Great video! The famous Gillette Fatboy and Slim, that are famous to last basically forever, are also made of brass and are nickel plated. I am willing to give the Flexi a try. The Rex Ambassador is way too expensive for my taste.
Just received one from Amazon 10/2024 and no issues. Absolutely no wobble @ # 6 setting and the gap opening is even. I even took the trouble to measure the opening on both sides (left & right) with a Vernier Caliper and it's all even. Don't know if I was just lucky, or if they took care of the issue, but I would assume the latter.
Thank you for this video. So im not the only one who says this. I had this razor version 11 I wrote to pearl and sent photos too of the flaws of this razor. So they refunded me. Some UA-camrs say...flaws in later version like 6,7,8,9,10,11, & version 12 have been fixed. No. Nothing has been fixed on this razor. And this keeps me back of buy their new version OPEN COMB. It might have the same issues. Thank you Heiko....... & careful anyone who wants to buy this razor. But another razor from them which is called BLAZE is excellent razor! Pearl does not care to fix this razor. O have sent many emails to them 😢😢😢
I haven't tried the open comb version. Maybe it doesn't have the issue. I might go ahead and check it out. It is a shame that by version 12 they still haven't changed anything. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for your review. When I was shopping for a non-zamak adjustable razor, I was between the Yaqi Final Cut and the Pearl Flexi, the Flexi for the price, the Final Cut for the stunning look but around 50% more expensive (USD 119). I ended up buying the Yaqi on the 11.11 sale for around USD 80. your video only reinforces my perception that the Yaqi model is not only better looking, it is also superior in build quality. As for the alignment of yours, you can try disassembling and reassembling it by repositioning the internal spring.
Well done review Helko! I had to return my Pearl.Flexi for alignment issues, an annoying rattle when tightened up and the razor is ridiculously heavy. There is another video on YT that show the Flexi top cap can be used on the Rex and will smooth out the shave on it. QC is too much of a common issue with Pearl..there is lots of other better choices out there that will get my money.
If I don't hear back from Pearl with a plan to correct this issue, I will just pack this thing up and send it back. If they could get the misalignment under control, this would be a great razor for $80. But you are right, there are so many good razors out there. I like the yaqi Final Cut a lot too. Video soon to come about that one.
@@Heiko-shaves Yes, the Final Cut is a great razor, I liked it so much, I bought the new stainless version called the Ultima and it gave me some of the smoothest shaves from an adjustable. It keeps selling out but worth waiting for and checking out. when it becomes available again.
@@Heiko-shaves You may also like the brass version...its a real beauty...the head is completely different..the edges are all rounded and smoothed out. The brass is tarnish free..I painted the numbers with black enamel..there are videos on YT that show you how to do this..did the same on the regular Final Cut...also for the regular final cut you can find a nice black rubber pen grip and fit over the handle area...also you can beef up the spring with a Rex Supply spring..they are about $10.
Maybe Peal just caused with the faulty Pearl Flexi an open source project for third party parts. Why not, the Pearl Flexi could become the Colt 1911 or the Glock of the razor world. I would be on board with it.
