Rookies First Adjustable

[Trippy]

So I've been shaving for a few months with the relatively same gear...the standard Merkur HD, proraso, the C&B BBB...and Ive been happy. I've avoided most of the AD's for a while, but alas, the itch has come.

After buying new soaps and creams, I'm looking for an adjustable to play around with. I'm thinking a vintage Gillette off the BST, but all the dates, codes, and models are making my head spin. Any suggestions for a good place to start?

 

[Gruder]

Lots of folks will suggest a fatboy, and that is a good razor, to be sure. Personally, I prefer the slim to the fatboy by a slight margin (the less bulbous TTO doors are the key here). Throw in the expected cost savings, and the slim is my recommendation. Happy hunting!

 

[ytsejammer]

I must agree with the slim here...I owned a fatboy and granted it is a great razor...i just much prefer the slim...my slim is my goto razor everyday...its hard for me to use anything else and I have 5 others to choose from!!

 

[blackfoot]

I agree with Gruder. I like my Fatboy and Slim. For a first adjustable, you might as well try the slim first. I have a black-handled adjustable also, but have never tried it.

 

[heirkb]

Go with a slim. They're cheaper than fatboys, too.

 

[Capaldo]

I really like my adjustables. I might be able to help. PM sent.

 

[Trippy]

Well, there seems to be a common consensus here, haha. I appreciate all the help and offers that I've recieved. Unfourtnately, my shave budget is a little low these days. Hopefully when I reach 50 posts, I'll be able to unload some stuff in the BST. Thanks everyone!

 

[KenR]

Oh no! Don't tell me I will have to get an adjustable slim to go with the fatboy I just won on ebay!

 

[Capaldo]

Oh no! Don't tell me I will have to get an adjustable slim to go with the fatboy I just won on ebay!

Oh no! Don't tell me I will have to get a fatboy to go with the adjustable slim I recently won on ebay!

 

[Gruder]

Oh no! Don't tell me I will have to get an adjustable slim to go with the fatboy I just won on ebay!

Oh no! Don't tell me I will have to get a fatboy to go with the adjustable slim I recently won on ebay!

It was just a matter of time for both of you

 

[Random Nerd]

Well, there seems to be a common consensus here, haha. I appreciate all the help and offers that I've recieved. Unfourtnately, my shave budget is a little low these days. Hopefully when I reach 50 posts, I'll be able to unload some stuff in the BST. Thanks everyone!

You should be able to get a slim in good shaving condition for twenty-five bucks or less. Given that if properly cared for that razor will outlive everyone posting in this thread, I'd call that a deal.

 

[Legion]

I have a slim, fatboy, and a black handle. To be honest, once you find the setting on each razor you like, I don't think there is much to pick between them as far as shave quality goes. My favorite is the fatboy but that is more because of the weight and chunky feel. That's a personal thing. If you're used to a Merkur HD you might be the same.

 

[Legion]

Actually, the more I think about it, the less sure I am about spending more lots of money on an adjustable. Adjustables are great for the manufacturer. They only have to make one razor and they know it will appeal to all buyers because they can set it up to suit themselves. But I'm from the "set and forget" school of adjustable users. I spend a bit of time messing with the settings to get the razor the way I like it then I leave it there. Forever. It's no longer an adjustable razor, its a fixed razor with an aggressiveness of 3. Just like my favorite non adjustable razors that didn't cost as much.

Some people like to fiddle and will change the razor settings throughout the shave but I think they are in the minority. It depends on your personality but if you think you are going to set and forget you might as well save yourself the cash and stick with the razor you are using now because you will probably just put the adjustable on a setting that matches it.

 

[fidjit]

So I've been shaving for a few months with the relatively same gear...the standard Merkur HD, proraso, the C&B BBB...and Ive been happy. I've avoided most of the AD's for a while, but alas, the itch has come.

After buying new soaps and creams, I'm looking for an adjustable to play around with. I'm thinking a vintage Gillette off the BST, but all the dates, codes, and models are making my head spin. Any suggestions for a good place to start?

Blatant self promotion.

Hopefully this might help you:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=94034