The Gillette "Fatboy"... what's it like as a shaver?

[ross0133]

I used mine today with a Lord Super Stainless blade and got a BBS result. Just ran my hand over my face 13 hours after this morning's shave and it still feels BBS...I've got a coarse beard to boot.

So I guess I'm saying it's the one to go with....still haven't found one that beats this classic.

 

[Winblows]

Having "a lot" of DE shavers, I realized recently, that the Fatboy is the most effective. It's heavy (I like that) and have the right adjustments of aggressiveness that suit me. I get the best and fastest shaves with this razor.

 

[froogle_jimmy]

The Fatboy is a great shaver....not the best(I prefer the SA). The heavy and thick handle are why I enjoy it. I think you can get razors as good as the Fatboy for a lot cheaper though.

 

[Roderick]

I am a fan of the open comb razors and have been using them almost exclusively for the past 4 months. I just picked up a Fatboy and shaved with it the last two days and have had great shaves. I have mine dialled up to 7 or 8 and get a BBS with no irritation. It will have a regular place in my rotation.

 

[blankd]

With a fatboy I can get a smooth comfortable shave at also any setting. With the Slim I need to fiddle with the settings a bit but I can get a nice shave there too. Haven't tried a black beauty, but I expect to need to fiddle with it a bit more than the slim.

Overall the Fatboy is a great razor. I'd say the best TTO Gillette made. I like it, but I think as most of us progress in shaving, the advantages of an adjustable become less and less needed. As DE's go I now tend to prefer slants. It's a great iconic razor everyone should try. However, I think many of us move past adjustables, which is why you see this divide between those that absolutely love this razor, and those that think it's overrated.

 

[Ice-Man]

The best advise I can give you is crack it open drop a blade in it and give it a test drive. I used 4 during fatboy February (mine or I) like the Gillette Silver Blue blades in the Fatboy.
One of the best razors ever made.

Ohhh and you won't know till you try it

 

[dionesius3]

Wow! a thread revival par excellence! 2014 to today!

 

[mgbbrown]

I thought nothing could pry me from my love of early Super Speeds, but finding a 195 Adjustable in the wild last year with its case has made me a believer. Excellent razor! God Bless! Tony Brown RN mgbbrown

 

[KeenDogg]

I thought nothing could pry me from my love of early Super Speeds, but finding a 195 Adjustable in the wild last year with its case has made me a believer. Excellent razor! God Bless! Tony Brown RN mgbbrownView attachment 774215

Now, my friend, you are in good company!

 

[Razor Ramon]

I didn't like mine at first but I do now. It has a good amount of blade feel, feedback and smoothness. I personally love it

 

[mikeyes]

I just acquired a 1959 Fat Boy in very good condition and shaved with it for the first time. I used a Polsilver Super Iridium blade, setting = 3, my usual facial prep (glycerin soap, Prorasa pre-shave, post shower), Prorasa green soap and an Omega 49 brush. I generally use 2.5-3 passes and achieve a decent shave with some bristle hours later. I had no idea what would happen with this razor, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of shaving and the lack of irritation or aggressiveness. I set the angle to barely make a noise on my beard and, unlike my slant razors, was able to make a small error without paying for it.
Not perfect, but surprisingly good and the manufacture, heft, and mojo of my father's razor made it a pleasure to use.
It will be in my rotation as a regular from now on.

 

[Razor Ramon]

The cool factor of the fatboy is second to none

 

[Graybeard57]

It's an adjustable Gillette with some heft, and a shorter handle. IME, a very fine razor.

 

[efsk]

I was extremely underwhelmed by this razor. Sold it.

 

[G-Dogg]

From a styling point of view, I prefer the Slim over the Fatboy. From a shaving point of view, there is virtually no difference between the two except that I think the Fatboy is one notch milder than the Slim, and the head geometry a little more awkward to manoeuvre. Both are excellent shavers, however.

In general, I don't find that TTOs give me particularly close shaves, but the adjustables are the exception and have the potential to deliver a shave as mild or as assertive as you like.

 

[mgbbrown]

It is one of three razors plus an early morning Pre-War Fat Handle Tech that are a part of my daily rotation. I do like mine! God Bless! Tony Brown RN mgbbrown

 

[Pepin]

Like all razors it is a case of YMMV.

The Fatboy (and Slim) and nice looking razors, with a good weight to them. Always nice to add to a collection.

For me they do not provide as good a shave as my Old and New types.

 

[jmudrick]

For me it's a good but not exceptional shaver at any setting. I prefer my Schick Krona which is much smoother and remarkable in efficiency.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[ItsTaz]

If I remember correctly, my D4 was my first in the wild find shortly after I got into DEs. I have 21 razors and have only used 4 of them because I enjoy the Fat Boy so much and it gives me excellent shaves with a GSB. There's something about it's design, heft and feel that just makes me smile and get giddy inside like a kid waiting to open presents. I even get that feeling when looking at pics posted by others.

 

[HoneyBadgerDontCare]

I found one in bad shape and had it restored in Rhodium ... Clean and shiny now... with the right blade and setting ... a dream to shave with.

Where did you send it off to?

...also, pics