Gillette slim adjustable not "even"?

[BryanD]

I picked up a Gillette Slim adjustable from ebay. It is in quite good condition overall and a nice shaver. I like mild razors so I use it set at 1 or 2. I've noticed that one "edge" shaves more aggressively than the other. When the razor is set at 1, one of the edges shaves "nicely" and the other is just too mild -- the difference is quite noticable. When set at 2, both sides shave OK -- one of them a bit too aggressively and one still a little mild.

There's not much play at all when I load a blade, so I don't think the answer is to "align" my blade differently when loading. I can't see any "obvious" differences in the blade angle, gap, exposure, etc... -- but there must be some difference, just not easily visible

Anyone know of a way to "adjust" this? If not, I may use the "good" edge for each shave (a bit less convenient) and flip the blade between shaves so that I'll end up using both edges until worn.

Since I like this one set at 1, maybe I'll try another razor that is ranked the same for aggression, like a Tech or a Weishi.

 

[Cubits]

You can get the slim to shave at 1?! The razor looks completely closed at that setting.

A tech is about a 3.

 

[Go West Young Man]

If the safety bar is bent on one side, you can get different blade exposures.
You can -carefully- bend it back up straight with a screwdriver.

 

[BryanD]

If the safety bar is bent on one side, you can get different blade exposures.
You can -carefully- bend it back up straight with a screwdriver.

Thanks for the clue! I just took a long hard look at the "gap" on both sides between the safety bar and the cap. Yup, the gap is slightly wider on one side than the other. There is no visible damage or bend, but perhaps the razor was dropped at some point and took just enough impact to create this "skew" with no other visible damage. I'd really like this razor to work "properly" and I've got decent mechanical skills so I'll attempt the repair that you suggest.

You can get the slim to shave at 1?! The razor looks completely closed at that setting.

A tech is about a 3.

This is my first slim so I have no reference to compare, but I have a pretty good feeling that the edge that "does shave" at 1 is the damaged one and the other side that seems too mild is working "as designed". This means that I'll probably like both sides set at 3 if I can make the suggested repair. For reference, I do like my Feather Popular which is listed as being roughly equal to a slim set at 2.

[Update]
OK, so I made the adjustment, first visually, then with feeler gauges. Finally I fine tuned by dry shaving some hairs on my wrist. By that last measure, the razor now seems to "start cutting" about equally when the setting is at 3. I shave every other day so I'll report back on Friday how this works on my face.

...unfortunately this means that my slim is no longer "calibrated" if such a term can actually be used. I guess I don't care as long as I can find a setting that works for me.

 

[BryanD]

OK, this morning the razor did shave fairly "evenly" with both sides "just cutting" set at 3. I had to work a bit harder than usual to get to DFS everywhere and did not get to BBS.

Looks like this razor is "fixed" and I will work my way up the settings a bit to find the one that works best for me

 

[cnnc97]

Do you really get it to cut with it set at 1? Mine doesn't do anything but scrape the lather off at 1.

 

[BryanD]

Do you really get it to cut with it set at 1? Mine doesn't do anything but scrape the lather off at 1.

I originally got it to shave at "1" but only on one side, which I'm now pretty sure was the 'mis-aligned' side. When I made my adjustments, I used the other side (which wouldn't cut at 1) as reference to make them both equal.

Now that both sides match, I get a shave that is a bit too mild at 3, but both sides do cut evenly. I'm guessing this is pretty close to how the razor is supposed to perform "correctly". Now I'll be cranking it up a bit to try and find the best setting for my use.

 

[apino]

You can -carefully- bend it back up straight with a screwdriver.

Do you mean sticking the screwdriver through the hole behind the safety bar from below (so that the tip rest against the blade tray) and then lifting gently upwards?

 

[cnnc97]

I think mine is slightly mis-aligned as well. At 1 it looks like the blade is practically touching the bar on one side and has a slightly larger gap on the other side. Would the one side be bent up or the other bent down? Is there anyway to tell?

I am also interested in knowing exactly how to adjust this without making it worse or damaging it beyond repair.

 

[ferroburak]

I have one Slim coming I will check it as well.

 

[cnnc97]

I took a screwdriver and put it in the two elongated gaps behind the safety bar and pried up against the bar. Looks like I got it adjusted now, but I don't see how it can cut anything on 1. The blade is practically touching the safety bar. The gaps on either side look like they are pretty good though so I think I'm done messing with it.

 

[BryanD]

For those who are asking "how to do it":

With no blade in the razor

Visibly determine that the gap was larger on one side than the other. When closed down to 1, the "narrower" gap was quite small, so I assumed that side was correct, especially since most folks say that these really won't shave at 1.

Working only on the side with the "bigger" gap: Take a screwdriver and put it through the slot behind the safety bar from below. Gently pry upwards. I moved the screwdriver serveral times to different locations to help make sure this was even. Keep checking the gap visually until they seem "the same" (or very close) on both sides. It doesn't take much force, so be gentle and patient. If you go a bit too far (I did -- just a little) you can also pry "downwards", but doing too much prying will likely start to weaken the metal.

(optional) Check the gaps with some feeler gauges and fine tune. This is optional since I think the next step was more effective.

Now put a blade in the razor

pick some body hairs (I used my wrist -- back of arm would do also) and try to gently "dry shave" with both sides set at 1. Neither side would shave so turned it up to 2 and then 3. At 3 both sides would shave, but one side slightly better than the other so one more very gentle tune up (blade out, of course) to get them the same.

Final test was actual shave set at 3. Both sides shave equally, if a bit too mild, so the razor is now "optimal".

...hope that helps.

 

[apino]

(optional) Check the gaps with some feeler gauges and fine tune.

I hope this doesn't sound stupid but does it matter at which angle the feeler gauges are inserted? Obviously, both sides should be measured in the same manner or the results will vary.

 

[BryanD]

I hope this doesn't sound stupid but does it matter at which angle the feeler gauges are inserted? Obviously, both sides should be measured in the same manner or the results will vary.

Feeler gauges are properly used in a "go, no-go" manner. The "correct" measurement lies somewhere between the one that "will go in" and the next one up that "won't go in" (don't use excessive force). The measurement is further refined as being closer to the "go" side if a small amount of drag is felt when withdrawing that one from the gap. When you are close to these limits, the gauge can only be inserted at an angle that is "close to parallel" to the gap faces. On a razor, this is fairly similar to the angle that the blade makes coming out of the gap.

So: angle does matter, but it is hard to get it wrong.

 

[apino]

So: angle does matter, but it is hard to get it wrong.

Hard maybe but not impossible : I just tried to measure my Aristocrat Junior a while ago with a feeler gauge I borrowed from my dad.

For some unknown reason I decided I should measure vertically. Of course, it was impossible to retain the angle, especially as the gauge kept getting thicker and strarted to force its way through the gaps in a more parallel line. Naturally the measurements kept changing all the time.

Seems kind of funny that my logic didn't tell me right away how it should be done.

 

[v.bow]

hmm i had the same problem with my slim when i first got it. try to search on google. there was a site i found that had photos and everything telling you how to align it and safe spots to torque a screw drive to align it again.