Z-2
Shave Master
Posts: 136
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Post by Z-2 on Oct 27, 2017 23:51:10 GMT -6
As engineer, I am interested not only for shaving, but also with construction of tools, which I use. I love TTO action of my Micromatic, the first even TTO, but I have to share 2 major problems on building of our GEMs. I am not talking about well used and just ugly razors, with a lot of brass showing here and there. I am talking about functionality. Pictures are not mine, I borrowed them from internet, just for example. Later I may put my own. 1. Blade stops OK, there are many Micromatics after carefully inspection, which have very thin stops, because their preview owner treated them careless. Or maybe because of melt structure of brass, they are prone to wear off easily. I have few of them even without stops as picture above. I am sure, they still can hold the blade, because of the bump (pin) on center on baseplate, just maybe little more aggressive and you should pay your attention. Never tried by myself. I have also few, which have almost worn off stops, so, soon, they will looks like the same. 2. Cap worn I have one of these, which has completely worn off this part on the end of cap, shown on picture. My english is not very good to explain better, but there is little tooth, about 1-2 mm, who hold the cap when tight the razor to blade. On my razor this one is completely missing, so, when I tight it with a blade, the cap flip up and down, and respectively, blade is no secured. I think the only chance for repair is donor cap. Of course, there is another problem, with the knob, when it`s not centered in one axe with handle. Then with opening-closing, one side of the knob become brass line, but this isn`t made the razor unusable at all. Thanks for your attention
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Post by wchnu on Oct 27, 2017 23:56:00 GMT -6
I will have to check mine and see if they are worn like this.
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Post by Petrvs on Oct 28, 2017 2:33:35 GMT -6
Well I have 2 MMCP and one MMOC but, apart from some serious brassing, I have never experienced the problems you mention...besides, either these MM of yours had been originally flawed by manufacturing errors or they should have been treated very very bad...normally they are very tough razors, there should also be a video here on TOBS of a strange experiment one of us made (can't remember exactly who....and no, it wasn't Possum ), which involved running over a MM with a car and then put it back together.....and it still worked perfectly!!!
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Post by wchnu on Oct 28, 2017 2:36:31 GMT -6
Well I have 2 MMCP and one MMOC but, apart from some serious brassing, I have never experienced the problems you mention...besides, either these MM of yours had been originally flawed by manufacturing errors or they should have been treated very very bad...normally they are very tough razors, there should also be a video here on TOBS of a strange experiment one of us made (can't remember exactly who....and no, it wasn't Possum ), which involved running over a MM with a car and then put it back together.....and it still worked perfectly!!! Possum would not have put back together.
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Post by Petrvs on Oct 28, 2017 2:40:08 GMT -6
Yeah, he probably would have buried it...that darn Micro-junk-o-matic!
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Oct 28, 2017 15:14:28 GMT -6
The one without stops can (maybe) be turned into a SEvette*. That's basically a Rolls Razor (straight razor on a stick) that is extra sharp. It's a great shave if you're ready for it. There is discussion of it on the forum.
*I don't know if the other worn part will prevent that use and and at this time I don't have time to check.
But if you want a good OCMM why not ask on the "for sale" section. They're readily available here in the USA. Maybe someone will buy one for you on your approval and ship it to you if the primary seller won't.
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Post by Alan on Oct 28, 2017 15:29:41 GMT -6
Hi Z-2, sorry to hear you are having problems with your Clog Prufs. The MICROMATIC and MICROMATIC Clog Pruf are my favorite razors, barring none. Over the years I’ve easily had 25 of each. I have only seen 2 Clog Prufs with the blade stops worn or damaged. There was no doubt that they had been abused. One was terribly scratched and dinged and one of the stops appeared to be flattened. It looked like it had been stored in a drawer with other metal items for years and got banged around every time someone opened the drawer or threw in a heavy tool. The other looked like the stops had been intentionally ground off. Why, I don’t know; maybe to fit some other type of blade. I have, however, seen many head caps on both MICROMATICs and Clog Prufs that are worn in the spot you indicated. Take the razor and open the head cap. Now close the head cap by pushing it gently down with your finger. Because you are using your finger and not the TTO mechanism the cap is closed, but not fully forward. Now look at the back of the head where it makes contact with the tab. You will notice that the lip of the head is raised a little where it makes contact with the tab. With time this raised spot gets worn down or flared over. I have never seen one so bad it kept the razor from closing but I suppose it could happen if the razor was heavily used, like every day for 75 years. I think it happens because the head cap is brass and the little tab might be a harder metal (don’t know, just guessing). When I’m looking at a MICROMATIC to buy, this is the first thing I check. It’s a good indicator to me as to how many times the razor has been opened and closed. Most head cap damage I’ve observed has been from people not realizing it is a TTO, they try to pry the head open by hand. I’ve seen this happen numerous times at Flea Markets where neither the buyer nor the seller knew what they were doing. Anyway I suppose you could replace the cap but remember there is a spring to contend with. Well, good luck and remember that if any of them are non-repairable its your civic duty to give them a decent burial. Don’t get fooled by that place over here in the states that offers free MICROMATIC funerals. He’ll melt them down for fishing weights.
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Z-2
Shave Master
Posts: 136
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Post by Z-2 on Oct 29, 2017 0:17:17 GMT -6
Maybe because I get my razor from shaving forums or ebay, it`s hard to check the lip on the cap Anyway, I hope to have better luck next time
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Post by Petrvs on Oct 29, 2017 2:06:20 GMT -6
Yeah, I know...being in Italy I'm in the same situation as you. Especially for certain razors it's only Ebay or Forums B/S/T. That is why, especially on ebay, I buy from sellers I don't know only if the price is very cheap, not because I deem them to be dishonest, but because very often they do not know what are they selling and how to check if everything is in proper working order. If I'm not feeling like gambling, I buy from trusted sellers which I've been buying from over the years: maybe the price is higher, but you know that what you see in the pictures and, especially, what you read in the description is what you are getting, as the razor has been carefully cleaned and inspected.
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Z-2
Shave Master
Posts: 136
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Post by Z-2 on Dec 1, 2017 4:45:50 GMT -6
Hello, I just saw accidentally that there is a Micromatic on ebay with same problem. Be careful !
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Post by wchnu on Dec 2, 2017 1:14:45 GMT -6
Hello, I just saw accidentally that there is a Micromatic on ebay with same problem. Be careful ! Thanks for the heads up.
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