Ripping myself up with a Gillette Slim Adjustable

[jaymeister99]

I just started to try DE shaving again. I got a 1962 Gillette Slim Adjustable and it is slicing me up!

I started at 1, couldn't even cut a hair with it (I have insanely thick hair).

Then went to 3, still no good, barely cut any hairs.

Then went to 8, got a close shave, but sliced myself up royaly! Brought it back down to 5 and seemed to have found a "relatively" happy medium.

But its still irritating and slicing me quite a bit. Not to mention the shave is nothing to write home about.

I'm using Derbys, Red Personnas, and Wilkinsons which worked fairly well in my cheap Vincent TTO and gave a way closer and less irritating shave!

Any suggestions/comments?

 

[mmack66]

You might need a sharper blade to tame your beard.

 

[jaymeister99]

You might need a sharper blade to tame your beard.

I don't know. The blades I had used in my Vincent worked fine.

 

[mmack66]

Well, then you might just need to get used to a different technique with the Slim Adjustable. Or, it may just be that it isn't the right razor for you. Good luck.

 

[shadowjim]

try a feather, worked for me anything else tugs pretty bad

 

[ytsejammer]

I use astra. In my slim dialed up to 7 and achieve a bloodless bbs shave everytime...so try feathers or astras before giving up...my slim is my favorite razor...

 

[jaymeister99]

try a feather, worked for me anything else tugs pretty bad

I tried feathers, they did slice through the hair better than anything else. But they were a little irritating. I had a lot of problems with nicks and cuts using them. But I think that had more to do with the difficulty I had using such a sharp blade!

 

[FLTiger]

I tried feathers, they did slice through the hair better than anything else. But they were a little irritating. I had a lot of problems with nicks and cuts using them. But I think that had more to do with the difficulty I had using such a sharp blade!

You might be able to back off the adjustment a little bit to a milder setting with a Feather and get better results.

 

[gone down south]

Don't take this the wrong way, but any blade will cut any hair. Razor blades are by definition stronger than facial hair. Whether it does so comfortably, or to the higher standards most people here shoot for is another question.

What's your prep? How many and which passes are you doing? Do you have pressure and angle down - every razor is different and you may need to adjust your technique at first.

 

[Rick Sparks]

With all the blades and settings you've tried, it might be time to reconsider your both your razor and your shaving technique.

The adjustables have fatter heads than the Super Speeds. Everyone has their own preference, but I found it was easier for me, at the start of my wet shaving experience, to get a comfortable shave with a Super Speed. That's one possibility. And you can pick up a good condition Super Speed for about $15 here in the BST.

Then there's technique. If you're putting too much pressure on the razor you will get razor burn at a minimum and even actual scrapes and cuts. This is especially true if you're trying to get a really close shave with a new razor.

The angle at which the razor contacts your face is important. So is the length of stroke you take. And both of these are affected by whether you're approaching your shave in a relaxed way or you're in a hurry.

Try getting an inadequate shave without irritating your skin. Mostly I mean shaving with the grain only. You'll have a somewhat stubbly result, but if you can do that, you'll be in a good position on the following morning (no irritation) to try shaving just a little closer. Don't even think about getting the storied BBS shave until you can approach your face with your razor confidently.

It sounds like you have a challenging beard, but if you can be patient with yourself and get to really know how the grain of your beard lies in different patches you will develop exactly the technique you need to get the shave you're after.

Hang in there. A good shave from a good DE is a really satisfying way to start a day.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

This may be a dumb comment, but have you tightened to Twist To Open mechanism all the way? It should go a quarter turn past the point where the silo doors close.

Since I don't want to embarrass myself, I won't mention how I first learned about that.

 

[luvmysuper]

When someone tells me that they have shaved well with another DE, and then are getting cut with a different vintage model, my first thoughts are to wonder if the razor had been dropped in it's previous life.
Check the guard bars, and look close to see if the blade is even on both sides and if the gap is even.
Even a slightly bent part can put the blade hazardously out of whack.

 

[JD.E.]

