I've finally gotten a vintage adjustable. It looks like the doors work okay, and I've given it scrubbing bubbles so it looks worlds better now. I got curious and popped a blade in so I could see the action. It turns easily, and clicks firmly into place at each step, but the blade doesn't look like it's changing angle from the side. Are the changes in position as visible on the Gillette adjustables as they are on, for example, the Futur?
Gillette adjustable question...
- Thread starter DSW
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here's something to look at, without a blade. razor upright, open the doors, look at either end and turn the clicks and you should be able to see the 4 blade seats moving up and down as they provide the different aggressiveness. i've always found it difficult to actually see the different action settings, unless i measured it. too much geometry to focus on all at once i think for me.
Open the razor all the way, move the dial all the way to 1 and push the top plate/collar (directly above the adjustment knob) up as high as it'll go (there is some play here where it'll slide up and down). Then turn the knob to 9 and do the same. There should be less of a gap (between the adjustment knob and the collar) at 1 than 9. If there is no difference, or the top plate/collar does not move then you have a problem.
For me, it's easier to see if I hold the razor vertically, looking at the edge where the blade is exposed, and then click through. The gap will be larger at higher settings, thinner at lower settings. It's easier to see the difference between 9 and 1, but I can't see the difference between 4 and 5, for example. I can certainly feel the difference when I shave, though.
-- Chet
You should be able to see a lot more room between the blade and the bar on 9 than you do on 1. The difference b/w any 2 settings is probably too small to see with the naked eye.
Right on, hoping you don't have a stuck or gummed up plate. I use penetrating oil for these. I know it stinks, but it washes out and the smell goes away after a spell! Good advice from everyone. Wish I could do you pics but don't have dig cam! Let us know how it goes!
garyg
B&B membership has its percs
The Gillettes were NOT designed to be adjusted when the doors are locked closed, doing so could lead to problems. +1 on the suggestion that the 4 blade seats will visibly move as adjustments are made with the doors open.
I read the "doors open" policy everywhere on the B&B but I have never seen where this info comes from. Can somebody show/tell me how people know this? I have always adjusted my razor with the doors closed with no problems. The gap adjusts flawlessly and there is no undue pressure on the doors. Adjusting with the doors closed hasn't been an issue for any of my adjustables, and I've never heard of any direct stories of anybody hurting their razors this way. Just curious.
- Thread starter
- #9
I tried adjusting the razor with the doors open and I can see the motion in the four blade seats on each click. Opening the doors did the trick!
Thanks!
Thanks!
I don't know if there's ever been any confirmed damage, but adjusting a fully tightened razor higher is just basically over tightening it, which could probably lead to some kind of minor damage - which if done often could have a cumulative effect I suppose.
I have to presume that when you say "doors closed", you are also meaning that the blade is clamped and ready to shave? If the doors are closed without any pressure applied to the blade, then I think you are in compliance with the "doors open" policy.
I don't have an adjustable here, but if I recall it is easier to turn the adjustment ring without any blade clamping pressure applied. Once the blade is clamped in the razor then I recall the adjustment ring was more difficult to turn, but can be done.
Stands to reason that if adjusting is easier to do when the blade is not clamped, then that is probably the best policy. Now I can't say whether or not the razor will be damaged by adjusting with the blade clamped.
An analogy would be precision measuring devices. With these devices, you can take/set a measurement and then lock it in place. You can overcome the lock with sufficient pressure. It may not hurt the device, but it's not a good policy.
IMHO, YMMV.
-jim
I seem to recall seeing it on instructions for a slim. Might have been a hallucination, though.
-- Chet
If so, it's mass hysteria because I seem to remember the same thing.
I am 100% that the doors are supposed to be closed when adjusting. If the doors are open the adjustment knob skips and doesn't move smoothly, as it does when the doors are closed. The adjustment mechanism also shouldn't get harder to turn as you dial up, unless the razor is well worn. The TTO also never gets appreciably harder to turn with higher settings in a well kept razor.
Here are two adjustable manuals and neither mentions opening the doors. In fact, the step right before "adjusting" is in both manuals is to close the doors, and tightly.This makes sense, because the whole mechanism moves up and down, so no real pressure should be added by dialing up or down.
There is also this Youtube video of an old 195 commercial that show it adjusting with the doors locked down, though I know it hardly counts as any sort of proof. It is fun to watch though!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOfGrbgyXo4&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
Mass hysteria indeed.
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I dunno, check out this one:
http://www.mr-razor.com/Anleitungen/1960s Slim Canada - English, French.jpg
and read the IMPORTANT information. Sounds like it's already adjusted prior to locking down (clamping the blade).
-jim
Blimey, it is pretty obvious that you need to slacken off the doors a little bit before using the adjuster. Otherwise you are pushing against an immovable object. You can feel the difference in how the adjuster works with the doors closed and the doors a bit open.
And yes, I use a Fat Boy.
And yes, I use a Fat Boy.
I think the IMPORTANT section is just referring to the fact that if you go from like a 9 to a 1, the TTO probably needs to be tightened, which also sounds like it is already closed. You wouldn't need to add a extra half turn if you had just closed the doors. Did that make sense?
Hmmmm. I guess I shouldn't care about whether the doors are open or closed, then. So does this thread finally put to bed the question "Should I loosen/open the doors of my gillette adjustable before making adjustments?"
Given what we've seen here, the answer is, authoritatively, "NO."
Super... now we'll never have to discuss it again.
Thank goodness we have more controversial topics like Williams and Lilac Vegetale to talk about.
-= wink =-
-- Chet
Given what we've seen here, the answer is, authoritatively, "NO."
Super... now we'll never have to discuss it again.
Thank goodness we have more controversial topics like Williams and Lilac Vegetale to talk about.
-= wink =-
-- Chet
Exactly.
It's really not that obvious. There isn't anything that is immovable in the way. when you adjust the dial the tightening mechanism moves up and down too. Look in the bottom of the TTO knob when you adjust it goes up and down with the head.
And, again, in a well maintained razor the adjustment mechanism shouldn't be noticeably harder to turn as you twist it.
Edit: The only part of the head that doesn't move is the base plate, and nothing should push against it as the doors and other components move around it and the blade rests on the four blade seats.
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