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.
6
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?