Hallo Heiko, vielen Dank für das Zeigen des Problems. Aus unserem bisherigen schriftlichen Austausch nahm ich an, dass bei der Draufsicht auf den Deckel die vetschiedenen Platten des Kopfes leicht gegeneinander verdreht sind und damit die Kante des Deckels nicht parallel zur Schaumkante ausgerichtet ist. Aber das gezeigte Problem ist mir von meinem Flexi bekannt und so behelfe ich mir während der Rasur mit dem Herumdrücken am Kopf um den schiefen Klingenspalt zu korrigieren. Tatsächlich könnte das Problem von Pearl durch die Wahl der richtigen Feder minimiert werden. Die derzeitig verwendete Feder ist an den Enden nicht flach abgeschliffen und trägt zum Wippen bei. Bei der Entwicklung des HLS Taiga wurde die Tendenz für zu diesem Problem erkannt und durch eine Feder mit flachgeschliffenen Enden unterbunden. Zusätlich könnte mit einer höheren Materialstärke der Feder der Zwischenraum besser ausgefüllt werden und hirizontales Spiel unterbinden. Habe auch schon erfolglos den Ersatzteilkasten nach einer Ersatzfeder durchwühlt. Dennoch müsste der obere glatte Teil des Zapfens von der Klingenauflageplatte einen größeren Durchmesser haben. Eine Abhilfe für dieses Problem könnte die Verwendung einer Manschette aus einem Stück Schrumpfschlauch oder einem Trinkhalm (Milkshake, Bubble Tea) bieten. Alle Probleme und Lösungen dazu wurden bereits mehrmals an Pearl weitergegeben. Pearl scheint einfach kein Interesse daran zu haben. So hätten bei der Entwicklung der OC-Variante diese Anregungen berücksichtigt werden können, was jedoch nicht geschah. Zwischen den verschiedenen "Versionen" des Pearl Flexi scheint es keine Unterschiede bzw. Verbesserungen zu geben. Diese verschiedenen "Versionen" sind eher als verschiedene Produktionschargen unter selben Spezifikationen zu verstehen. Ich habe meinen Pearl Flexi (mittlerweile komplett zerlegbar) wieder hervorgeholt und werde wieder an diesen improvisierten Lösungen arbeiten. Bin für dein öffentliches Ansprechen des Problems sehr dankbar und bin sehr auf die Reaktion von Pearl sehr gespannt. Gruß Artur
Danke Artur, Diese Rasierer sind CNC gefertigt. Wenn Pearl wirklich das Problem beheben wollte, dann könnten Sie das bestimmt relative einfach erledigen. Ich habe gerade herausgefunden , dass mein Flexi Version 12 ist und wie Du schon sagtest, die haben bis jetzt nicht geändert. Ich hoffe, dass ich bald von Pearl höre. Gruß, Heiko
It's a shame about your flexi, hopefully they fix it for you. I have another razor brand to recommend for this project you're doing. Vikings Blade. They have to different adjustable razor models with various finishes for each. I have the frosted chrome emperor and want the rest of their lineup. The best gillette inspired (butterfly style) modern adjustable around. In my opinion, of course! Take care.
They sell a lot of those for around $80 a piece. They need to get their Quality Control dialed in. It would be a great razor if they could fix this issue.
@@Heiko-shavesdejame comentarte que estas maquinillas de pearl flexi son asi incluso matt de la rex ambassador hiso un video de ambos mostrando el mismo detalle que mesionas, saludos
Thanks for sharing the flaws, saved me from buying that razor. I'm always a little Leary about razors and blades from India. I've bought a few Parker DE razors in the past and the quality control just doesn't seem to be great on some. Then again I bought a Italian Fitip razor with the same issue.
Thanks for sharing. It is always good to have a return option. I am intentionally trying not to use it but rather let Pearl figure it out. Will see what happens.
Very Interesting video today. My Flexi(V11) just started having the same problem, but I couldn't figure out how to contact Pearl. I just decided to use it on the one and it's a pretty good shave, so that will be fine for me. 😆 But I will be interested in how your exchange with the company goes, because it sucks getting a faulty product. I do fall in to the camp of not comparing other razors to each other. I just see what my shave is like and if I really like the shave, then I reach for it more. 😁I also dislike the whole copy/clone argument everyone whines about. It's like saying, I only wear Levi's because every other jean is a clone of them. Everything is what it is. Would I buy the Flexi again? No. (but the Pearl Blaze? Heck ya!) When I can afford it will I buy all 3 of the Rex razors? Heck ya! Because I like razors, cheap ones, expensive one, works good, works bad, heck I just like them 🤣 And they all remind me of the fun I have doing this. Cheers and keep up the good work!
I appreciate your honesty around reviewing Heiko. Sometimes it's not fun to point out the flaws but it needs to be done to be an honest review. It's a shame that Pearl Shaving has not fixed this already when it seems like the issue has existed for a while. To be honest, I'm already not a fan of companies that choose to clone existing products by essentially stealing the design of other companies. Obviously it's just my personal opinion and I totally respect the fact that some people want to save some money and go the more affordable route but personally I'd much rather pay the high price and get the real Rex Ambassador. I prefer rewarding original ingenuity and design and actually get the top quality product (top quality manufacturing tolerances, even blade gap and superior materials). PS: looking forward to seeing you give the Merkur Progress another try with a more gentle and mild approach.
