Fat Boy....why do I mess around with others........

[Bloodhound]

I have 2 Fatboys in my rotation...along with a Teck Fat Handle and Ball Handle and a Super Speed. I also have 2 News, a long and a short tooth. But the Fatboys are the bomb...great shaves..great to shave with, and always a better shave than the others...I am going to retire the others....and stck with the Fat Boys!

[Artistik]

I just acquired a fat boy (thanks NJ-Bob) a couple of weeks ago and I am in love. I have several Super Speeds, a Tech and an EJ89l. The Fat Boy is now my go to razor.

[Slash McCoy]

I love the FB but anyone who loves the FB should also try a Slim and a Super Adjustable.

I will admit to a fondness for the simplicity of a Tech or an Old, as a diversion.

[Copierguy]

I enjoy many different razors, but have always thought the FatBoy was just a bit more fun than most.

[tchudson]

I do enjoy using my Fatboy (does that sound strange?), but when I think about using it exclusively, I try one of my SuperSpeeds. That puts things in perspective. I rarely use the same razor twice in a week, unless it's one I just bought and want to give it a few tries in a row to get the hang of it.

[getsome]

Maybe I need to try mine a few times in a row to force myself to get it down. But I gave it whirl twice and was so turned off with the first pass, that I broke out the Merkur and finished the shave that way. I realized this may be blasphemy. Do I just need to keep at it?
~B

[Dutch101st]

The two FBs I have shave just fine, but pale in comparison to my Aristocrat...not that they are bad, but the Aristocrat gives a much smoother, closer, easier shave.

So much so I have ditched the Merkur 34C...

[CSG]

I haven't tried a Fatboy but I do have a 1950ish Aristocrat and '64 Super Speed. I find my EJ89 shaves better, noticeably, than either vintage razor.

[craigruhl]

I hear ya, but..... I started shaving about 1959 with a Gillette adjustable that my Dad bought me and some blue blades. I recently returned to DE shaving and bought a 1959 FatBoy on EBay. Just a lot of fun to return to shaving with that razor but with the pleasure of modern blades. I also bought a Edwin Jagger DE89L at the same time. I love both and they both provide great shaves but the FatBoy is really cool to me.

[CSG]

Well, you're not gonna beat the cool factor of using vintage razors and I really enjoy having my two. I'd probably consider buying a Gold Executive but prices have gotten silly high on ebay and I'm not willing to compete. I paid $26 shipped for my Aristocrat and $12 shipped for the Super Speed.

But it's fun for younger guys to shave with the stuff their dads and granddads used and it's fun for older guys to return to yesteryear. I started shaving with something like a 60's era Super Speed although I also had an adjustable Gillette too. I'd like to think it was a Fatboy but it was 40+ years ago so who remembers?

[gus1942]

You would also love the Slim

[DunEdinRanger]

I love the FB but anyone who loves the FB should also try a Slim and a Super Adjustable.

I will admit to a fondness for the simplicity of a Tech or an Old, as a diversion.

Or a Barber Pole Slant Bar Razor.

[Dave101st]

Can't beat the cool of the vintage...

To me shaving DE is about vintage. No offense to the guys who enjoy brand new DE razors,but I am a bit of a retronaut and prefer the old school ones for looks.

Dve

[Manning]

They do look cool, BUT the price has gotten out of hand. For example, Gillette SS sold for about $5.09 in 1985. Going for $45 now NOS. 890% appreciation in 26 years?!? Really?!? Adjusted for inflation it should cost $10.17 today. Pure appreciation of $35=700% pure appreciation. I just can't justify that, but obviously some can. The FMV is what a willing buyer will pay,but apparently some are willing to pay for metal and plastic that has "appreciated" in value 700% in 26 years-- not me.

[Chester]

I love the FB but anyone who loves the FB should also try a Slim and a Super Adjustable.

