkur didn't want to know about it, if the plating broke down.

I can imagine a careful shaver, who dries off the razor properly would have no need for laquer.

Thanks again

Keep in mind that there are old vintage Gillette DE with the plating completely worn off that still shave well. They were made from brass not pot metal. Anything you can do to preserve the plating on your Merkur and keep the pot metal of the top cap from being exposed will help extend the life of the razor.

Bob

I have had mine for years and I don't do anything but rinse it off after I use it. I use it at least 2 times a week and it is in the same condition as I bought it. It would be a lie if I said I take care of it. I think you will be fine as is, especially if you treat it better than I treat mine. I love straights and take care of them, my Merkur is just a tool to me and it has withstood the abuse.

I have had mine for over 6 years, with 5 years of continuous daily use (until I picked up straights), and have had no issues whatsoever. The thing is a tank. All I do is rinse it well and dry it with a towel.

I used a Futur daily for over a decade with no plating issues.

Chrome plating is far tougher than lacquer, just as car paint is far tougher than a 10 micron thick layer of wax (your choice of which one, because it doesn't matter) but that doesn't stop car owners from "protecting" the paint on their car.

I've had my Merkur for over 10 years with no issues externally, there are a couple of spots under the cap that have blackened, but they are of no consequence in use.

I do have a vintage Futur that has a chip in the chrome plating... it was caused by mechanical means and it has not spread from there.

If it makes you feel better, by all means, give it a spritz of clear coat. I would however say that if it doesn't have an issue in the first year when it's considered under warranty, it won't for a long time to come. If there is an actual flaw in the coating, Merkur has been known to stand behind their products.

Regards

Christian