Item Description
Finally tracked one down and used it tonight. I already like it. Even though it is not a perfect razor it was well worth the wait and the hunt. However, had this been my first injector, and/or I tried it before my shaving prep and technique were honed, the Pal Adjustable would probably put me off injectors for a long time. But that's never entirely a razor's fault, nor would it have been here. Anyway...
PRICE: Varies...these don't come up too often anywhere, and when they do they tend to be snatched up fast...and never as cheaply as many more common DEs and injectors. You may luck out, though, so keep an eye peeled. Tip: I've seen them turn up in lots as often, if not more often, as by themselves.
QUALITY: I give it a 10 because the largely stainless steel head seems well designed and well constructed, especially since, of necessity, it has more components than non-adjustables. Also, I don't own a Schick adjustable so I don't know how the construction compares...but the Pal is definitely more pleasing to the eye than the (imo) clunky looking Schick.
USER FRIENDLY: The adjustment is pretty straightforward: L moves the safety bar outwards, away from the blade, making for a less aggressive cut. The dial increments up to H, where the bar is pretty deeply recessed and your face is in for a good scraping.
GRIP: I'm really big on how a razor feels in the hand, so grip is important to me. That's why this area of the Pal Adjustable gets the biggest ding. The handle is a stainless steel spine connected to smoothly triangular, ribbed plastic. The tread itself is good, comparable to the ribs on non-adjustable Shicks of the same era, but the triangle shape gave me some trouble when shaving upward/ATG. I had to hold it much closer to the head than I would have liked just to keep a good grip on it. Had Pal kept the same length but gone with a flatter handle - like some later Schicks have, I believe - or even a rounded one like Gillette's SA, it'd get at least a 9. As is, 5.
EASE OF BLADE REPLACEMENT: As easy as any other nominally operating injector. Nothing different here.
AGGRESSIVENESS: Hoo boy. We need the rating scale to go up to 11. With 3 days worth of growth, I was well lathered up and started out on L with a NOS Pal blade. It felt milder than my old Schick G. Dialed it up to H...that was a mistake. I enjoyed how much hair it took off FAST but I got too careless and ended up bleeding more than I have since first starting out on DEs - I'm talking "styptic won't handle this" level bleeding. This is not a fault of the razor - I just underestimated how much bite this thing has on H. And anyway, I ended up with quite the BBS out of it, and I imagine I'll be BBS for at least a full day, apart from the scabs.
So, you want aggressive? IMO this thing is second only to - and possibly equal to - the early SEs I've used, but definitely blows past any Gillette I've tried on 9 (and I've tried 'em all). I am curious how it compares to a Schick adjustable on high; I'd love someone to tell me since I don't own one.
ADJUSTABILITY: I'll have to play with it more but it seemed that the five "stops" from L to H aren't really stops, as with a Fatboy or SA. It seemed there was a constant slide from low to high. Perhaps the great condition of this razor is deceptive and the adjuster is worn out, I don't know, but I can watch the safety bar slide in and out, so I know that does what it's supposed to.
BALANCE: I could not comment on this area because I've only used it once and the triangular grip still throws me off. I suspect it is very well balanced, what with the length combined with all the metal it has in it, but I won't be able to say until I've used it a few more times.
Bottom line: If you know you like adjustables, and know how to use one, and if you can fine one, get one. You'll be glad you did. OTOH, if you're merely curious about injectors, take the long-standing advice of the old timers herebouts regarding DEs and injectors both: start with one of the milder types. If you feel the need for more bite, move on up to one of the older Schicks, like the G. Then if you want even more, track down a Pal Adjustable. Just don't throw a wad of money on one assuming that you'll like it. You may not! This is a serious, well made shaving tool that'll give some of the best results, but it demands skill and respect.
PRICE: Varies...these don't come up too often anywhere, and when they do they tend to be snatched up fast...and never as cheaply as many more common DEs and injectors. You may luck out, though, so keep an eye peeled. Tip: I've seen them turn up in lots as often, if not more often, as by themselves.
QUALITY: I give it a 10 because the largely stainless steel head seems well designed and well constructed, especially since, of necessity, it has more components than non-adjustables. Also, I don't own a Schick adjustable so I don't know how the construction compares...but the Pal is definitely more pleasing to the eye than the (imo) clunky looking Schick.
USER FRIENDLY: The adjustment is pretty straightforward: L moves the safety bar outwards, away from the blade, making for a less aggressive cut. The dial increments up to H, where the bar is pretty deeply recessed and your face is in for a good scraping.
GRIP: I'm really big on how a razor feels in the hand, so grip is important to me. That's why this area of the Pal Adjustable gets the biggest ding. The handle is a stainless steel spine connected to smoothly triangular, ribbed plastic. The tread itself is good, comparable to the ribs on non-adjustable Shicks of the same era, but the triangle shape gave me some trouble when shaving upward/ATG. I had to hold it much closer to the head than I would have liked just to keep a good grip on it. Had Pal kept the same length but gone with a flatter handle - like some later Schicks have, I believe - or even a rounded one like Gillette's SA, it'd get at least a 9. As is, 5.
EASE OF BLADE REPLACEMENT: As easy as any other nominally operating injector. Nothing different here.
AGGRESSIVENESS: Hoo boy. We need the rating scale to go up to 11. With 3 days worth of growth, I was well lathered up and started out on L with a NOS Pal blade. It felt milder than my old Schick G. Dialed it up to H...that was a mistake. I enjoyed how much hair it took off FAST but I got too careless and ended up bleeding more than I have since first starting out on DEs - I'm talking "styptic won't handle this" level bleeding. This is not a fault of the razor - I just underestimated how much bite this thing has on H. And anyway, I ended up with quite the BBS out of it, and I imagine I'll be BBS for at least a full day, apart from the scabs.
So, you want aggressive? IMO this thing is second only to - and possibly equal to - the early SEs I've used, but definitely blows past any Gillette I've tried on 9 (and I've tried 'em all). I am curious how it compares to a Schick adjustable on high; I'd love someone to tell me since I don't own one.
ADJUSTABILITY: I'll have to play with it more but it seemed that the five "stops" from L to H aren't really stops, as with a Fatboy or SA. It seemed there was a constant slide from low to high. Perhaps the great condition of this razor is deceptive and the adjuster is worn out, I don't know, but I can watch the safety bar slide in and out, so I know that does what it's supposed to.
BALANCE: I could not comment on this area because I've only used it once and the triangular grip still throws me off. I suspect it is very well balanced, what with the length combined with all the metal it has in it, but I won't be able to say until I've used it a few more times.
Bottom line: If you know you like adjustables, and know how to use one, and if you can fine one, get one. You'll be glad you did. OTOH, if you're merely curious about injectors, take the long-standing advice of the old timers herebouts regarding DEs and injectors both: start with one of the milder types. If you feel the need for more bite, move on up to one of the older Schicks, like the G. Then if you want even more, track down a Pal Adjustable. Just don't throw a wad of money on one assuming that you'll like it. You may not! This is a serious, well made shaving tool that'll give some of the best results, but it demands skill and respect.
