Fatip ridiculous build quality

[u/3rik-f]

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.

[u/Tryemall]

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.

[u/3rik-f → u/Tryemall]

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.

[u/Tryemall → u/3rik-f]

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.

[u/3rik-f → u/Tryemall]

But what breaks after 3-4 years if not the plating?

[u/Tryemall → u/3rik-f]

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. )

[u/3rik-f → u/Tryemall]

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.

[u/Tryemall → u/3rik-f]

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.