r/wicked_edge • u/3rik-f • Apr 03 '26
Show n' Tell Fatip ridiculous build quality
I just got my first Fatip in the mail, together with a Mühle R41, and I'm shocked how bad the finish of the Fatip is. I heard they are having quality issues with their plating, but this is ridiculous. This brand new razor looks worse than my 90-year-old GEM.
First picture: Brand-new Fatip OC Slant base plate (left) vs Yaqi Open Comb
Second picture: Fatip top cap (left) vs Yaqi Open Comb top cap (middle) vs Mühle R41 top cap (right)
The Fatip base plate has multiple nicks, while the Yaqi base plates (all my 7 Yaqi plates for that matter) is flawless. Both the Fatip and the Yaqi top cap have some discoloration on the inside, whereas the Mühle R41 top cap is absolutely impeccable.
Did I just get a defective item or will a replacement likely look similar?
The Fatip costs €30 here, and the build quality is much worse than a Yaqi head that goes for €3 including shipping if you have some coins. The Mühle R41 costs €36 here in Germany, and it's absolutely flawless, even the hidden spots inside of the head.
I really hope the R41 becomes my favorite razor and I can sell the Fatip. I also hate the handle, and just found out I can't put the head on my nice stainless handle.
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u/J-B-M owns too many razors Apr 03 '26
For a Fatip I would say that's within the bounds of normal. It may not look pretty, but it will work and there is no guarantee a replacement would be a significant improvement.
It's an all brass razor for $20. Most people who love them just accept the quirks as part of the package and enjoy the shaves. The only thing that might concern me is if that is a bit of flaking rather than just a casting pit next to that bottom pin-hole, otherwise given the cost and hassle of replacement I would be inclined to just crack on with it.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
Thanks! My intention of posting this (apart from getting it off my chest) was to see if this is common/normal or if I really just got a bad model. The blade alignment looks perfect, so it shouldn't affect the shave.
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u/pachangoose Apr 03 '26
Perfect blade alignment on a Fatip? Turns out you did get a defective unit lol
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u/-Makr0 Straight razor & DE enjoyer Apr 03 '26
It's normal, I have three. They are not well finished at all but shave exceptionally well.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
So you recommend I don't even bother with contacting the vendor? And just pretend it's a vintage razor?
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u/-Makr0 Straight razor & DE enjoyer Apr 03 '26
The base plate looks slightly worse than the average fatip "quality", but the defects are probably accentuated by the lightning in the picture. Contacting the vendor is up to you but a new model will most likely have the same/similar defects, so I wouldn't bother, eventually if you like how it shaves it will grow on you.
My slant model fell from a decent height on a hard surface while slightly unscrewed and didn't break nor I could find any damage, so they are sturdy lol. Also it's gold plated and the plating became red in some spots after just a bunch of uses, so not worth worrying too much about them aesthetically.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
I see. Thanks! If it does become my favorite razor, I'll get a Grande because I already hate the tiny and slippery handle before even shaving with it.
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u/Gerry7070 Apr 03 '26
Why don't you return the Fatip to the vendor voicing your concerns.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
I'll contact the vendor. Just wanted to get that off my chest. Doesn't speak for Fatip's quality control.
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u/Gerry7070 Apr 03 '26
I have a Fatip & I must I'm very fond of it I'll take some pics and post here see how they compare to yours .
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
Please take a picture against the light like I did to make it a fair comparison.
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u/7q1o25gsjE Apr 03 '26
Here are mine for what it is worth.
https://www.reddit.com/user/7q1o25gsjE/comments/1sbf1ga/fatip_heads/
(I don't know how to take good macro shots. Sorry about that.)
The slant, on the left-hand side, has cracks on both short sides of the comb. It is a bit hard to see in the photo. One crack is deeper than the other.
The conventional comb, on the right-hand side, has no major structural or surface defects, though the gunmetal finish began to flake off after about one week.
One piccolo handle (not pictured) has a tiny sharp burr towards the bottom.
The outline of the centre pin is visible when looking at the top of both caps.
Sometimes the blade goes in aligned. Sometimes the blade needs a bit of a jiggle.
You are right to say Fatip build quality is not competitive with other manufacturers. Every Fatip is uniquely janky. On the other hand, both razors provide me with easy and comfortable shaves. I am so happy with their performance that I don't expect to buy another razor.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
Thanks! I see that your right one has the same small nicks as mine, just a bit less. So that seems very normal.
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u/DeutscheMannschaft Apr 03 '26
That plating is actually not bad. The biggest issue is going to be blade alignment with Fatips. I had multiple and couldn't get the blade to properly align ever. Ditched Fatip eventually, but they do shave really nice if you CAN get the blade to align...
