Just curious, do most of you open your adjustable prior to adjusting? This is kind of like the dry the brush up or down argument in my opinion. I have never seen any definitive instructions from Gillette stating that the mechanism will be damaged if you do not open the razor first. What say you? I personally don't worry about it, and adjust with it closed.
Gillette Adjustable: Open or closed operation?
- Thread starter Blondie
- Start date
This post from DamnFineBob in the thread How to use an adjustable summarizes it well. Adjusting with doors open entails less risk to you and razor, and makes adjusting easier.
I adjust with doors closed. Closing the doors with the adjustment set high causes just as much stress.
Hmm! On the other hand, this Gillette package shown on mr-razor's site clearly indicates adjusting with the doors closed. (Zoom in.)
I see no reason to think this are instructions from Gillette.
Do we even know whether the packaging had anything to do with Gillette? Was it a distributor who packaged them this way? Note that the instructions are not in English. Anyone know what language this is? Did Gillette send a shipment of razors overseas to be packaged and sold by a distributor.
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Please remember there are Adjustables and then there are Adjustables. A Toggle and a FatBoy work differently but to make up your mind for yourself try this. With a blade locked in the razor, run it from one extreme to the other. Now do it again with the blade unlocked. If you note a difference in load then you are noting a difference in potential wear. I would not rely on the manufactures opinion per the instructions that marketing had a hand in drawing up.
But in all fairness to the author of the Gillette instructions, Im sure he was told to focus on ease of use and all the unavoidable joy that ensued by using genuine Gillette products over razor preservation.
Also these instructions were written at a time when you could stroll to the drugstore or 5&10 on the corner and come home with a Fatboy for two bucks.
(Remember, they do not make these anymore.)
But in all fairness to the author of the Gillette instructions, Im sure he was told to focus on ease of use and all the unavoidable joy that ensued by using genuine Gillette products over razor preservation.
Also these instructions were written at a time when you could stroll to the drugstore or 5&10 on the corner and come home with a Fatboy for two bucks.
(Remember, they do not make these anymore.)
+1. And this assumes that the "instructions" even came from Gillette. See my post above.
None of the instructions that Gillette supplied with their adjustable razors mention loosening of the doors before adjusting the razor.
Big Thread of Razor Instructions
Most of these razors have been around for 50+ years and a lot of them appear to work just as well now as they did when they were new. Cleaning and/or keeping gunk out of the handle, where it gums up the mechanism, would be more important to the longevity of the razor. For peace of mind, you can loosen the doors before you adjust, but it isn't necessary.
- Thread starter
- #9
I agree, I don't think it is necessary, but if it makes you feel better, knock yourself out. For me, if I adjust "on the fly" during a shave, I don't want to take the time to open, I prefer to just adjust. All of my adjustables came from my grandparents, and I asked them if they loosened the doors, and they didn't. So I have a fatboy, slim, and super that have been adjusted for 40 to 50 years with the doors closed, still going strong.
Has anyone actually had one fail while adjusting with the doors closed?
I believe that the answer is yes. I have. I have what looks like a near mint fatboy that closes crookedly. The shaft appears bent. I cannot imagine how the inside shaft could have bent but for the razor having been adjusted with the doors closed and then left that way.
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