Gillette fatboy advice

[8jamie8]

Hi everyone,
New to the forum and asking for advice. Recently won an auction on ebay for a great condition fatboy. I'm happy with everything about it other than what looks like alittle rust. It doesn't bother me but being new to this is, is this something you guys would rush to replate or would you be happy with it in the meantime.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BigJ]

Welcome aboard!

I suggest you start the way I do with any new razor:
1. Soak in Dawn and hot water.
2. Then rub with a soft cloth, perhaps a tooth brush.
3. Repeat a time or three.

Then reassess before trying anything more harsh. Often this is more than enough!

 

[LMcC]

I second what @BigJ said. If that doesn’t quite do it, I’d try Barkeepers Friend. Just make a little paste and scrub gently with a toothbrush and rinse well.

 

[8jamie8]

Thanks for the advice guys I've soaked it in fairy liquid and hot water (I assume that is the same thing as Dawn here in the UK) a few times and scrubbed with a toothbrush and had 1 really nice shave with it. Will give it a few more tries. If to no avail will try something else like barkeepers friend.

Is this something you think will likely scrub off or will just have to live with.

Thanks again.

 

[LMcC]

I would expect most of it to scrub off / wear off eventually if you keep using it / cleaning it. There are more invasive things you could do, but those razors are expensive so you may not want to risk damaging it. If you really love it, you could send it out for refurb and or replating.

 

[novitiate]

I'm happy with everything about it other than what looks like a little rust.

Not rust, soap & ex-beard hair crud. That will clean off using the method suggested. However, getting the major crud off 1st lets the hot soapy water get at the lesser crud underneath more easily. For me, really rough ones get a boiling water soak & scrub with a stiff brush, then soak in hot soapy water: lather, rinse, repeat...

The razor is nickel over brass, even the invisible internal parts AFAIK so it won't ever rust. However, blades (even stainless ones) will rust onto it if left in too long.

 

[Iskbar]

As above said, unlikely for fatboy to rust as its nickel and brass. Though, any exposed brass would patina green over time. Even then, it's more of your preference whether you'd want to replate it or not.

 

[Lord NSIC]

The photos won't load, so I can't see the problem area(s). But if a blade was left in it, there might be some "tea staining" from a blade which normally comes off with a little Flitz or Maas metal polish. Another way to clean the adjustables is to boil a few cups of water, place the opened razor into a container (obviously one large enough to hold the amount of water you boiled) and pour the water into the container and add some baking soda. The baking soda will bubble up and loosen a lot of the hardened soap and other crud on and inside the razor. Once cooled, scrub with dish soap and water, rinse, dry and then use a gentle metal polish to get rid of any tea staining left behind. Without being able to view the photo, the "rust" you're seeing wouldn't happen to be the brass peeking out from under worn nickel plating, would it?

 

[8jamie8]

Tried reposting another photo to get opinion cheers again guys real wealth of knowledge here.

 

[Lord NSIC]

Thanks for posting the photo -- looks like the plating is gone from that area and what you're seeing is the brass showing through (and rather brightly I might add). It won't be a problem unless you shave and never clean it (even then I doubt you'd have issues), or shave with it for a week without rinsing it and then throw it in a drawer for a couple of decades, and then all it will need is a good cleaning again--they're pretty indestructible. Just use it and keep it clean and dry between uses and it won't have any issues--no need to replate it unless you want to, but again, if it works well, it will continue to do so. Nice razor, I wouldn't molest it, just use it.

 

[Cumberland Sausage]

Welcome to B&B from another UK-based traditional shaver. I would just leave the Fatboy as is and enjoy the shaves. Apart from anything else I believe there are no razor plating specialists in the UK just now. You would have to send it to the US or New Zealand, where Dave, who used to offer a replating service in the UK, now lives.

 

[ajkel64]

Welcome to the forum from Australia and thanks for checking in with us. Fatboys are fantastic razors, I love the weight of them and Slims as well. Congratulations on the acquisition. The problem now will be trying to stop buying shaving related items.

 

[8jamie8]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone and pointing out it isn't rust. I was definitely lucky with this faboy, they don't come up in this condition for this price very often.

 

[garyg]

Nice Fatboy - I'll echo the others' & confirm there's only a minimum bit of brassing. I wouldn't replate right away. The brassing I can see is relatively minor, and as you've found it shaves! Replating isn't always perfect & more likely to get fubar on a more complex TTO adjustable than say a 3 piece.

Enjoy it

 

[dmshaver]

Welcome to B & B, enjoy!

 

[Ravenonrock]

Ok, so…fairy liquid, did that just slip by. I want the skinny on fairy liquid. Sounds magical.

 

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to the forum !!

 

[8jamie8]

Ok, so…fairy liquid, did that just slip by. I want the skinny on fairy liquid. Sounds magical.

I Believe its the equivalent of Dawn here in the UK. Both made by P&G

 

[Ravenonrock]

I Believe its the equivalent of Dawn here in the UK. Both made by P&G

Thanks for that, looks like it did it’s magic on the Fatboy. I appreciate the vintage Gillette’s and hope you enjoy yours. Welcome!

 

[Invicta]

Welcome to B&B.

I'm happy with everything about it other than what looks like alittle rust.

It is just a little brass showing so not something to be concerned about. The razor looks in good condition so enjoy your shaves with it.