I have had two fatboys, I have one currently, the other I traded to john crissman months ago...I just can't seem to get a great shave from them...not really even achieving DFS with them...I believe it is the taller head, granted I probably could get used to it eventually, but not consistently having good results from it has kind of diminished my desire to use it...anyone else have this type of complaint of the fatboy? granted they are hefty, good looking...but it just doesn't do it for me...
Anyone else not get good shaves from a fatboy?
- Thread starter ytsejammer
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I get better shaves from the Slim than the Fat Boy, and better shaves from my Slant than either.
I must be lucky, I haven't found a Gillette that I can't get a decent shave from.
Some are easier to get along with than others, but the Fatboy is one of those that performs well for me, but doesn't make me want to forsake all other razors, either.
Edit:
After making this post I went and shaved with my Fatboy, Tabac soap and a Shark Super Stainless blade on it's third shave. The result was a three pass shave that misses BBS status because of one spot on the jawline that I missed when feeling for touch up areas. WTG at 5, XTG at 5, ATG at 7, no nicks, cuts or weepers.
I'm not a Fatboy Superfan, but it shaves just fine for me.
Some are easier to get along with than others, but the Fatboy is one of those that performs well for me, but doesn't make me want to forsake all other razors, either.
Edit:
After making this post I went and shaved with my Fatboy, Tabac soap and a Shark Super Stainless blade on it's third shave. The result was a three pass shave that misses BBS status because of one spot on the jawline that I missed when feeling for touch up areas. WTG at 5, XTG at 5, ATG at 7, no nicks, cuts or weepers.
I'm not a Fatboy Superfan, but it shaves just fine for me.
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As someone else mentioned, I get a better shave with a Slim than Fatboy. I really do not like the fat handle or the taller head of the Fatboy.
But both pale in comparison to the Krona. For me, the Schick Krona is the "it" razor.
But both pale in comparison to the Krona. For me, the Schick Krona is the "it" razor.
Count me in
I find them next to useless. They look nice though.
I find them next to useless. They look nice though.
I love the look and feel of the Fatboy, and the shaves are great, but I also find the Slim shave very slightly better, but it's pretty close.
It's interesting how some prefer the heftier razors, and some prefer the lighter, sleeker razors. I enjoy the variety of so many to choose from every day!
It's interesting how some prefer the heftier razors, and some prefer the lighter, sleeker razors. I enjoy the variety of so many to choose from every day!
Count me in
I agree. I wanted to like the Fatboy because I think it looks cool but the head geometry just did not work well for me. I get a better shave from a slim and a better shave yet from a Progress.
I acquired a very nice fatboy after a seemingly endless Ebay search . . .
2 shaves early on and revisited recently to see if my improved technique would help. unfortunately, it's been banished to a small leather shave kit underneath my sink, along with all of the other razors I will likely never use again. Same result with 2 aristocrats, the fatboy's cousins.
From the beginning, I have enjoyed much better results with my slim.
And even better results from everything I've used with an open comb.
That's a peek into how my mileage has varied so far.
2 shaves early on and revisited recently to see if my improved technique would help. unfortunately, it's been banished to a small leather shave kit underneath my sink, along with all of the other razors I will likely never use again. Same result with 2 aristocrats, the fatboy's cousins.
From the beginning, I have enjoyed much better results with my slim.
And even better results from everything I've used with an open comb.
That's a peek into how my mileage has varied so far.
I always found the fatboy to be very good. I usually run at 7 or 8. The weight seems to make for a very good quality shave IMO. The slim is very similar but I prefer the weight of the FB.
Have used my Fatboy about 3 times since I won it on ebay a couple of weeks ago. Set at 5 its so far, so good. Still in the comparison stage vs. my other Gillettes (a Red Tip, a Blue Tip and a Milord).
I used a Fatboy when I started shaving back in the early '60s. I've been using a FB again for the last 6 months. I'm using 7 o'clock yellows with the FB set at 4 or 5. I can do a DFS-BBS shave in 3 passes, except for a very small strip just below the nostrils. For that area, I use the corner of the blade. I know it sounds insane at first, but once you have your technique and confidence down pat, it's routine.
I used to get great shaves from my Fatboy using the "Swedish(Polish)" Gillette blade.
Now I use Super Iridiums and still get great shaves.
Unfortuneately, for me, none of the other blades I tried really do a satisfactory job.
Now I use Super Iridiums and still get great shaves.
Unfortuneately, for me, none of the other blades I tried really do a satisfactory job.
For those that aren't getting a "great" shave with your Fatboys, take a look at the blade gap to see that it is even. I have noticed that sometimes when purchasing an adjustable razor that the gap is sometimes messed up. One side will be a different distance than the other. So before banishing your razors forever just take a look at that. I get a good shave with my Fatboy's, but you will have to pry my Red Tip from my cold dead fingers
. Hope this helps...
. Hope this helps...
Fatboy was one of the first vintage gillettes I acquired, at first I loved it but after getting some other razors I'm afraid it's gone down the list. I get my best shave from a slim.
It's still looks so cool though that I haven't gotten myself to sell it yet
It's still looks so cool though that I haven't gotten myself to sell it yet
You'll have to mark me down for the Fatboy being just a mediocre shaver. I find myself reaching more and more for a "G" bar or the 1912 S/E,(thanks to D.Irving, Robert Paulsen, MrGuy, 1OldGI and others who's posts have inspired me to check into these wonderful razors) leaving the Fatboy as well as others sitting pretty on the shelf.
My best shaves in order best being 38c, then 1948-50 Aristocrat, next Ranger Tech, 1948-50 SS, Super Adjustable, Slim Adjustable, last FatBoy. All with Feather and Derby blades.