I am with you, support the innovator not the imitator. The progress will be back soon. Don't tell anyone but I have two now. One short and one long handle version.
Heiko, what version of the Flexi do you have. I was under the impression that the adjustment issue was fixed with V12. Have you tried the Rockwell T2 SS for an everyday driver or the Blackman Blackbird?
The Amazon listing shows V12 but I am not sure. I only know that I bought it from Pearl Shaving Amazon store one month ago. Is there a way of knowing which version it is by it's serial number? I have not tried the T2 nor the BB. Would love to but have to take it slow with high price purchases. Thanks for commenting.
Thank you for the video Heiko. It shows that a video says way more then a thousand words. Cloning is nice but before bringing it on to the market be sure it's 100% ok because it makes no sense that even after years they still sell this crappy clone ! Although a Rex is quit expensive, it is made with all the best knowledge and material. So if you'd buy one you are sure you buy a really good razor ( offcourse it's not for eveybody ( pricewise )) I think it's such a shame because more people could own a Rex ( clone or the real deal ). It looks like it shaves not so ok because I haven't seen you get nicked and have soo much stubble for a while
I wish this razor would be better quality. Overall it could be a good razor if they would fix that flaw. But let's not give up hope, there is another clone that we will take a look at next. 😉
@@Heiko-shaves I never understand why clones have to be made of inferior quality. You want to buy a good razor but not pay for the quality? My suggestion is to buy something else instead or buy the original
@@MK-usen mi caso compre una rex envoy original y me llego con un pequeño defecto en las orillas, les falto pulir de ambos lados y aun asi lo sacaron a venta, cuando no debieron de hacerlo, asi que comprar lo original no te asegura que este ala perfección, saludos
stuff can happen. The important part is that the company fixes it for the customer. I hope pearl will send me a good one. The Rex products have a lifetime warranty and I am pretty sure they will make it right.
If the Pearl Flexi was just a copy of the Rex Ambassador, then there would have never been an alignment issue between the top cap and the bottom plate. The Pearl Flexi is the only Gibbs inspired razor I know of that is not keyed to ensure that the top cap and baseplate are always in alignment. Even Yaqi puts marks on their top caps and baseplates to simplify the alignment problem inherent in this spring loaded baseplate design. The Parker Variant and Merkur Progress are likewise keyed, top cap to baseplate. If one wants to buy a Pearl Flexi, it is best to purchase it from a known and trusted retailer. Maggard's sells them, and they have excellent customer service. Then if a problem comes up, they will deal with Pearl. I am shocked that they still have an alignment issue. I think they are on rev.12 of this razor now. I thought they had cured this problem with rev.3. Pearl has a good reputation for making things right with this known issue, but IMO they are just doing things the hard way from an engineering point of view, and expecting too much from their production team.
Thanks for your comment. Don't you think the Rex Ambassador is also inspired by the Gibbs? The Rex does not have an alignment mark on it either. So the flexi just followed the ambassador's example just didn't get the tolerances right. I saw a video where a guy had the Flexi completely taken apart and showed why there is so much wobble in the base plate. The ID of the base plate part is much larger than the stem or internal part that it rides on, which allows for the left and right wobble. The Parker and the Merkur Progress have the advantage of not using any spring and instead just use the tension on the blade to change the blade gap. Maybe after we figure this Flexi misalignment out through the warranty process I might make a video where I take all those razors to pieces and look at the inner workings. The Amazon store I bought it from is Pearls own store. So they should stand behind their products, at least I hope they will.
@@Heiko-shaves If it was fulfilled by Amazon, then Amazon will warranty the item for 30 days if the seller fails to perform. I stand corrected. Thank you. If Pearl thought that they could replicate the exacting manufacturing standards of the Rex Ambassador, then they made a critical error. The Ambassador is built to the highest standard. The springs used in the Rex Ambassador are stronger too. I infer that the Parker Variant and Merkur Progress are keyed because formed zamak is not an exacting process. There is even a fellow who has made a sideline out of tearing down, fine tuning and reassembling the Merkur Progress razor. He calls them the Mergress. IIRC, Bull Goose has the exclusive on these.
I have seen the Mergress, pretty pricey for what it is. Shave Nation (GeoFatBoy) sells just the bottom knob for the Progress. I am a big fan of the Progress. Adjustable classic (been on the market since the 50s) that is affordable. The progress doesn't use any springs, just the tension of the blade. Very simple.
