I have a Merkur Futur safety razor that I've been using for about 12 years now, but it is desperately in need of repair. I got lax about cleaning it, with the result that a lot of lime and dried soap built up inside the handle/mechanism. I've cleaned that out, and managed to get it apart, but I found that one of the small straight springs broke off from the inside part where the blade is seated. If I could replace that part, I think I'd be back in business with this razor. Without the spring, the cover does not hold the blade securely. One additional problem, though, is that once I got the pieces apart, the handle (shave setting) no longer moves from 1 to 6, but rather keeps going around - no stops. Does anyone know if Merkur repairs these things? Are spare parts available? Now that I've got it cleaned up, it's as good as the day I bought it. The inside part is the only thing that shows any wear at all. It would be a shame if you couldn't buy spare parts, because the razor is otherwise usable. Thanks in advance for your help.
Guys on forums have had good luck communicating with Merkur as I've read over the years typically involving returning broken or defective products for exchange. I would just send Merkur an email with the questions you're asking ,they are the one's to tell you.
Just wanted to say that I had some terrific customer service at Merkur. I posted a week or so ago about a Futur DE razor that had a lot of gunk in it that prevented me from adjusting it. When I cleaned it off, I found that one of the springs was broken, that is, the long piece of metal that looks almost like a straight wire on the inside piece of the Futur. Without the spring, the "cap" of the razor doesn't sit tight or hold the blade properly. The odd thing was that there was so much build-up on the razor that it took me years to realize this was a problem!! Here's a pic of the piece (sorry, I'm not so good at photograpgy): Another member here, Hanzo, suggested I contact the mfr. I bought this thing so long ago (13 years? Possibly longer) I didn't know it might still be under warranty. So I googled Merkur and found the Dovo/Merkur/Solingen site (are those all brand names?), explained the problem to them in an email, and they're going to send me a replacement piece. I think that's great customer service, esp. given how long ago I bought the thing. And thanks to Hanzo for the advice!
DOVO (Solingen) is the parent company, Merkur (Solingen) is a division of it. Good news about them standing behind their products though. Now if we could only get them to improve their plating....lol.
I was really impressed with their customer service. I found them on line, called over to Germany, and they actually returned my call. The new piece arrived in the mail the other day. Here's a pic of the new and old piece side-by-side. Well, the pic got inserted above, rather than below. You can see the corrosion on the one on the right. In fact, one of the springs is completely missing on this piece. And I was shaving with it in this condition for a long, long time (we're talking years, here). There was so much dried soap and lime in there, that it held the blade cover on anyway. Hard to believe. Now, the sad thing is that this was a REPLACEMENT razor. I had a Futur that I bought sometime in the 1980's, and it got into the same condition. What did I do with that fine piece of German workmanship? Dumkopf got rid of it, thinking it just didn't work anymore, and went out and bought a replacement (pictured) around 1997. These things last a long time. Too bad I didn't know about boards like this on back then, could have saved myself some $$. Thanks!
I recently followed a video on Youtube that shows how to disassemble a Futur, so I could give it a good clean. It's a very simple one step process. But does take a strong downward pressure on the plate with your thumb where the blade rests. After reassembling, the blade exposure is extreme no matter what setting it's on. There really isn't a wrong way to disassemble it. I think because the industrial strength spring under the plate is so strong, and takes a considerable pressure to get past the stop built into the handle, it either bends or tweaks the plate, or takes just enough out of the spring that it never delivers the same upward pressure again. Merkur is sending me a new plate, but I get the impression they didn't really understand what the problem I'm having is, and that it might not fix it. As much as I love the Futur, I'm quickly learning to love my EJ DE89, 38c Barber pole, and other none adjustable and 2-3 piece razors for their solid simple nature.
Smithshaven-If a reassembled Futur is overly aggressive it is not properly reassembled. You need to REALLY compress the spring to get the handle fully tightened. When on 1, there should be no gap between the blade carrier and its base. Try using a small C-Clamp to press the blade carrier into the base, then screw the handle in.
@SuperZee , it looks like you dug up an old thread. Very useful info to know, but @smithshaven hasn't signed on for over 4 years. Maybe this will activate his interest again.
@DaltonGang. Hadn't noted the date of Smithshaven's post. Learned the hard way about reassembling a Futur - if you don't get it right, it's as exciting as shaving with a chain saw.
Unfortunately, the Merkur Future is one of the few razors I've yet to try. One day I might stumble upon one.
When I returned to DE razors I wanted an adjustable - to replace the Gilette Slim Adjustable I had in college. So my wife bought me a Futur. I also picked up an inexpensive no name TTO for my travel kit. The TTO broke the first time I went to load it. I tossed it and based on my experience with the Futur, I ordered a Merkur 33C as my travel razor. I've never regretted either Merkur--I just wish they made a reasonably priced TTO.
