Thread: Help getting started with safety razors!

Hello all! Been a while since Ive posted. I just got three DEs razors from my grandpa (cliche... I know). I believe the one in the middle is the gillette fat boy, and the other two are also gillettes, I have no idea what models they are though...

Anyways, I have shaved with straight razors, so I dont need help with prep, but more so technical questions. I plan on starting with the fatboy, after I clean it up.

Firstly, everything moves nicely, but I do think sterilizing it would be wise. What is the best way to do that?
Secondly How tight should the blade be tightened down? As and adjustable razor, Im not sure what the best guide lines are for this.

Any help and trivia regarding any three of these razors is much appreciated. Thanks!

Sterilization would be to boil in water.
I may be wrong but your adjustable (middle) looks like Aristocrat. Basically when you put a blade in it you can adjust the position of the cutting edge to the level of comfort and aggression you like. On all DE razors when you put the blade in you have to tighten the head all the way.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Sterilization would be to boil in water.
I may be wrong but your adjustable (middle) looks like Aristocrat. Basically when you put a blade in it you can adjust the position of the cutting edge to the level of comfort and aggression you like. On all DE razors when you put the blade in you have to tighten the head all the way.

Well based solely on pictures, this looks more like a fat boy to me than an aristocrat, as it seems that the aristocrats have spiralling designed handles.
You definitely would know way better than me though, so Ill take you word for it, if nobody else chimes in

Originally Posted by Xyphota

Well based solely on pictures, this looks more like a fat boy to me than an aristocrat, as it seems that the aristocrats have spiralling designed handles.
You definitely would know way better than me though, so Ill take you word for it, if nobody else chimes in

I said "I may be wrong" because I was not sure if it was Aristocrat. I found good pics of Fat Boy and compared to my Aristocrat and they do look different in some details.

The black handled one is called Black Beauty, it looks like you have the long handle version.

Just had a look at my gold coloured Gillette Fat Boy and it appears to be the same as the one you posted, but no expert here. I don't have either of the other two posted.

I believe the with adjustable Gillette razors you should make any setting changes with the "barn doors" opened up a bit to take the strain off the adjuster and then re-tighten them down. I would start the Fat Boy at a setting of 3 until you are comfortable with it and work your way up the scale to find what works best for you. The setting of 9 is the most aggressive setting. With that setting and a feather blade it can give the Muhle R41 a run for the money in closeness of shave. Be very careful how you go about cleaning that gold Gillette, nothing too abrasive, as the coating is not too thick and a bit fragile.

Just tighten it down snug not to the old millwright standard of till it snaps off and then back it off 1/2 a turn. Enjoy your heirloom Gillettes.

Bob

Nice gear. Don't adjust blade setting with the barn doors snugged down - loosen the lid before twisting the adjuster, they say. Have a Slim/Adjustable - love it.

Those razors are:

Left - Gillette Knack or Slim Twist (depending on the country of manufacture)
Center - FatBoy
Right - Super Adjustable (black beauty)

They're great razors, and it's great to have the family connection. Enjoy them.

The ones I have have model #s on the underneath.