We will see what they will do. Since the Amazon seller is Pearl Shaving themselves they might just tell me to return it. I will for sure keep you posted. At this point I am really looking forward to seeing how the Yaqi will work out because it is absolutely the cheapest way into the adjustable razor world. With a $28 (Yaqi) razor I can potentially overlook a few flaws, I can't however do that for a $80 (Flexi) razor.
@@Heiko-shaves I’m sure the Yaqi razor will be much better, Yaqi has been making some beautiful razors at very affordable price points, but definitely Pearl has to own up with this flaw, I thought they took care of this problem with later versions, do you know what version you have? Maybe they sold you one of the bad ones?
Excellent review Heiko, thanks 👍
My pleasure! Thank yoy
Great video! The famous Gillette Fatboy and Slim, that are famous to last basically forever, are also made of brass and are nickel plated. I am willing to give the Flexi a try. The Rex Ambassador is way too expensive for my taste.
Just received one from Amazon 10/2024 and no issues. Absolutely no wobble @ # 6 setting and the gap opening is even. I even took the trouble to measure the opening on both sides (left & right) with a Vernier Caliper and it's all even. Don't know if I was just lucky, or if they took care of the issue, but I would assume the latter.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this video. So im not the only one who says this. I had this razor version 11 I wrote to pearl and sent photos too of the flaws of this razor. So they refunded me. Some UA-camrs say...flaws in later version like 6,7,8,9,10,11, & version 12 have been fixed. No. Nothing has been fixed on this razor. And this keeps me back of buy their new version OPEN COMB. It might have the same issues. Thank you Heiko....... & careful anyone who wants to buy this razor. But another razor from them which is called BLAZE is excellent razor! Pearl does not care to fix this razor. O have sent many emails to them 😢😢😢
I haven't tried the open comb version. Maybe it doesn't have the issue. I might go ahead and check it out. It is a shame that by version 12 they still haven't changed anything.
Thanks for your comment.
@@Heiko-shaves Thank you 🙂🙂🙂
Thanks for your review.
When I was shopping for a non-zamak adjustable razor, I was between the Yaqi Final Cut and the Pearl Flexi, the Flexi for the price, the Final Cut for the stunning look but around 50% more expensive (USD 119).
I ended up buying the Yaqi on the 11.11 sale for around USD 80.
your video only reinforces my perception that the Yaqi model is not only better looking, it is also superior in build quality.
As for the alignment of yours, you can try disassembling and reassembling it by repositioning the internal spring.
Did you buy the Stainless or the brass version of the yaqi? I have the $28 cast zink version. Thanks for the recommendation.
@@Heiko-shaves The brass version. Regards!
Well done review Helko! I had to return my Pearl.Flexi for alignment issues, an annoying rattle when tightened up and the razor is ridiculously heavy. There is another video on YT that show the Flexi top cap can be used on the Rex and will smooth out the shave on it. QC is too much of a common issue with Pearl..there is lots of other better choices out there that will get my money.
If I don't hear back from Pearl with a plan to correct this issue, I will just pack this thing up and send it back. If they could get the misalignment under control, this would be a great razor for $80.
But you are right, there are so many good razors out there. I like the yaqi Final Cut a lot too. Video soon to come about that one.
@@Heiko-shaves Yes, the Final Cut is a great razor, I liked it so much, I bought the new stainless version called the Ultima and it gave me some of the smoothest shaves from an adjustable. It keeps selling out but worth waiting for and checking out. when it becomes available again.
I will try to get one if I have a chance. 👍
@@Heiko-shaves You may also like the brass version...its a real beauty...the head is completely different..the edges are all rounded and smoothed out. The brass is tarnish free..I painted the numbers with black enamel..there are videos on YT that show you how to do this..did the same on the regular Final Cut...also for the regular final cut you can find a nice black rubber pen grip and fit over the handle area...also you can beef up the spring with a Rex Supply spring..they are about $10.
@@rayban-usa5482 that is all great information. I might have to do some modding on my final cut. Thanks
Maybe Peal just caused with the faulty Pearl Flexi an open source project for third party parts. Why not, the Pearl Flexi could become the Colt 1911 or the Glock of the razor world. I would be on board with it.
