I just got a new adjustable Gillette TTO razor on EBay . . . probably because I am coming down with a case of razor acquisition disorder. My question is this: Which setting is the most aggressive, one (1) or nine (9)? Could anyone help me with this? Thanks.
Adjustable TTO Gillete razor
- Thread starter umgowa997
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9 is most aggresive, if you turn the clicker dial (You only want to do this w/ the TTO doors open) you will see the four small risers that lift up, at 9 they will be all the way up, at 1 they should be almost flush w/ base. Hope that helps. Which one did you get??
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That is incredibly helpful. Yes, I left the TTO doors open and watched the four small risers go up as I turned the dial. Here's a question. Now that I know conceptually and mechanically how the thing works, can I now turn the 1 to 9 adjuster dial with the TTO doors closed? Or do you always have to do it with them open?
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Sorry I forgot to answer your question on which one I got. I got what's called the old black handle adjustable 1 to 9. I got it for $30.00. I just checked on e-bay and the only examples of that product for sale are now starting their bidding at around $30.00 and they have about 25 days left in the auction. The prices of all three should go way up over the next month. I think I got a pretty good deal.
I believe it's worse to adjust upward with the doors preloaded but it's considered safest to unload them for readjusting in either direction. Put another way, you opened the doors not so much to see the mechanism in action as to reduce the stress on the mechanism while you were readjusting it.
The black handled ajdustable is called a super adjustable and was available with either a very long handle or a more conventional handle length.
- Chris
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Another very helpful comment. Thanks, Chris. I was wondering about putting too much stress on the mechanism by adjusting it upward with the doors closed. From now on I'll just leave the doors open when I do any adjusting at all.
You say my razor is called the "super adjustable", thanks. I'd love to know if mine is the conventional handle length or the very long handle. . . . I just measured it and the black portion is exactly 3 inches, and the silver adjusting knob portion is about 7/8 inch. . . .for a total length of 3 and 7/8 inches. What would that be? Conventional? or very long handle?
See my sig for a little more info on adjustables
Chris, I think you got tongue tied a bit on this one. I thought I knew what you said but now I'm not so sure.
Len
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Chris, I think you got tongue tied a bit on this one. I thought I knew what you said but now I'm not so sure.
Len
Thanks, Len. The best I can deduce from Chris's post is this: When you adjust upwards, you should have the doors open so as not to put too much stress on the mechanism. I'm guessing that he is also saying that when you adjust downward, there's not as much stress on the mechanism so it's not as critical to have the doors open. As a result of these deductions I'm concluding it's probably best to just do all my adjusting with the doors open.
Black Handle Super Adjustable is a great shaver. You know your face better than anyone so I would say start around 3 or less and go from there unless you need a more aggressive shave. My face is sensitive so I use #3. I use a 1977 Super Adjustable everyday and my 1960 Fatboy F on Sundays with better products. You will learn to love your Super Adjustable. You can find them cheaper by altering your search on eBay. I found both of my Black Supers at local antique malls for $3.00 each. I believe they were produced from 1969-1980 or a little later. 1977 is when the plastic base with no date code was introduced.
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Chris, I think you got tongue tied a bit on this one. I thought I knew what you said but now I'm not so sure.
Len
Not my cleanest post.
I'll try again.:Leaving the doors open made it easy to see the way the mechanism worked. Opening the doors at least a little bit is a good idea any time you are changing the setting. It is most important if you are changing to a higher numerical setting. Don't forget to tighten the doors back down again after readjusting the setting.
- Chris
You say my razor is called the "super adjustable", thanks. I'd love to know if mine is the conventional handle length or the very long handle. . . . I just measured it and the black portion is exactly 3 inches, and the silver adjusting knob portion is about 7/8 inch. . . .for a total length of 3 and 7/8 inches. What would that be? Conventional? or very long handle?
See where it fits in this lineup:
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Len, Again you came to the rescue. Thanks. So 3 and 7/8 inches means it's a long handle. That's very helpful.
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Actually my go-to every day razor is an Edwin Jagger imitation ivory handled Chatsworth. I got the Gillette Super Adjustable just to have the ability to adjust things if Edwin Jagger didn't work out . . but I've been pleasantly surprised. The Jagger shaves me perfectly every time and I never get cut (even with very sharp blades). So now I just use the Gillette as a change of pace or for travel. There's no way I'm going to risk losing my Edwin Jagger on an air plane trip or any kind of trip. It stays safely in my shave den.