When someone tells me that they have shaved well with another DE, and then are getting cut with a different vintage model, my first thoughts are to wonder if the razor had been dropped in it's previous life.
Check the guard bars, and look close to see if the blade is even on both sides and if the gap is even.
Even a slightly bent part can put the blade hazardously out of whack.

My thoughts exactly. I had a slim, not my first, but a recent acquisition at the time that I had an awful rough shave with. I chalked it up as a bad blade, and tried it again with the new blade.... same results. Upon examination, one guard bar was rather curvy....

Take a look at the razor from the sides as well, and compare the distance between the safety bar and the "catch" part of the silo doors that actually create the opening motion by hitting on the upper part of the guard bar.

Good luck in figuring it all out

 

[jaymeister99]

First, thanks for all the helpful comments!

How much pressure should be put on the face with a Gillette Adjustable? I used to put a slight bit of pressure with the Vincent I had (this razor was light as a feather compared to the Gillette). But should I be using almost no pressure, or even zero pressure?

Also I've been doing a three pass: with grain, across, and against the grain. I know against is tough, but with such a thick beard I barely cut anything going with and across the grain!

I examined the razor and everything appears to be tip top, except for the blade position. I noticed the blade looks dead straight, but it protrudes farther out on one side than the other. You can barely notice the difference unless you examine closely.

 

[gone down south]

What's your prep routine?

 

[luvmysuper]

First, thanks for all the helpful comments!

How much pressure should be put on the face with a Gillette Adjustable? I used to put a slight bit of pressure with the Vincent I had (this razor was light as a feather compared to the Gillette). But should I be using almost no pressure, or even zero pressure?

Also I've been doing a three pass: with grain, across, and against the grain. I know against is tough, but with such a thick beard I barely cut anything going with and across the grain!

I examined the razor and everything appears to be tip top, except for the blade position. I noticed the blade looks dead straight, but it protrudes farther out on one side than the other. You can barely notice the difference unless you examine closely.

Even that little bit will make a difference dependant upon which side you are using. If you can't get the blade to site evenly on both sides, bear in mind which side is further out, and when you shave, try to determine if the one side is giving you trouble as opposed to the other.

 

[MajorBurnz]

Well, I have a really thick, coarse, beard as well. Still the WTG and XTG passes cut whatever the blade comes in contact with. Any relatively unused blade is going to be tougher than your beard, it's just a matter of how much tugging you're going to experience.

It seems most likely that you just haven't figured out the working angle of the Slim yet. Each razor will have slightly different characteristics so you have to adjust your technique a little. Play around with the angle a bit at a 3-4 setting before dialling it up. Trust me, the blade will cut the hairs it comes in contact with. Just make sure that contact is being made. Use mantic59's advice in adjusting the blade angle. You should be able to get a perfectly good shave at low to medium settings on you Slim.

The reason you're getting lacerated at the higher settings is likely that the angle is wrong there too.

As to the razor itself, I did find that the heavier razors do a better job in the case of my beard. The shaves were smoother and closer. However, I can get the same quality shave with an aluminium handled Tech...I just have to work more for it.

Don't take this as negative criticism of your technique. You were obviously doing fine with your other razor. Still, you've got to adjust your technique when using a different razor.

 

[ytsejammer]

The adjustables have fatter heads than the Super Speeds.

I beg to differ sir. The slim has a similar head profile to the black handle style superspeeds...a very low profile...that's what makes the slim such a great razor for me...and what made the fatboy not such a great razor for me...but anyways. But just my $0.02...

 

[jaymeister99]

What's your prep routine?

Quite extensive. Typically I drop some hot water into my shaving bowl w/the soap. Then drop the brush into the sink with some hot water and let it sit.

Meanwhile... I shower, about 5 minutes into the shower I put on some extra sensitive formula canned gel and rub into my beard. I let it sit on there while I shower. About another 5 minutes after that I rinse off the gel and leave my face wet.

Then lather up for another 3-5 minutes.

 

[maj3289]

clearly not your blades, but your technique is what i'd blame it on right now. it's taking me a while to learn my pattern and blade angle.