Maybe someone could make a set of stainless bushings that could take up the sloppiness.
Good idea.
think I might get the open comb flexi, open combs seem more efficient to me. I've used my gillette new occasionally for early morning one-pass shaves
Is the Gillette you are referring to also open comb?
@@Heiko-shaves yup, it's a gillette razor from the 20s. does a great job, it was a big improvement over the older style open combs IMHO
another razor I need to try one day. I will add it to my wish list.
Funny enough, I just got a merkur progress and it has the same defect straight out of the company
Interesting. I would love to see that. The adjustment mechanism is completely different from the Pearl Flexi.
@@Heiko-shaves I'd be more than happy to find a way to send you some pics.
I would be very interested in what Pearl says to you about the misalignment. Also I would love to see how you fixed the issue.
I will keep you posted.
I think they were trying to make an adjustable slant-bar razor??
Maybe. 😉
Hallo Heiko, vielen Dank für das Zeigen des Problems. Aus unserem bisherigen schriftlichen Austausch nahm ich an, dass bei der Draufsicht auf den Deckel die vetschiedenen Platten des Kopfes leicht gegeneinander verdreht sind und damit die Kante des Deckels nicht parallel zur Schaumkante ausgerichtet ist. Aber das gezeigte Problem ist mir von meinem Flexi bekannt und so behelfe ich mir während der Rasur mit dem Herumdrücken am Kopf um den schiefen Klingenspalt zu korrigieren. Tatsächlich könnte das Problem von Pearl durch die Wahl der richtigen Feder minimiert werden. Die derzeitig verwendete Feder ist an den Enden nicht flach abgeschliffen und trägt zum Wippen bei. Bei der Entwicklung des HLS Taiga wurde die Tendenz für zu diesem Problem erkannt und durch eine Feder mit flachgeschliffenen Enden unterbunden. Zusätlich könnte mit einer höheren Materialstärke der Feder der Zwischenraum besser ausgefüllt werden und hirizontales Spiel unterbinden. Habe auch schon erfolglos den Ersatzteilkasten nach einer Ersatzfeder durchwühlt. Dennoch müsste der obere glatte Teil des Zapfens von der Klingenauflageplatte einen größeren Durchmesser haben. Eine Abhilfe für dieses Problem könnte die Verwendung einer Manschette aus einem Stück Schrumpfschlauch oder einem Trinkhalm (Milkshake, Bubble Tea) bieten.
Alle Probleme und Lösungen dazu wurden bereits mehrmals an Pearl weitergegeben. Pearl scheint einfach kein Interesse daran zu haben. So hätten bei der Entwicklung der OC-Variante diese Anregungen berücksichtigt werden können, was jedoch nicht geschah. Zwischen den verschiedenen "Versionen" des Pearl Flexi scheint es keine Unterschiede bzw. Verbesserungen zu geben. Diese verschiedenen "Versionen" sind eher als verschiedene Produktionschargen unter selben Spezifikationen zu verstehen.
Ich habe meinen Pearl Flexi (mittlerweile komplett zerlegbar) wieder hervorgeholt und werde wieder an diesen improvisierten Lösungen arbeiten.
Bin für dein öffentliches Ansprechen des Problems sehr dankbar und bin sehr auf die Reaktion von Pearl sehr gespannt.
Gruß
Artur
Danke Artur,
Diese Rasierer sind CNC gefertigt. Wenn Pearl wirklich das Problem beheben wollte, dann könnten Sie das bestimmt relative einfach erledigen. Ich habe gerade herausgefunden , dass mein Flexi Version 12 ist und wie Du schon sagtest, die haben bis jetzt nicht geändert. Ich hoffe, dass ich bald von Pearl höre.
Gruß, Heiko
It's a shame about your flexi, hopefully they fix it for you. I have another razor brand to recommend for this project you're doing. Vikings Blade. They have to different adjustable razor models with various finishes for each. I have the frosted chrome emperor and want the rest of their lineup. The best gillette inspired (butterfly style) modern adjustable around. In my opinion, of course! Take care.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll check them out. But we have a few more options to check out. Stay tuned.
That razor you are showing to us is at most AT MOST a $5 razor just because of the unevenness along the cutting sides between the plates.
