An early kickoff to Labor Day weekend with some adjustable love

**tnsplayer** · 09-01-2011, 06:09 PM

Just thought I'd post a picture of some beautiful adjustables to get Labor Day weekend started on the right foot

From left to right:

D-1 Red Dot (Has since found a new home on B&B )
Serial Numbered 1 to 5 Toggle
D-1 Red Dot
F-4 Chrome Toggle
F-4 Bottom Dial 195
D-1 Mint Toggle (found this locally from a guy who was going to throw it away)
D-1 Red Dot

Hope you all enjoy your holiday weekend!

**AABCDS** · 09-01-2011, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by tnsplayer

...
D-1 Mint Toggle (found this locally from a guy who was going to throw it away)
...

Good job saving this from the landfill.

**Adam R** · 09-01-2011, 06:23 PM

Those are some pretty razors. I haven't tried an adjustable yet and it's getting harder not to.

**tnsplayer** · 09-01-2011, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Adam R

Those are some pretty razors. I haven't tried an adjustable yet and it's getting harder not to.

A Gillette Slim or Black Beauty (Gillette Super Adjustable) are great ones to try and readily available.

**sensei_** · 09-01-2011, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by AABCDS

Good job saving this from the landfill.

x2. what was the guy thinking? even having that on a shelf at home is beautiful to look at. just goes to show that things were made to last back in the day, built like a tank.

**shanman** · 09-01-2011, 06:40 PM

Woah Nelly!

**Zoro** · 09-01-2011, 08:40 PM

Nice razors!

**kingmike** · 09-01-2011, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by AABCDS

Good job saving this from the landfill.

Who would throw a beautiful razor away?

**Copierguy** · 09-01-2011, 10:28 PM

Very nice…..

Thanks for starting the weekend off right.

Also, nice save on the D-1.
It was the environmentally correct thing to do, keeping the landfill from getting all Toggled up....

**BigFoot** · 09-02-2011, 02:15 AM

Here are a few of my adjustables.

**maxman** · 09-02-2011, 02:44 AM

A great way to start out my day.
Thanks guys!

**alex2363** · 09-02-2011, 05:10 AM

wow loving this thread right about now yo!

**Clutch Cargo** · 09-02-2011, 05:36 AM

I'm new to wet shaving and was lucky enough to recently acquire a beautiful Gillette Slim adjustable to complement my Merkur 23C. I would like to know if anyone can educate me on how to determine the proper setting of the adjusting mechanism for multi-pass shaving? I've noticed that the adjustable seems far less forgiving than the 23C, meaning that there must be a methodology to optimizing the settings that I haven't learned yet. Thanks very much.

**Sledgehammer39** · 09-02-2011, 06:43 AM

Sweet looking collection.

**kingfisher** · 09-02-2011, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by Clutch Cargo

I'm new to wet shaving and was lucky enough to recently acquire a beautiful Gillette Slim adjustable to complement my Merkur 23C. I would like to know if anyone can educate me on how to determine the proper setting of the adjusting mechanism for multi-pass shaving? I've noticed that the adjustable seems far less forgiving than the 23C, meaning that there must be a methodology to optimizing the settings that I haven't learned yet. Thanks very much.

I don't think there's really a methodology to speak of. It takes a little time to learn how to use a "new-to-you" razor, as the angles are sometimes slightly different. The Slim is very efficient at higher settings, and very precise at lower settings. I utilize this in my shaves by using a higher number for the first pass and then dialing it down for subsequent passes. Most people, however, leave it at the same setting throughout, and others actually dial it UP from pass-to-pass. That's why I say that there's not really a methodology per se.

I don't know what you mean by "forgiving." If by "forgiving" you mean less razor burn and less chance of nicks, etc., then the lower settings on the Slim will give you the same benefits. Settings 1,2,and 3 are quite mild. If, on the other hand, by "forgiving" you mean able to mow down stubble even if your angle isn't perfect, the Slim will deliver this on higher settings (7, 8, and 9). Just make sure you don't add pressure. The settings in the middle (4, 5, and 6) provide some of the benefits of each side; in other words, they have fairly wide efficiency angle without having a large risk of razor burn and nicks.

Only through trial/error will you be able to figure out which settings work best for you. If you're kind of new at this, and your beard isn't copper-wire tough and dense, I would suggest starting with a setting of 3, and leaving it at that setting through the entire shave. Keep it at 3 for at least 5 or 6 shaves, then try moving it up a little (say, to 5) and then see what you think.

One last thing: Make sure that you "lock down" the blade before you shave. In other words, after the doors are closed and you're to the point where a Superspeed would be ready to go, the Slim has an extra 1/4 to 1/2 "lock down" turn. Engaging this will make sure that the blade stays in place throughout the shave. If the blade is able to wiggle, harsh, uncomfortable shaves will result, so this step is important. I check it several times during my shave, as well.

Good luck and have fun. I think you'll eventually fall in love with the Slim, as I have.

**Clutch Cargo** · 09-02-2011, 07:26 AM

kingfisher,
I appreciate your expertise on setting my Gillette Slim. When I said "forgiving," I did mean less razor burn and less chance of nicks. I have experimented with settings ranging from 3 to 5, and I have made sure to "lock down" the blade before shaving as you mentioned. Having come from a background of using plastic cartridges for decades, I think the entire mindset of using no pressure other than the weight of the razor itself is new to me. I've been trying to hold the razor only at the end of the handle and not choking up on it, as that inevitably results in excess pressure and nicks. There seems to be a delicate balance between pressure and control that is completely different from using a plastic cartridge with 2-5 blades. Thanks for educating me.

**Copierguy** · 09-02-2011, 09:05 PM

A while back I was lucky enough to pickup this one. It is the 5 position currently featured on mr-razor’s fine website.
I have never been able to captured it like this image does.

**tnsplayer** · 09-03-2011, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Copierguy

A while back I was lucky enough to pickup this one. It is the 5 position currently featured on mr-razor’s fine website.
I have never been able to captured it like this image does.

That is an amazing razor and picture! Do you know if anyone else has a 5-position bottom dial? I didn't realize that was yours on the site, I always assumed Achim had one too.

**Copierguy** · 09-03-2011, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by tnsplayer

That is an amazing razor and picture! Do you know if anyone else has a 5-position bottom dial? I didn't realize that was yours on the site, I always assumed Achim had one too.

There may be more but I have only seen photos of 3 others.

The 1 to 5 Bottom Dial is unique in that it has no date code.
This suggests that it may have been a pre-release or prototype of the 1 to 9 Bottom Dial.