Question for Fat Boy and Slim users and vintage vs. modern razors.

[mikelz777]

We all know that both the Fat Boy and Slim are iconic, sought-after vintage razors but imagine that you are evaluating each based purely on the shave alone. Are the resulting shaves alone compelling enough to seek either of these razors over a modern razor? I've been going back and forth about whether to buy a Fat Boy or Slim. Initially I was looking at the Fat Boy but after shaving with a bakelite slant which has a pretty domed head on it I'm thinking I'd prefer the Slim with the thinner head profile. Then I start thinking that I should skip the vintage all together and possibly get a metal slant and pass the bakelite on to someone else. (I'd prefer the weight of metal slant and as a cold water shaver, like the feel of cold metal on my face as I shave.) My points of reference for comparison's sake as of now are an EJ DE89 and the plastic, unbranded German bakelite slant. The answer for me is not to buy them all because I'm not interested in collecting a bunch of razors and rotating them. I'm probably going to be a 1 or 2 razor guy.

What's your advice? Vintage or modern? Fat, Slim, metal slant or something else?

 

[P Funk]

I have all 3 - Fatboy, Slim, Modern Slants and like them all. The heft of the Fatboy is nice, the efficiency of the Slim at the right setting is hard to beat and the slant is well...it's a slant.
You may want to also consider a modern adjustable like the Progress or Futur.
Chances are you are going to have to at least try each to see which works best for you - those razors are usually pretty easy to unload if you find that one doesn't work for you. There was a time not too long ago where it seemed it was hard to find Fatboys and Slims in good shape. But now they seem to be readily available.

 

[mmack66]

Personally, I would go for the Slant. I have had both a Slim and a Fatboy, and I still prefer the Slant.

I'll add that I am a set it and forget adjustable user.

 

[Antares600]

Trying them all is the only way to find out which is best for you. But if you want a superior shave no matter what, try a slant.

 

[wrm2012]

I have had all of these and would suggest them in this order; Slant, Progress, Slim, Fatboy. Truthfully the cost difference between a Slim and Progress may push the Slim up to #2.

 

[Nick Danger]

I've got a Slim and a modern stainless steel razor. I also had a slant, but (contrary to the common opinion here) I hated it. I found the Slim to give me a much better shave than a slant. With an adjustable, I like the option to go more aggressive when I'm shaving a two-day growth, or milder when I'm doing a touch-up prior to going out for the evening. I really like the balance of the Slim, too.

That said, the best advice is probably to try them all and then sell the ones you don't like on B/S/T. That's worked out well for me.

Nick

 

[cwnidog]

Don't have any slants, so can't speak to them. I'll have to admit that I get a marginally better shave from my Futur than from either my Fatboys or Slims. Emphasis on marginally. I wouldn't trade any of them in. But, if I were trapped on a desert island and could only have one razor, it would be one of my '46-'47 Aristocrats.

 

[john shea]

I have some Gillette Slims and a Slant (37C), but have not tried the other razors mentioned. However, I have a number of other new and vintage razors. The Slim is the best shaving Gillette that I have tried and they stand up to use very well for decades. If you get a good one, you should be able to get good shaves from it, perhaps for the rest of your life. I like that the Gillettes are made of plated brass rather than some alloy basemetal that will eventually corrode.

As far as shave quality goes, I also like certain new razors. My preferences in the new razors that I have used are Merkur Vision, Merkur 34G, and Merkur 37C Slant, in that order. However, I do not like the Merkur's potential for corrosion of their basemetal. I have had to take down, rinse, wipe dry, and reassemble mine after each use since I detected corrosion starting in my Vision and the head of my 34G. No visible corrosion has progressed since I began a more aggressive after shave care of these razors. Prior to detecting the start of corrosion of basemetal, I used to loosen the razor, rinse under hot water, and shake them dry which had always worked for my Gillettes. I wish that I could get these Merkurs made with 100% plated brass or stainless steel.

It all comes down to what DE shaves best for you. Unfortunately, we cannot know this without first getting the razor to try out with a variety of blades. The Merkur 34 and 37 are still attractively priced and reasonably durable, even if they might not last for decades like the Gillette Slim or Fatboy. I would buy one of the costly stainless DEs, if I knew whether I would like them as well as my Merkurs, but balk at spending 100 - 200 dollars on a razor that might not shave me as well as my Merkurs.

 

[dreadpirate]

Personally, I would go for the Slant. I have had both a Slim and a Fatboy, and I still prefer the Slant.

I'll add that I am a set it and forget adjustable user.