They sell a lot of those for around $80 a piece. They need to get their Quality Control dialed in. It would be a great razor if they could fix this issue.
@@Heiko-shavesdejame comentarte que estas maquinillas de pearl flexi son asi incluso matt de la rex ambassador hiso un video de ambos mostrando el mismo detalle que mesionas, saludos
thanks for your comment.
Thanks for sharing the flaws, saved me from buying that razor. I'm always a little Leary about razors and blades from India. I've bought a few Parker DE razors in the past and the quality control just doesn't seem to be great on some. Then again I bought a Italian Fitip razor with the same issue.
Thanks for sharing. It is always good to have a return option. I am intentionally trying not to use it but rather let Pearl figure it out. Will see what happens.
Very Interesting video today. My Flexi(V11) just started having the same problem, but I couldn't figure out how to contact Pearl. I just decided to use it on the one and it's a pretty good shave, so that will be fine for me. 😆 But I will be interested in how your exchange with the company goes, because it sucks getting a faulty product. I do fall in to the camp of not comparing other razors to each other. I just see what my shave is like and if I really like the shave, then I reach for it more. 😁I also dislike the whole copy/clone argument everyone whines about. It's like saying, I only wear Levi's because every other jean is a clone of them. Everything is what it is. Would I buy the Flexi again? No. (but the Pearl Blaze? Heck ya!) When I can afford it will I buy all 3 of the Rex razors? Heck ya! Because I like razors, cheap ones, expensive one, works good, works bad, heck I just like them 🤣 And they all remind me of the fun I have doing this. Cheers and keep up the good work!
I will keep you posted about the exchange with them.
I appreciate your honesty around reviewing Heiko. Sometimes it's not fun to point out the flaws but it needs to be done to be an honest review. It's a shame that Pearl Shaving has not fixed this already when it seems like the issue has existed for a while.
To be honest, I'm already not a fan of companies that choose to clone existing products by essentially stealing the design of other companies.
Obviously it's just my personal opinion and I totally respect the fact that some people want to save some money and go the more affordable route but personally I'd much rather pay the high price and get the real Rex Ambassador. I prefer rewarding original ingenuity and design and actually get the top quality product (top quality manufacturing tolerances, even blade gap and superior materials).
PS: looking forward to seeing you give the Merkur Progress another try with a more gentle and mild approach.
I am with you, support the innovator not the imitator.
The progress will be back soon. Don't tell anyone but I have two now. One short and one long handle version.
Funny you mention Rex Ambassador which in itself is a clone of Gibbs.
Just a suggestion, how about tagging all the software and hardware you use in each of your videos?
Are you referring to the UA-cam tag system or just as links in the comment section? Thanks
@@Heiko-shaves links in the comment section
Thanks, I will try to add links to all the gear I use each time. Thanks for the recommendation.
Heiko, what version of the Flexi do you have. I was under the impression that the adjustment issue was fixed with V12.
Have you tried the Rockwell T2 SS for an everyday driver or the Blackman Blackbird?
The Amazon listing shows V12 but I am not sure. I only know that I bought it from Pearl Shaving Amazon store one month ago. Is there a way of knowing which version it is by it's serial number?
I have not tried the T2 nor the BB. Would love to but have to take it slow with high price purchases. Thanks for commenting.
First Heiko!
Thank you for the video Heiko.
It shows that a video says way more then a thousand words.
Cloning is nice but before bringing it on to the market be sure it's 100% ok because it makes no sense that even after years they still sell this crappy clone !
Although a Rex is quit expensive, it is made with all the best knowledge and material.
So if you'd buy one you are sure you buy a really good razor ( offcourse it's not for eveybody ( pricewise ))
I think it's such a shame because more people could own a Rex ( clone or the real deal ).
It looks like it shaves not so ok because I haven't seen you get nicked and have soo much stubble for a while
I wish this razor would be better quality. Overall it could be a good razor if they would fix that flaw.
But let's not give up hope, there is another clone that we will take a look at next. 😉
@@Heiko-shaves I never understand why clones have to be made of inferior quality. You want to buy a good razor but not pay for the quality?
