Disappointed with Adjustable Razors?

[blackdog1101]

I folks, I haven't posted for a while, but have lurked some, and am still wet shaving and enjoying it. However, I am finding that I dislike shaving with adjustable razors. I have two, a Fatboy and a Slim. I find that the additional "heft" of the head of the razor leaves me with a poorer shave than a fixed head razor. This is particularly true under the nose and around the adams apple. Am I alone in this opinion? Thanks for your comments!

 

[gaseousclay]

you're not alone. I think someone conducted a poll asking which razor users prefered shaving with and I think most people chose fixed-head razors. I appreciate the craftsmanship behind adjustables but I almost never use my Fatboy. It's fixed-head all the way for me

 

[Noebie]

i had a similar feeling at first with my adjustable (which is a 60s aristocrat)

but then i realized that my fingers were creeping up the handle to compensate for the weight at the head

once i got them back out to the tip, it works just fine for me - consistently fine shaves

 

[NoFair]

I almost exclusively use adjustables; Slim and Super slim and have no such issues. I use a Tech, open comb travel razor or TTO when traveling.

I like being able to get a milder shave at times and fine tuning for different blades.

 

[kwk285]

I use both a HD and a Futur. There are things I like and dislike about both. Overall, I am very happy with the quality of shaves that I get from both.

 

[Drew]

I've never been interested in using an adjustable, nor do I think I will ever be curious enough to try one. I've been traditional wetshaving for over 5 years (more than half of that with a str8), but have used enough DEs to feel like I now know what works for me. The searching aspect of this hobby is fun, but I am now happy I have pretty much settled on a razor and blade. Now it's time to liquidate some of the "experimental pieces," as it were.

shave well
Drew

 

[Hoos]

You are not alone. I've never been able to get a satisfactory shave from an adjustable (everything from a Slim to a Fatboy to a Toggle).

To the folks who can, I think that's great. But the "adjustable" factor seems more gimmicky than utilitarion, IMHO and IME.

 

[K9DVM]

I get great shaves from my Mergress but I do have to change the angle when I change the setting. In other words there are more adjustments made than just the gap setting.

 

[dpm802]

My active rotation consists of two fixed and two adjustables ... 34G, 39C, Pure-gress, and Futur.

I usually reach for the fixed heads when I'm at home, four times out of five ... an adjustable goes with me when I travel.

If I had to choose just one type of head, I would go with the fixed head, since it consistently gives me better shaves with little fuss.

With adjustables, I feel it needs a slightly different mindset to use one properly. I've never understood why people that use adjustables leave it set on the same number all the time. It kind of negates the point of having a variety of settings.

My theory is that when I use an adjustable razor, I dial it up according to how long its been since my last shave. If I just shaved the day before, I set it on "1", if its been two days, I set in on "2," etc. Midscale on an adjustable (5 on a Fatboy, 2.5 on Progress, 3 on Futur) is equivalent to about a three day shave. If its been more than three days, I reach for my Sledgehammer Slant, since it does its best work when it has plenty of stubble to harvest.

 

[cooncatbob]

My rotation include the Progress, Slim and Fat Boy and I have no such complaints.
Unlike my fixed head razors which prefer certain blades a adjustable razor can be tuned to work with almost any blade.
I'm sure if you want to dispose of your adjustable razors you'll have no trouble finding a buyer.

 

[redbike]

I've got five adjustables: Fat Boy, Slim, Slim Aristocrat, Super Adjustable (SA) long, and SA short. I use them all with no problem. I typically have a rotation of 7 razors and there's always an adjustable included. Sorry they don't work for you but, as someone mentioned, you could probably sell them here in short order.

 

[blackdog1101]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I'm glad to know I'm not alone in my experience. I do enjoy wet shaving, but doubt I will ever become a collector of razors as are many of you. I'll be happy with a few razors that work well for me. I will try to get some pictures in the next couple of days and will offer these two razors to members here.

Thank you again for your comments.

 

[linuxidiot]

I am also slightly disappointed in adjustable razors so far. I bought a Slim on here about a month ago, while I love the look and feel, I just cant shake the feeling I am having to do more passes for what my fixed-head would do in less passes. I plan on keeping my Slim and still picking up a Goodfella and Futur in the near future even if I may not use them.

I put a blade in my Barberpole and went to work the other night and it sounded like tree trunks falling under an axe blade compared to the stubble I still felt even with the adjustable on a 9!

 

[40_Caliber]

It's adjustable all the time for me. I have several models of each. The fixed heads razors just don't do as good a job for me and over time I have all but quit using them.

.40

 

[rainman]

Disappointed with Adjustable Razors?


No. It's my go-to razor.

 

[garyg]

My rotation include the Progress, Slim and Fat Boy and I have no such complaints.
Unlike my fixed head razors which prefer certain blades a adjustable razor can be tuned to work with almost any blade.
I'm sure if you want to dispose of your adjustable razors you'll have no trouble finding a buyer.

I use a Fatty almost 80%, the rest are fixed, including Bob's Bull Mastiff, somehow I get a better shave from the fatboy. But as Bob notes that the fixed like only a certain blade, & as I am using a bunch of different ones ..

 

[buddydog]

I love me a fatboy.....



I rotate through a lot of the razors that are considered the best shavers.The fatboy is just as good as the best of them.

 

[donkennison]

I love my Fatboy's and SS's , but since changing blades so often to find "the one" I have been shaving daily with my thick silver handled Tech. I have found that even with poor technique or being in a rush the tech never lets me down. The adjustables ,for me, just don't show much forgiveness if you don't pay the proper respect etc. Picture is from Mr. Razor's outstanding site, for reference purposes and newbie's. I do have a masterpiece in my near future via Bob's Razor Works!!!!!!!!!!!! I keep having daydreams of the first shave with it, OMG I need serious help,,lol.

 

[CzechCzar]

After RAD set in, I bought a whole bunch of razors/blades, just to see what I liked. My fatboy, though a tad heavy, is awesome. I just set it on 5 and shave, and I can't feel a thing. Closest shaves of all my razors by far.

 

[polod]

Yes, the 1932 Tech razors are excellent! Get a Tech, they're cheap ( I usually find them in shops and flea markets for $3-5) and they shave great. I usually use a Red Personna blade in them. There are so many good things about the Tech.

1. They are cheap to buy, even in mint condition.
2. Get the fat handled one, (pictured in previous post).
3. They are three piece, so easy to take apart and you can clean polish all parts no problem. Unlike the one piece where it's harder to get to all parts of the razor.
4. They are a mild razor, so you can do multiple passes with no irritation.
5. With good technique, 3-4 passes, they provide a very close shave.
6. You can shim the blade if you need the gap to be a little more aggressive.
7. Simple design, reliable, provide several lifetimes of shaves as long as you take care of the razor.
8. Never had a Tech that had any uneven blade alignment issues or uneven blade gaps, they don't have these problems like some of the Fatboys and Slims. Also no hinges to get bent either.
9. The Tech is a winner all around.

I actually prefer these razors too over many others. Luckily they are easy to find and very cheap to buy.