Safety razors, that are NOT made of zamak/pot metal/die-cast zinc...?

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by everraser, Aug 25, 2017.

  1. everraser

    everraser New Member

    Most of the available safety razors are made of zamak/pot metal/die-cast zinc and therefore are brittle when exposed to peaks of force.

    Are there safety razors, that are NOT made of zamak/pot metal/die-cast zinc...?

    I would prefer a razor made of something like (stamped?) Brass, Stainless Steel...
    I want my razor to outlive me OR at least it should last longer than 15 years *lol* :D

    Thank you for your input! (Please deliver a source for your claims or at least some anecdotal evidence)

    Any suggestions are welcome :)
     
    CarlfromMO likes this.
  2. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    High their, @everraser , glad you have joined us. Check in at the Welcome Center for a proper welcome. You can spend big bucks on "modern" razors made from brass or stainless steel. I prefer vintage Gillettes and Gem/EverReadys that are made of brass. They have already lasted a lifetime and will keep going. I shave with a Gem Jr. Lather Catcher that was made in 1911. I have just acquired an English Gillette Rocket c. 1958 that is the smoothest shaver I have ever shaved with. Enjoy your stay.
    zwelcome2.jpg
     
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  3. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Hi and welcome!
    For what it's worth, I don't believe any aspect of the daily shaving routine exposes any razor to "peaks of force."
    Don't whack your razor on the sink and you're okay. Then again, whack any razor on the sink and you run the risk of bending a DE or SE or chipping a str8.

    But if what you're really trying to do is avoid zamac or pot metal, vintage is the way to go.
     
  4. dustmite

    dustmite Well-Known Member

    :signs011:

    And welcome to the Den!
     
  5. david of central florida

    david of central florida Rhubarb Rubber

    Hello and welcome

    There are some made of ss or brass or aluminum. But normally cost a bit more.
    I second the vintage route if you can't stand the pot metal.
     
  6. jimjo1031

    jimjo1031 never bloomed myself

    Welcome to the Den.
     
  7. Terry Williams

    Terry Williams Well-Known Member

    Welcome!

    Most vintage safety razors are mostly or all brass. Lots of Gillettes available for reasonable prices. A lot of them are nearly 100 years old and they still shave just fine. You obviously don't like Zamak or zinc, but I have a few razors with zinc or aluminum caps that are more 70 years old that haven't failed. On old Gillettes (old type and new type) it is the brass tube that seems to fail before the head, in my experience anyway.

    Otherwise, if you want modern all stainless or aluminum, then be prepared to spend some $$$. Check these out:
    https://www.abovethetie.com/
    https://www.westcoastshaving.com/Feather-AS-D2-Stainless-Safety-Razor_p_1963.html
    https://www.blacklandrazors.com/
    https://rockwellrazors.com/products/rockwell-6s
    https://timelessrazor.com/

    There are others and proponents (and antagonists) of all of them on The Den.

    Good luck with your search.
     
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  8. jmudrick

    jmudrick Type A Man

    Gillette transitioned to Zamak in the 60s. German razors (Merkur, Rotbart) and and smaller American manufacturers (Cooper etc) were using cast alloys much earlier.

    Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2017
    jimjo1031 likes this.
  9. Enrico

    Enrico Popcorn

  10. GarnerPW

    GarnerPW Well-Known Member

    I can't tell you what my razor is made of pther than metal I just wanted to welcome you to the Den.
     
  11. Enrico

    Enrico Popcorn

    To answer your inquiry of manufactures of quality non-zamak razors; here are just a few:

    Fatip - made of brass from Italy
    Schone - made of brass from Italy
    Rockwell - made of stainless steel from USA
    Most vintage Gillette's Brass
    Feather Stainless from Japan

    No sense in repeating anymore from others. :happy088:
     
  12. Eeyore

    Eeyore Well-Known Member

    I mentioned Fatip razors in another thread already I not only like their OC design, but also appreciate that they are made from brass.

    Almost impossible to attain at the moment, but IMHO the stainless steel Mühle Rocca is an outstanding razor.
     
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  13. BigMark83

    BigMark83 [...........] this space intentionally left blank

    Isn't the Schone just a rebranded fatip ?
     
  14. BigMark83

    BigMark83 [...........] this space intentionally left blank

    I hate to do this guys but in good faith I cannot recommend a fatip. If you want to try one go ahead, but the Testina Gentile that I bought had a terrible finish and a wavy blade.
     
  15. preidy

    preidy Just call me Dino

    Vintage Gillette of course.
     
  16. ninjack

    ninjack Well-Known Member

    If you are looking for an all stainless steel 3 piece razor that won't break the bank and is on the mild side, you can get a Fendrihan Adventurer MKII. They only cost $35 and are pretty nice razors. I have one and really like it. You can find better for more money, but the Fendrihan MKII all stainless models are a good option IMHO. They make a few different models, all same head different handles. Should last for many decades! Go to their website for more info. Fendrihan.com




    FENDRIHAN-3.jpg
     
    brit likes this.
  17. RaZorBurn123

    RaZorBurn123 waiting hardily...............

    I don't even know what "when exposed to peaks of force" means.
     
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  18. DesertTime

    DesertTime Well-Known Member

    I think it's when you nick yourself, get pissed and throw your razor against the wall.
     
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  19. HolyRollah

    HolyRollah BaconLord

    ..or dropped upon a hard tile floor.
     
  20. mikewood

    mikewood Well-Known Member

    If you want a razor that will outlast you consider buying one made before you were born.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
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