My suggestion is to buy something else instead or buy the original
@@MK-usen mi caso compre una rex envoy original y me llego con un pequeño defecto en las orillas, les falto pulir de ambos lados y aun asi lo sacaron a venta, cuando no debieron de hacerlo, asi que comprar lo original no te asegura que este ala perfección, saludos
stuff can happen. The important part is that the company fixes it for the customer. I hope pearl will send me a good one. The Rex products have a lifetime warranty and I am pretty sure they will make it right.
You may well find that a 1-quart sized empty yogurt container as a rinse vessel works better than an emesis basin.
That is a good idea. The emesis basin is a vintage enameled one, that is the only reason that I have it. I like old things. Thanks for your comment.
Hello. Did you buy a razor on Amazon?
Yes, I buy razors on Amazon sometimes.
If the Pearl Flexi was just a copy of the Rex Ambassador, then there would have never been an alignment issue between the top cap and the bottom plate. The Pearl Flexi is the only Gibbs inspired razor I know of that is not keyed to ensure that the top cap and baseplate are always in alignment. Even Yaqi puts marks on their top caps and baseplates to simplify the alignment problem inherent in this spring loaded baseplate design. The Parker Variant and Merkur Progress are likewise keyed, top cap to baseplate.
If one wants to buy a Pearl Flexi, it is best to purchase it from a known and trusted retailer. Maggard's sells them, and they have excellent customer service. Then if a problem comes up, they will deal with Pearl. I am shocked that they still have an alignment issue. I think they are on rev.12 of this razor now. I thought they had cured this problem with rev.3. Pearl has a good reputation for making things right with this known issue, but IMO they are just doing things the hard way from an engineering point of view, and expecting too much from their production team.
Thanks for your comment.
Don't you think the Rex Ambassador is also inspired by the Gibbs? The Rex does not have an alignment mark on it either. So the flexi just followed the ambassador's example just didn't get the tolerances right.
I saw a video where a guy had the Flexi completely taken apart and showed why there is so much wobble in the base plate. The ID of the base plate part is much larger than the stem or internal part that it rides on, which allows for the left and right wobble.
The Parker and the Merkur Progress have the advantage of not using any spring and instead just use the tension on the blade to change the blade gap.
Maybe after we figure this Flexi misalignment out through the warranty process I might make a video where I take all those razors to pieces and look at the inner workings.
The Amazon store I bought it from is Pearls own store. So they should stand behind their products, at least I hope they will.
@@Heiko-shaves If it was fulfilled by Amazon, then Amazon will warranty the item for 30 days if the seller fails to perform.
I stand corrected. Thank you. If Pearl thought that they could replicate the exacting manufacturing standards of the Rex Ambassador, then they made a critical error. The Ambassador is built to the highest standard. The springs used in the Rex Ambassador are stronger too.
I infer that the Parker Variant and Merkur Progress are keyed because formed zamak is not an exacting process. There is even a fellow who has made a sideline out of tearing down, fine tuning and reassembling the Merkur Progress razor. He calls them the Mergress. IIRC, Bull Goose has the exclusive on these.
I have seen the Mergress, pretty pricey for what it is. Shave Nation (GeoFatBoy) sells just the bottom knob for the Progress. I am a big fan of the Progress. Adjustable classic (been on the market since the 50s) that is affordable. The progress doesn't use any springs, just the tension of the blade. Very simple.
I’m curious what Pearl will say, totally unacceptable to have an uneven blade gap, that’s why I never bought one.
We will see what they will do. Since the Amazon seller is Pearl Shaving themselves they might just tell me to return it. I will for sure keep you posted.
At this point I am really looking forward to seeing how the Yaqi will work out because it is absolutely the cheapest way into the adjustable razor world. With a $28 (Yaqi) razor I can potentially overlook a few flaws, I can't however do that for a $80 (Flexi) razor.
@@Heiko-shaves I’m sure the Yaqi razor will be much better, Yaqi has been making some beautiful razors at very affordable price points, but definitely Pearl has to own up with this flaw, I thought they took care of this problem with later versions, do you know what version you have? Maybe they sold you one of the bad ones?
Maybe I got a new old stock. If I could figure their numbering system out. The serial number should tell me when it was made but I haven't got a clue.
How many razors you got til now
Way too many. Interested in a collection update?
@@Heiko-shavesPorfavor, saludos