Same here - I have all three and find the slant to be superior. That being said, the fatboy and slim both produce a respectable shave.

 

[wquiles]

I have only 3x razors now: Merkur Progress, '65 Slim, Merkur 37C:

I have used the Slim and the Slant for several months, and they are good. However, since I got the Progress last week, I have alternated between the Slim and the Progress, and hands down the Progress gives me smoother shaves. I can't quite explain it: something about the angles/guard/design/weight/etc. on the Progress simply works much better for me. So right now, I am favoring the "modern" razors. I just sent the Progress today to Mer to turn it into a Megress, so my Progress is only going to get better

 

[gmgaj]

I like the slim better than the fatboy, and the futur is right up there, too, but if you don't like the taller head, the futur may not be your thing.

However, someone on this site recommended a Gillette new to me, so I tried it. With a 7 o'clock black blade, it is better than anything else I've tried and with Astras it's almost as good. They aren't too expensive to try out, and you can resell them if you don't like it. In fact, if I wasn't on the sabbatical, I'd offer to buy it if you don't like it.

 

[LeeH]

"I'm probably going to be a 1 or 2 razor guy."

Is there ever really such a thing?.....really? It's noble to have such high aspirations.

 

[1904]

My vote's for the slim or the fatboy (or a black-handle adjustable). The newer models are cheaper, obviously. If I were you, I'd look on ebay for someone who's selling two adjustables together. In my experience, a batch doesn't go for much more than the value of the best razor that's included. I got three nice condition SS's and a horrible condition tech, for instance, for a little over $20, and a fatboy and a slim and a black handle adjustable for a little over $40.
I used a slim for a while and it was great. I also worried that the head profile on the fat boy would get in the way, but it never did. In fact, I got better shaves off the fat boy, though that may be attributed partially to increased experience.
As for the newer razors, I just switched back to my Merkur 1904 for variety's sake and I'm considering terminating the experiment due to horrible shaves. Of course, it's probably unfair to blame the razor at this point; I probably just need to get used to the angle.
It's worth noting, of course, that the 1904 cost $35.

 

[Elder Scrolls]

If I were to rate them in terms of performance, then it will be

1) Slant
2) Slim
3) Fatboy

 

[Henrik]

Andi if I would rate them in terms of performance, then it would be the other way around:
1. Fatboy
2. Slim
3. Slant
Hope that helps

 

[celestino]

All three of course!

 

[Henrik]

I was a "modern razor guy" for years". When I got into vintage- I sold my moderns in a nick of no time. But apparently you have tried vintage line. I guess you have to try a few until you settle down to a favourite. Or two. For me the vintage line was a really something. And the trick then is to feel content..
Seriously you don´t have to go through a bunch of razors- if you just feel content with one good shaver. (Hereafter you need to stop checking this section though

 

[chilliman64]

my current order of preference (based on the best shave results) and my top 5 are:
1 - Hoffritz slant
2 - Futur
3 - Slim
4 - 38c + Fatboy (for the tie)

 

[mikelz777]

Chances are you are going to have to at least try each to see which works best for you...

Trying them all is the only way to find out which is best for you...

That said, the best advice is probably to try them all... Nick

All three of course!

So this is how RAD starts doesn't it? Many of you have come with the same advice and now I'm starting to see the truth of it. I got a Slim and starting walking my way up the settings from 1 to 9 and didn't really like it until I hit 7. It was a darn nice shaver at 7 and I have yet to try 8 and 9. I think I'm going to like the Slim quite a bit so I don't think I'll feel the need to get a Fat Boy as well, but, now I want a Merkur 37C slant! I like my bakelite slant but I'd much rather have a heavier, metal slant. I plan on eventually PIF-ing the bakelite so I want to replace it. Does anyone out there have a like new/mint 37C they'd like to sell?

 

[Rob72]

Heh, heh. Dare I say it? "YMMV..." My experience: the Slim and FatBoy are pretty interchangeable in performance, but they differ quite a bit in handling. I like the FatBoy more, no Slims in rotation. I've used the Pomco and Coles slants (basically the same razor). Very good, efficient shavers. I guess I would say, if you want a close, comfortbale shave, with few cutting worries, the slant is a great way to go. I like the FatBoy, at 7-9, but I have to be a good bit more careful.

I have to say, I picked up an Archdale, that is sort of a slant, recently. Awesomness in a box. If you can find one, and if you're adventurous, they're a lot of fun.


Edit to add: I'm horribly biased against zinc alloys, so "modern" razors do nothing for me, the exceptions being the stainless or aluminum offerings. I loooove my Tradere OC.