Agreed. I've found that the Super Adjustable and the slim are remarkable.
-- Chet

[aceinyerface]

They do look cool, BUT the price has gotten out of hand. For example, Gillette SS sold for about $5.09 in 1985. Going for $45 now NOS. 890% appreciation in 26 years?!? Really?!? Adjusted for inflation it should cost $10.17 today. Pure appreciation of $35=700% pure appreciation. I just can't justify that, but obviously some can. The FMV is what a willing buyer will pay,but apparently some are willing to pay for metal and plastic that has "appreciated" in value 700% in 26 years-- not me.

I'm good for the cost of a bottle of booze without much complaint. It is the $500, $1000, $1500+ that I just have to shake my head at.

Different strokes, I guess. Some folks are really seriously into creating a Gillette museum in their lavatory. I think every person I ever respected would want to slap some sense into me if I did that.

[Manning]

I'm good for the cost of a bottle of booze without much complaint. It is the $500, $1000, $1500+ that I just have to shake my head at.

Different strokes, I guess. Some folks are really seriously into creating a Gillette museum in their lavatory. I think every person I ever respected would want to slap some sense into me if I did that.

Nothing wrong with that, in fact I'd love to, but I just can't justify it in the current market. Plus I shave with all of my razors, and cracking open some of this NOS would just be wrong--museum guys would appreciate them more. Problem is I'd love to shave with a Fatboy but just can't justify the price as inflated by the mass lavatory museums across the globe.

[rxonmymind]

I have both the Fat & Slim. But just as another poster said the Aristocrat is the smoothest. Also one can "adjust " the TTO on an Aristocrat by a quarter turn and you have a better shaver than either a Fat or Slim.

[barneykiller]

I love my Fatboy and it is the only DE I use.

[aceinyerface]

I have both the Fat & Slim. But just as another poster said the Aristocrat is the smoothest. Also one can "adjust " the TTO on an Aristocrat by a quarter turn and you have a better shaver than either a Fat or Slim.

What virtue, would you say, makes the Aristocrat a smoother shaver than the others?

[Snappy Lunch]

I love the FB but anyone who loves the FB should also try a Slim and a Super Adjustable.

I will admit to a fondness for the simplicity of a Tech or an Old, as a diversion.
+1 I have 2 FB's that I used at least twice a week. That is until I got my Slim. Now the slim is my go to razor. Great shave.

[BBrad]

Lots of interesting points in this thread . . .

For every guy who thinks the Fat Boy is the greatest, there is at least one who thinks it is the worst . . . and a whole bunch in between! My Executive FB has never been my "favorite" but I've been enjoying outstanding shaves from it the past few days. While I rank my Slim Aristocrat higher, I'm not planning on parting with my Executive any time soon!

People collect razors for two reasons: to use, or to show. I'm a user, and would probably never buy a true NOS razor - opening that package would be hurtful to the "show" collectors and would be of little benefit to me. Yes, the show collector is willing to pay a premium for NOS product . . . but user-collectors don't have to.

The longer a product is out of production, the more difficult it will be to find true NOS examples. Hence the appreciation in cost for NOS razors. Used razors, however, are still easily found for about the same money as they were five years ago. I've watched eBay follow seasonal up-down cycles, but in general prices for user-grade razors are steady and affordable.

So, buy a Fat Boy if for no other reason than to give one a try. Be sure to do the same for a Slim, and the Super Adjustable. Try 'em all . . . you can always get your money back on a resale! In the process, you will find razors that work for you (or not) and have a heck of a lot of fun doing it!

[ShaveThis]

I love the FB but anyone who loves the FB should also try a Slim and a Super Adjustable.

I will admit to a fondness for the simplicity of a Tech or an Old, as a diversion.


Agreed. I've found that the Super Adjustable and the slim are remarkable.
-- Chet

Another vote for these two. I might end up selling or PIF'ing my fat boy, which I used to love before I got my slim and SA.