Fatboy mildness?

[Schrute Farms]

Is the Fatboy considered a very mild razor?

I had my first Fatboy shave today. I used an Astra SP and started with the FB set on 4. As the shave progressed I kept turning it up and ended finishing up on 8 on the second pass. Even then, I don't feel like I got a close shave.

Should I use a sharper blade or do I need to adjust my technique?

My normal daily razor is a Merkur Progress, FWIW.

 

[raisindot]

I've never used a Progress, but compared to my R41 and Merkur Slant it's definitely a lot less aggressive, even at a high setting. Even though I truly enjoying with it, since you don't have to be as careful with it as you do with other razors (making it good for repeated passes), I find myself using my Slim a lot more these days which I'm in an 'adjustable' mood. In terms of blades, I would think that any truly sharp blade (like a Feather) will probably produce closer--and potentially more lacerating--results with any razor.

 

[Leopold Bloom]

Put the Fatboy on 6 and use a Shark or a Feather, it is not a mild razor imo (Astra are good in a Fatboy). It is however a smooth razor, it's like a Rolls Royce.

 

[Vickers]

Here is my FB routine:

- N->S on 9

- S->N on 7

- touch-up on 4 or 5

Lovely shave.

 

[Neffarious]

I'm still playing with mine. I have that and a slim. On 4 both give me BBS on my cheeks. My neck is a bit more difficult as it grows in sideways. I still am getting a couple of nicks there with Astras on 4 or 5. I am still experimenting as i have not been DE shaving again for very long.

 

[chongo gordo]

I wonder if I have a hyper-aggressive Fatboy, because the settings on mine don't seem to jibe with what others are saying.

This is subjective of course, but on mine:
Tech/Superspeed equals Fatboy @ 2
Red Tip equals Fatboy @ 3
Old-Type equals Fatboy @ 7

Rotation is essentially Old-Type or Fatip, I like an aggressive shave, but I've never opened the Fatboy up full throttle.

 

[Neffarious]

does the slim 1-9 = the fatboy 1-9?

 

[Chester]

The angle on the Fatboy is considerably different from the Progress. I think you need to give it some time.
-- Chet

 

[Triad]

My progress blows a fatboy out of the water

 

[wrm2012]

My Fatboy = one setting milder than a Slim. Slim 1= Fatboy 2.

 

[kw108]

My experience is my fatboy is 2 clicks more agressive than my slim. May just be me,or my particular razors YMMV

 

[celestino]

The Progress is a bit more of an effective razor than the Fatboy, in my opinion. You could keep it at the 9th setting and use a different angle and see what happens. Good luck.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

I see no difference between my Fatboy and my Slim.

 

[kingfisher]

Does your adjustment work properly?

 

[cwnidog]

My Fatboy = one setting milder than a Slim. Slim 1= Fatboy 2.

Interesting, I'd say just the opposite. I use my Fatboy on 6 and my Slim on 7. Must be why we say YMMV.

 

[chongo gordo]

Maybe Gillette adjustables aren't consistent. All I know is that the calibration was way off when comparing other razors with the Fatboy as the standard.

 

[Rivendell]

I reckon this thread shows that vintage razors - in particular - are all slightly different. Built by hand, not by robots, they are all bespoke, hence the way a "click" responds on one will be slightly different to another. However, I would start by checking the mechanism is working correctly - i.e. is there a discernible difference in gap (and does it remain parallel and equal on both sides) as you move from 1 - 9? My Fatboy must have been dropped at one time because at one end on one side there was hardly any gap at all, regardless of setting. I made some careful "manual adjustments" and now it's fine.

 

[chongo gordo]

No, I think the razor is fine. It clicks right into place.

The question would be, does anyone who owns two Fatboys or two Slims notice a difference between the two razors (of the same model)?

 

[The Kiwi]

does the slim 1-9 = the fatboy 1-9?

Yes, it does, assuming neither is way off of norm for the model. It is the SA that is one notch milder than the other two. (I have two Slim models, both respond and act with exactly the same shave quality)

 

[Haiku]

From time to time people adjust the razor without loosening the silo doors. It won't adjust properly if one does that. The other issue that can arise is that the razor may be "underclocked" or "overclocked". You can dial it to 9, very gently press the red clicker in, and keep turning it until it reaches 1 again. Your 1 will now be beyond what 9 used to be. If your razor was "underclocked" this will solve the issue.


QUOTE=Schrute Farms;4399260]Is the Fatboy considered a very mild razor?

I had my first Fatboy shave today. I used an Astra SP and started with the FB set on 4. As the shave progressed I kept turning it up and ended finishing up on 8 on the second pass. Even then, I don't feel like I got a close shave.

Should I use a sharper blade or do I need to adjust my technique?

My normal daily razor is a Merkur Progress, FWIW.[/QUOTE]