1959 Gillette Fatboy Adjustments

[CableGary]

Hi,

I am new to wet shaving and just purchased a 1959 Gillette Fatboy from ebay. The razor looks like it is in a very good condition. When I turn the adjustable ring, there's an audible click on every number setting. I have yet to shave with it. However when I put a razor blade in the razor and went through the different settings I did not see any difference in the adjustment of the blade and how much of it is exposed. I am worried that the mechanics of the razor are broken. Can someone please explain what I should be seeing when going between setting one and nine.

Thanks

 

[texbilly]

First of all, welcome!

Try adjusting the setting when the silo doors are open, then closing the doors. If that doesn't work, let us know. Either way, good luck and enjoy this great forum!

 

[michiganlover]

Hi,

I am new to wet shaving and just purchased a 1959 Gillette Fatboy from ebay. The razor looks like it is in a very good condition. When I turn the adjustable ring, there's an audible click on every number setting. I have yet to shave with it. However when I put a razor blade in the razor and went through the different settings I did not see any difference in the adjustment of the blade and how much of it is exposed. I am worried that the mechanics of the razor are broken. Can someone please explain what I should be seeing when going between setting one and nine.

Thanks

If you have the TTO mechanism fully turned down, you will likely see nothing when you move between clicks. You need to loosen the doors slightly before adjusting.

The TTO mechanism pushes against a plate on the bottom of the head of the razor, that rises up, and down. This in turn moves the bed that the blade sits on up, and down in the razor, thus increasing, and decreasing the gap.

It is possible that this moving plate is jammed with crud, and hence doesn't move when you move the adjustment wheel.

If everything is working properly, you should be able to push that moving plate up, and down with your finger when the TTO doors are fully open.

Edit: Welcome to B and B!!

 

[Straight Arrow]

You should notice very small differences in the blade gap...that is...the amount of space between the blade and the safety bar. It's hard to see the difference between each click but if you compare #1 with #9 you should notice it.

 

[Tha Baron]

It's a possibility that you may not notice much of a difference between the settings with your eye... you should be able to see a difference between the '9' and '1' settings, but its pretty tough to see a noticeable change between say a '1' and '2'... Like Bill said, only adjust the dial when the silo dorrs are open and untightened.

 

[CableGary]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I did adjust with the doors open and adjusted between 1 and 9, but did not notice the difference in razor blade edge exposure...

 

[michiganlover]

Here is a picture, as it is easier to see a picture, than explain with text:

If this piece does not freely move with the TTO doors open, you are going to need to soak the razor in some Scubbing Bubbles for awhile, to loosen up the years of crud.



P.S. This razor is a Slim Adjustable, not a Fatboy, but the overall construction is nearly identical.

 

[CableGary]

Thanks for the quick response everyone. I did notice the difference when holding the razor vertically with silo doors open and adjusting between 1 and 9. Which setting is considered to be the most aggressive 1 or 9? Do you typically find your comfort zone/number and stick to it or adjust on the 2nd pass or to get certain parts of your face? Looking forward to my first fatboy shave in the morning.

 

[michiganlover]

Thanks for the quick response everyone. I did notice the difference when holding the razor vertically with silo doors open and adjusting between 1 and 9. Which setting is considered to be the most aggressive 1 or 9? Do you typically find your comfort zone/number and stick to it or adjust on the 2nd pass or to get certain parts of your face? Looking forward to my first fatboy shave in the morning.

1 is super mild, and 9 is super aggressive. As a newbie, I would recommend setting it @3, and then forgetting that it adjusts for the time being. It's easier to learn proper technique if you limit the variables of your shave.

Some of us just set it, and forget it (which is what I do. I leave mine @ 3 or 4 all of the time), and some people like to adjust for each pass, to achieve a closer shave.

By the way, I measured the blade gap, and on my Slim the difference between each setting is 2 thousands of an inch. So setting two is 2 thousands of an inch bigger than setting one.

 

[Saltysteele]

if you're a newbie (i am too), i would suggest starting on 1. at this point, i've been at a month, and am on 3.

i just found out today, while watching one of mantic's videos on youtube (if you haven't seen his vid's, you MUST; a prerequisite for wetshaving ), about opening the silo doors to make adjustments. thankfully i haven't encountered a problem yet, and due to newb's luck, have always (again, by dumb luck) had the doors open to change blade when i thought to change settings.

 

[michiganlover]

Here is a link to Mantic's channel. He has taught the vast majority of us the proper way to shave:

http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59

 

[CableGary]

THanks guys, this was very useful.