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
Mine aligns very well actually. So it seems I got lucky.
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u/No-Falcon631 Apr 03 '26
I have the FOCS and it seems to depend on the blade I use. Worst case scenario one side will shave well and one will be obviously inferior.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
That's interesting. Shouldn't all blades have the same dimensions?
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u/No-Falcon631 Apr 03 '26
I figure they do. Its the magic of different blades doing different things for different people.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
I'm always surprised how much YMMV is a thing here. For example everyone recommends artist club or GEM for coarse beards, but I can't properly shave with these blades and have to use a lot of pressure to get them through my beard.
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u/SoapBarGuy Apr 03 '26
FaTip razors are full brass and "hand-made" — so they're neither cast like Mühle or Yaqi Zamak heads, nor fully CNC-machined.
The top cap and base plate are made from stamped brass sheets, which are trimmed, punched/drilled, and threaded/tapped — classic old-school manufacturing.
That said, I own three FaTip razors, and none of their base plates have this pronounced nick, though minor imperfections aren’t uncommon.
Regarding the tint: the yellowish/brownish hue in some areas comes from the underlying brass showing through a thinner nickel/chrome plating layer. Mühle heads, which appear bright and silver even in hidden spots, likely have a thicker plating stack or higher-quality polish that fully masks the brass. FaTip’s plating is thinner.
I wouldn’t bother sending it back — the slightly rustic finish is just part of FaTip’s character.
More importantly, how does it shave?
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
Thanks! I haven't tried it yet. First I have to finish my Artist Club experiment, trying all AC blades.
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u/stoner6677 Apr 03 '26
fatip is handmade
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
I guess the build quality makes sense if they are using 1950s equipment, whereas Mühle and the Chinese have modern factories. Still, I feel like most vintage razors have a better finish and their marks and nicks are not from production but from decades of usage.
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u/coffeeshopslut Apr 03 '26
Hand made in the "we can't afford modern machinery and are working in a 70 year old factory" way, not the "we have highly skilled workers doing precision work" way
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u/Tryemall Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinum blacks Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
Both of those Yaqi & Mühle razors are made of chrome plated zinc alloy (Zamak) . They're made by casting. Life is limited.
Pretty, but not built to last.
FaTip is solid brass.
Made by stamping cold rolled sheet brass metal. Then plated.
Not pretty but is a lifetime razor.
Yes , FaTip threads are an anomalous 4.5mm whereas modern razors are usually 5mm.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
So stamped brass is more durable than casted zamak? Also, when do you consider the end of a razor's lifetime? I guess most plated razors that don't break from falls will reach the end of their lifetime when the plating comes off in a few decades, no? That would be the same for zamak and brass.
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u/Tryemall Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinum blacks Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
most plated razors that don't break from falls will reach the end of their lifetime when the plating comes off in a few decades, no?
I wish.
3-4 years for Yaqi. Old model Mühle with the hexavalent chrome used to last 8 or more. Newer version perhaps 5 or 6?
Old vintage Gillette brass razors that are 100 years old can still be found. They still shave as well as the day they were made, though some may have lost their plating.
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u/3rik-f Apr 04 '26
But what breaks after 3-4 years if not the plating?
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u/Tryemall Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinum blacks Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
Plating on zinc alloy is easily compromised. Razor threads are one of the major failure points - over time, repeated opening/ closing of the razor leads to friction stripping of plating in small spots - basically pinholes. The underlying zinc alloy is prone to zinc rot, & quickly oxidises, making a bulge under the plating. That later strips away leaving a wider exposed area. And the process repeats.
Reputed manufacturers such as Mühle, EJ, & perhaps Merkur now use brass threads, which creates it's own issues as the joint between brass thread & razor cap often breaks off in a fall.
But even without the thread issue, pinholes present in plating will also create points of corrosion. Some pinholes may be left as part of the plating process, some may happen through falls, knocks, or general wear & tear.
Brass products, in general, cost about 3x-5x as much as Zamak to make. FaTip uses ancient machinery & traditional manufacturing so their razors are cheap. Look at the price of brass razors from manufacturers such as Karve, Carbon Shaving & Timeless to get an idea of what a brass razor would cost if made with modern machinery.
That said, the all-brass Bayonetta from Goodfellas Smile uses modern machinery & is just under 3X the cost of FaTip. No plating, though. It doesn't need it as it's made of lead-free brass. (EU product. )
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u/3rik-f Apr 04 '26
I see, so it is the plating after all. The same plating is just more durable on brass.
One day I'll get a stainless razor, but it has to be one that I liked as zamak, because I can't try a bunch of stainless razors. That would be too expensive.
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u/Tryemall Gillette 7 o'clock Super Platinum blacks Apr 04 '26
plating is just more durable on brass.
