Thread: DE needs fixing.

My wife has a '60's model Gillette. The area where the blade is exposed is different on each side. One side has more of a gap than the other, causing my wife to cut herself sometimes. I'm hoping someone could tell me how to fix it. I don't think it'll show up in pictures.

I have a Gillette Fat Boy from that era and has the same thing - I think it was designed that way. For what reason, I still haven't figured out...

Mark

Hello, Bulldog:

I had the Gillette "Red Tip" and it had the same problem. To my knowledge those razors were designed that way. I find it a major drawback, not that I care much for such Gillette razors, anyway.

I confess I don't have a solution for that blade problem, short of retiring the Gillette and giving your lovely wife the gift of a fine double edge: the Edwin Jagger L89.

Regards,
Obie

I don't know it was designed that way. I suspect it's just shot.

Originally Posted by bulldog

My wife has a '60's model Gillette. The area where the blade is exposed is different on each side. One side has more of a gap than the other, causing my wife to cut herself sometimes. I'm hoping someone could tell me how to fix it. I don't think it'll show up in pictures.

Hi there,

Maybe I can offer some insight into the uneven blade exposure problem. Over the years I've handled quite a lot of razors, especially Gillette adjustables. Matter of fact, if I had to guess I'd say that's what your wife is probably using. I say that because the problem is most often found in those types.

Far as I know, all the Gillette razors were supposed to have the same even gap on both sides. However, I do see the occasional uneven situation in maybe one razor out of 8-10 or thereabouts. The sides are supposed to shave exactly the same, and that won't happen with one uneven side (as your wife knows).

There may be some sorta fix, but I can't tell you what that is. I have a slim with that issue, and sent off a fatboy with the same problem for someone to play with.

If you bought it from a forum member and explained the situation, then I'd guesss it's no problem. Being bought on ebay might be tougher to resolve.

Sorry to give you the bad news,

Martin

Matter of fact, there's a thread about this very issue going on at another forum. Turns out there's a bunch of people with the same uneven gap deal. One poor guy has two super adjustables like that. Fixed head problems are rare, and I was surprised to hear about the red tip in a previous post.

I know of this problem as well, and I'm pretty sure that they weren't designed that way. I'd say it's either a QC problem from the factory or some age related issue. The best I could suggest, without damaging your razor, is to try to compensate by adjusting the blade exposure by hand prior to tightening the mechanism.

Thanks all. We're not out any money at all on the deal. The razor was in an abandoned storage unit and my dad picked it out for me when he was cleaning it out. I have one very similar and have had no issues with it (but then again I use straights the majority of the time). My wife said the razor was fine when she first got it but then she dropped it one day. Oh, and yes, it is an adjustable. Maybe I'll give fixing it a try. If all else fails, there's a guy that has one almost exactly like it for $5. Again, thanks for all the input.