Adjustable preference

[Batman]

I own a Slim adjustable, a Black Super adjustable, a PAL injector adjustable, and in the past a FatBoy.

Please chime in - do you dial up as you may each pass or dial down? I know many stick with "set it and forget it", but those that adjust please weigh in...

 

[Nils]

With my Futur, I usually do the first WTG pass at 3 or 4, then dial down to 2 for XTG. Depending on how my skin feels, I leave it at 2 for ATG or dial down to 1.

 

[DonOhio]

I have 1 adjustable Gillette left, the black SA. It has sat at 7 for as long as I can recall but that's only because it's gathering dust.

The Pal usually resides on H, but with a very light touch. Sometimes I do drop down to L when skin is feeling extra sensitive for some reason. Otherwise, SI&FI.

 

[dpm802]

I'm in the "Dial it Down" school of thought.

I don't know why anyone would buy an adjustable razor and then leave it on the same setting all the time. That defeats the purpose of having an adjustable.

My theory is that the mid-range setting on an adjustable equates to a 2-day growth of stubble. So if I shave every other day, I start there, and dial it down to half of that setting for the second pass.

If I have a 3-day stubble, I take it up a notch or two, and decrease the gap with each subsequent pass.

If I'm dealing with anything above 3-days worth of beard, I just reach for my 39C Slant.

 

[DonOhio]

I don't know why anyone would buy an adjustable razor and then leave it on the same setting all the time. That defeats the purpose of having an adjustable.

I see your point with Gillettes...if you can find a razor that is a dead match for the setting you keep the adjustable set to, why not just use that one? Good question.

The Pal set on H cuts better than any other injector I've used, which is most of them. So I rarely move the dial. But L is there when I need it.

 

[Batman]

Thanks for all of your input. I usually start on 5 or 6 for the first 2 passes, then dial down to a 3 or 4 for ATG.

But some users widen the gap after the first few passes? Isn't that asking for some blood?

 

[Go West Young Man]

On a typical day my Slim goes WTG-7 XTG-5 XTG-3, but the beauty of an adjustable is that you can change it up depending on how you feel that day.

 

[DonOhio]

but one could spend a small fortune finding the "just right" razor.

True, true, but so many of us end up doing exactly that anyway, searching for that one mythical "perfect" razor. No such thing, imo.

 

[jtb]

I have a slim that I have set to 5, some days 3. I also have a Merkur 34C which I seem to prefer. I'm still very new to DE shaving (a few weeks now) but I can see maybe adjusting depending on the blade also.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I set and forget. I think the point of an adjustable is so you can try different settings before you set and forget.

 

[Nils]

I'm in the "Dial it Down" school of thought.

I don't know why anyone would buy an adjustable razor and then leave it on the same setting all the time. That defeats the purpose of having an adjustable.

I see your point, but I also use different settings for different blades. In the Futur, Souplex or Personnas need a setting of at least 4, 7 o'clock yellows take 3 and Iridiums 2 or 1. An adjustable is a great tool to get different blades to work well in the same razor; in this case 'set it and forget it' does make sense, imo.

 

[shaneburns]

In my Futur I do my First pass on 2 WTG then around 3 for XTG and if and i mean IF I go XTG it is 1 - 1.5. This is with Feather Platinum just FYI.

 

[DE Shaver]

I generally keep my Futur in around 3.5 for most shaving, adjusting as necessary.

 

[Mark1966]

What a great question!!!!

I asked a similar one here - http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=150879 and the results may be of interest to you both in the number of people who set and forget, those who adjust and how many use what.

Hope that helps!

 

[Slash McCoy]

I don't twiddle with the setting when I use a DE. I find some adjustables combined with particular blades shave more aggressively or more wimpy, and so I adjust the setting to my preferred comfort zone and shaving style. Once it is set to my satisfaction, I have no need to change it unless I go to a different brand of blade, or if I have to shave off some body hair for some reason. What is right for upstream is right for downstream. I don't change the setting for a change in shave direction. Actually, as a general rule I only go WTG anyhow though there are times when I go the whole enchilada.

Having said that, it is YOUR RAZOR, it is YOUR BLADE, it is YOUR FACE. If changing the setting halfway through your shave suits you, then do it that way. Everyone here on this forum is here for a reason... we don't care to have someone else tell us how we are supposed to blow our nose, wipe our @$$, or shave our face.

 

[Doug_in_NNY]

I've used several FatBoys over the past six months, now that I've gotten back into DE shaving. I used DE razors from the late 1950s until the mid-70s, moving then to cartridges. Now I'm back to stay.

First, a word about my recent experience with the FatBoy. I've noticed that there is a subtle difference between blade exposure on each side, and I have experienced the same phenomena with three or four that I've used (I'll explain how I *ahem* control RAD in another post -- okay, maybe not so well). On the side where the number dial sets the exposure, blade exposure is slightly more than on the opposite side. So, if I want something a bit more aggressive, I know to use that side. If I want something a bit milder, I'll use the opposite side.

With a new blade (Astra Platinum for now) I begin with, say, 3. As the number of shaves increase I will use a more aggressive setting. By the time the blade is about to be retired, I'm in the 6-7 range.

As with all things on this site, YMMV.

Doug

 

[DerFly]

I can't go past your eloquent explanation.

Partial quote required;

"Once it is set to my satisfaction, I have no need to change it unless I go to a different brand of blade..."

DF

 

[Slivovitz]

With a Schick adjustable injector, I put it on the top setting and leave it there, usually. Sometimes I take it down a setting or two if I'm doing extra touch ups.

 

[filedog]

I like 6 or 7 on my Fatboy and Slim, depending on the blade.

 

[wimbouman]

Set and forget...
The Fatboy is on 7.