New old Fat boy

So I have been shaving with a merkur 180 for a few months now and have loved it. From what i have read they are a pretty mild shave. So I have been wanting to try more aggressive razors to compare shaves even though i was already loving the merkur. Today, i received my 1959 fat boy in the mail, Cleaned it up and set it to dry. and being fearless (and a little dumb too) i decided to shave with it today at its most aggressive setting. I'm Guessing the less bend in the blade when in the razor the more aggressive. long story short.. popped a brand new feather blade in, whipped up the proraso, and tore the crap out of my face. Looks like i shaved with a cheese grater. Lesson learned... baby steps. Can't wait for my SRD english bridle strop to arrive so I can start the straight with my new wedge and learn a few more lessons...

Haha...as long as you had fun. :) I have my DE on 1 at the moment and I still manage to give myself razor burn (or worse) sometimes.

The area under the nose is where I have the most problems.

Enjoy the Fat Boy!

Yea, did almost exactly the same thing when I got my Fatboy. Then I just started at 1 and went up till I was getting cuts and backed off one number down. The other thing I did wrong was use too much pressure being used to very light multi blade plastic disposable razors. The Fatboy is a heavy DE and you virtually need only the weight of the razor to do the job. You merely guide it with your hand.

The other funny thing about DEs is that unlike straights, which I tend to buy like people eat M&Ms, I have no urge to buy more of them. Well, only one exception, bought a second Fatboy in nicer condition complete with case dirt cheap as my home user. The more beat up one will be my travel razor.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, did almost exactly the same thing when I got my Fatboy. Then I just started at 1 and went up till I was getting cuts and backed off one number down. The other thing I did wrong was use too much pressure being used to very light multi blade plastic disposable razors. The Fatboy is a heavy DE and you virtually need only the weight of the razor to do the job. You merely guide it with your hand.

The other funny thing about DEs is that unlike straights, which I tend to buy like people eat M&Ms, I have no urge to buy more of them. Well, only one exception, bought a second Fatboy in nicer condition complete with case dirt cheap as my home user. The more beat up one will be my travel razor.



Bob

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That's only because you're not really into DEs. If you were you'd be like the other tortured souls here with multitudes of them.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

That's only because you're not really into DEs. If you were you'd be like the other tortured souls here with multitudes of them.

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Yea, I look at a DE as just a tool and if I have one that does an excellent job which the Fatboy does I need look no further. Straights to me are more than just tools and they are works of art for the most part. The experience of shaving with a straight is just a much more of an enjoyable ritual than I get with a DE. Funny how that is. I can't really say the end result is any better with one or the other so that is definitely not part of the preference. At least that is one more RAD dodged for the moment, I don't need anymore torturing thanks.

Bob

The last 1/4 turn of the knob is "tougher" and requires more force, it actually bends the blade and makes sure it stays put. It varies between 1/4-1/2 turn, depending on the blade gap setting.

I had some pretty nasty shaves with my slim until I figured that out.

Depending on the razor condition, some have the last 1/4 very smooth with slightly more resistance and some require a bit more love/determination.

The slim even at 9 is not really aggressive in my opinion.

The blade is always bent the same amount. The adjuster changes the gap between the blade edge and safety bar.

Thanks for the post and enjoy your razor. Reminds me to dig out a couple of adjustables and shave with them.

Michael

Thanks.. As I'm still a noob to both SE and DE I did not know this...

As I recall from seeing a post with the original instructions from Gillette, they suggested you start with a lower number, say 2 or 3. You would gradually progress as your technique improves and you learn how the razor shaves. That's the way I did it. I shave at 9 now and get a very close very smooth shave every time.