From Red Tip to Slim Adjustable?

[LiveOak]

In the last several weeks I have abandoned my Merkur 34C for a Red Tip. My shaves with that razor have been phenomenal. I love this razor.

My question is, I have a couple of very nice slim adjustables, and I am itching to try one. The head seems a bit heavier than even the Red Tip, and the ability to adjust the blade exposure is intriguing. Also, I like the longer handle.

If you were me, what setting should I start on? Would 8 or 9 be too much?

Like I said, I am falling in love with the Red Tip. If I end up with a better shave with the adjustable I'll be beside myself. And that is with the "bad" Derby blades everyone talks about, so I still have some things to experiment with there.

 

[Sledgehammer39]

I have used both the Slim and Red Tip, both are great. The Red Tip is my goto daily shaver, if you want to simulate the Red Tip with the Slim I would try either 4 or 5 on the adjustable setting. YMMV applies here but this is what seemed to be close to the Red Tip in shave performance using the Slim.

 

[Mike Schutz]

I started using a Slim after not using one for 30 years. After using Slants and Open Combs for years I thought I would go for it and set it at 8 or 9. Boy, did I pay the price. Talk about a hack job. When I finished patching up my bloody pride, I set it at 5. Now I use 5 or 6 and I'm getting a BBS all the time. What's that old line they have about valor and discretion?

 

[kingfisher]

Try the first pass on 5 and see what you think. It mows down a lot of hair and yet doesn't feel "dangerous" in the least.

Then, for the second pass, set it to 3. use a very sharp blade. The Slim is a revelation on 3. So smooth and effortless.

 

[Chester]

I love the slim. I recommend starting at 3, and seeing how you like it. Crank up one position from there with each successive shave, and see where you stop.

I do adjust exposure between passes for some blades -- I'll start at 3 or 4 for WTG, and go to 5 for ATG. Not everyone does this... some folks "set and forget", and others start out with a higher setting for the first pass and switch to a lower one for others.

Another tip for the slim -- if you are using a sharper blade (for me, that's feather or souplex), try taking it down a notch or two from your usual (whatever that ends up being for you).

I've been bopping between the slim and postwar aristocrats, and I've found that I get a much more seamless transition between the two if I set the slim to 5 for the last shave before the switch.

It's a remarkably good razor that can find the sweet spot for any number of blade configurations. I guess that's why I keep coming back to it.

Hope it helps,
-- Chet

 

[Jaymo]

As much as I like my Injectors, SEs, Slants, EJ, and other non-Gillette razors, I have to say that I don't think anyone has improved upon the Gillette SS, Slim, or short handled Super Adj. They just work, and work well.