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To be fair the plastic knob in the photo's put me off buying one for ages because it looked so cheap and tacky but once I got the razor in my hand I found it to be much better looking. I wish I had brought it ages ago but fully understand the love it or hate it issue.On the subject of adjustables, I've always liked the short- and long-handled versions of the Merkur Progress, and as well as the plastic knob versions, I've got the Digress from Scotland with a brass knob, and a Mergress from the USA, with a stainless knob.
Both the "modded" razors were, at the time, available only as a complete razor, and rather more expensive than the base razor. In the last few days, I see that the Shave Nation proprietor in the USA, who posts on Youtube as "geofatboy", has introduced replacement knobs in brass and stainless steel. These are called "Opgress" and can be bought separately or with the razor (short handle only, at the moment). The cost is US$ 50.00, and they are easily installed by the user on an existing short-handle Progress. They look pretty good, but don't have setting/index numbers. This is obviously a disadvantage in use, as the index collar moves when changing a blade, and a certain amount of eidetic memory will be needed to get back to a preferred setting, unless the user marks the ring/knob. It does make user installation easier, as a certain amount of trial and error is needed to get the gap, index number and dot lined up at the start low setting after any dismantling; which I learnt through bitter experience.
The link to the vendor is here:- Shave Nation Opgress and the YT installation video here:- Opgress DIY installation.
I've no vested interest here, and haven't ever bought from Shave Nation, but I have seen an awful lot of posts over the years from people who like the Progress but detest the plastic knob.
I see that Executive Shaving are selling the complete modded Opgress/Progress razor. It's still my view that an adjustable razor which depends on moving the top cap by some method (as distinct from different plates per Rockwell, or different gaps each side, per Zeppelin) but which doesn't have indexing marks, is not going to be easy to reset to preferred settings.To be fair the plastic knob in the photo's put me off buying one for ages because it looked so cheap and tacky but once I got the razor in my hand I found it to be much better looking. I wish I had brought it ages ago but fully understand the love it or hate it issue.
ps love Geofatboy videos.
I've found I get fairly good results whether I move up the settings, or down the settings, although so far I have thought that for 2 passes, #4 (WTG-ish), followed by #7 (XTG-ish) gave an excellent result,I start at 3.5 and move to 5 for second pass.
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