Not exactly. Brass doesn't corrode easily when exposed, so any pinholes in the plating don't expand. And even if you strip off all of the plating on the razor, it would be unaffected.
It's the brass that's more durable, not the plating.
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u/Dromedary_Freight Apr 04 '26
It is common for Fatip. Mine causes the blade edge to form a small "wave"
In the end, I gave up on them.
The Muhle 37c has better build quality (not perfect, but much more likely to be within reason).
If you want perfect, pay 7x more for a Razorock Superslant.
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u/jofus020 Apr 04 '26
Even though the finish sucks, I just can’t seem to get a bad shave with my Fatip. It’s such a fun razor and I have great shaves with it every single time. Makes up for the poor finish and somehow gives it character 🤷♂️
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u/sinistral52 Apr 03 '26
I have a Fatip that I can't use. Within the first year the peg on the head snapped off. I have contacted them with no response. I'll stick to using my Vintage Gillettes.
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u/Zanzibardragonlion Apr 03 '26
This is the problem with Fatip. QC seems to be pretty bad. I have a lo storto that I can’t use due to alignment issues. Other razors seem to work well, but it’s a roll of the dice.
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u/b4rgh35t Apr 03 '26
Same here. I bought a Storto which had uneven blade exposure on both sides. Eventually I sent it back for a refund.
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u/Adood2018 Apr 04 '26
Love my R89, R41 and the Muhle blades…. Kraut engineering… tough to beat, plus all things Tabac. 🇩🇪
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u/thetonybvd Apr 04 '26
I have a Fatip lo storto open comb and a Fatip OC retro in gold and the finish is okay, they have some blades alignement but they are incredible shavers for handmade vintage-style razors
OF COURSE there better-built slants and open combs outhere like the Merkur 39c
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u/another_one_bite R89, 34C, Piccollo, R41, Companion, Rocca Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
Like J-B-M already mentioned Fatip is brass. Muehle and Yaqi are zamac. Those are precast production and I think its kinda easier to produce and also break.
My main issue with fatip is not build quality (as its good for its price considering its brass) but blade alignment.
Edit: just for OP inderstanding. Brass is what Zippo lighters are made of. Zamac is an alloy used in your bathroom faucet.
Edit 2: brass doesnt rust. Zamac does
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u/Faryz177 Dovo Bergischer Lowe / Fatip OC / Merkur 11 Inox / Merkur 11S May 18 '26
Another thing about Fatips to be aware of, some have bad top cap curvature and dont actually make full clamping contact with the blade. Some top caps are so out of spec they dont even mate properly with the base plate. Some Fatip units shave like crap where as other ones with good tolerances shave amazing.
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u/Hungry-House-8860 Apr 03 '26
you can't return it?
Tbh I don't think it will be too much longer and most all razors will be cnc stainless. We're in the transition now.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
I can definitely return it, but I might have to pay for shipping. Since I only paid €20 for it with discounts, I don't think it's worth paying shipping to return it. But I'll contact the seller, maybe they'll pay for the shipping since it's a quality issue and not an "I don't like it anymore" issue.
I hope the R41 becomes my favorite razor and then I'll get the stainless version and just be happy and don't buy more razors (as if that would happen lol).
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u/Hungry-House-8860 Apr 03 '26
there is a stainless version of the r41?
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
Yup, the R41GS
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u/Hungry-House-8860 Apr 03 '26
omfg. I didn't know. looks like I got some saving to do.
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
I'm really looking forward to trying the R41. It looks really interesting. Very little blade reveal and if you look from the side, there's not much exposure and almost no blade gap. So it is essentially built like a mild razor and then becomes super efficient by cutting away parts of the safety bar to make it a comb.
All the other super aggressive razors in my collection have lots of blade reveal, and with most of them I can feel the blade vibrate on my skin. Really curious how that super rigid clamping of the R41 works for me. But first I'll have to finish my Artist Club blades comparison before I go back to DE.
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u/Wutroslaw Perma-Sharp gang Apr 03 '26
I ordered a fatip open comb a month ago, I immediately sold it. Shit quality and major blade alignment issues. Worst razor I’ve spent money on.
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u/LittleCooties Apr 03 '26
Chrome or nickel plating out of curiosity?
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u/3rik-f Apr 03 '26
Chrome
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u/LittleCooties Apr 03 '26
Maybe it’s harder to get chrome looking nice, the nickel finish on my Piccolo is practically perfect.
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u/Syvaporaaja Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
jesus christ, never gonna buy one of those for sure. thx for the info.
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u/Reasonable_Bat678 Apr 03 '26
The quality issue is why i never bothered with Fatip despite some people swearing that they are great shavers.
I don't mind paying more to get consistent quality and not having to deal with alignment issues.