Balance Slim vs. Fatboy

[flutewhistler]

I have had a Slim for a while, but I seem to neglect it because I find it too heavy-headed. I just don't like the balance compared to, say, my Red Tip. For those of you who have or have had both a Slim and a Fatboy, I'm interested to know if there is an appreciable difference in balance between the two.

Thanks!

[jbradley]

I have a Slim & a Fatboy. Shaved with the slim for 3-4 years. Then picked up the Fatboy in a bundle which also had a New in it. Used the New, loved it, never touched the Fatboy. Sorry.
Johnnie

[xraygun]

I prefer the Fatboy. Not sure why.

[Crixus]

I find the balance of the FatBoy to be better (less head heavy) balanced than the Slim. That's probably due to it being shorter and having stouter machinery in the handle. But you are right about the Red Tip. It is the best balanced of all the TTOs in my opinion.

My three favorite vintage Gillettes are the Red Tip, the Fat Handle Tech and the Bar handle New. All have 3" long "chubby" handles, and both the Tech and New have hollow handles, which have allowed me to weight both handles with lead quail shot and candle wax. Now all three of my favorite razors are lower end weighted ~65g with the "same" size handles.

So while they are all different, they all feel most similar. I can have pleasurable variety without having to totally adjust my shaves each time I change razors.

[Stick Monkey]

I have both a Slim and Fatboy; to me the Fatboy feels heavier (and has a "higher quality" feel to it). I prefer the feel of a Superspeed to either, and very rarely use either the Slim or the Fatboy.

I have had a Slim for a while, but I seem to neglect it because I find it too heavy-headed. I just don't like the balance compared to, say, my Red Tip. For those of you who have or have had both a Slim and a Fatboy, I'm interested to know if there is an appreciable difference in balance between the two.

Thanks!

[drawonme]

Love both the slim and the fatboy (and the superspeed) but all are much less aggresive for me than the red tip. Maybe I got a bad red tip, but can't get a close shave without razor burn. Tried 4 or 5 different blades.

[flutewhistler]

My three favorite vintage Gillettes are the Red Tip, the Fat Handle Tech and the Bar handle New. All have 3" long "chubby" handles, and both the Tech and New have hollow handles, which have allowed me to weight both handles with lead quail shot and candle wax. Now all three of my favorite razors are lower end weighted ~65g with the "same" size handles..

That is fascinating, and not being a Vet or a hunter, I would have never thought of adding shot and wax as a sealer to the handle. I will definitely keep that in mind, as it's a lot cheaper than buying a Bullmastiff handle! Thanks!

[Crixus]

That is fascinating, and not being a Vet or a hunter, I would have never thought of adding shot and wax as a sealer to the handle. I will definitely keep that in mind, as it's a lot cheaper than buying a Bullmastiff handle! Thanks!

If you can't talk a buddy out of a shotgun shell, you can probably get away with some strands of solder.

[redrako]

If one judges balance by finding an point on the handle where one can balance the razor on one finger, the balance point of the fatboy and the slim are both on the knurled handle immediately under the adjustment dial. The slim being a longer, thinner handle that the fatboy compensates by having some of it' weight further away from the head.

The midpoint of the red Gillette, which has no dial, is approximately at the same distance below the head as the slim and fatboy. Yet, I clearly like the slim the best, probably followed by the red tip (which is pretty close to the fat boy.

IMO, they are engineering marvels. My B2 Red tip is five years older than I, my G3 Fatboy is my birth razor and the 66 Slim was manufactured while I was in kindergarden. I'm positive that they will all survive me. Yet I enjoy them all, but feel that they are three different tools, to be chosen like the appropriate paint from a palette.

[L. Martino]

I have had a Slim for a while, but I seem to neglect it because I find it too heavy-headed. I just don't like the balance compared to, say, my Red Tip. For those of you who have or have had both a Slim and a Fatboy, I'm interested to know if there is an appreciable difference in balance between the two.

Thanks!

Hi there,

I've used both the Slim and Fatboy quite a bit over the years and to me the Fatboy seems a bit more head heavy. I can't say how much difference the balance is on each, but the shaves certainly aren't the same for a number of reasons.

The Fatboy's heavier and has a little shorter and thicker handle which both contribute to it's charm in their own ways, but the main thing is the more rounded head design. Two different profiles with a Slim and Fatboy head.......that's mainly why they perform in different ways. The only other razors I know of with that head is the Toggle and the Executive (late 1950s version).

Most people will prefer one head design over the other........gotta try em both and see which ones fits better.

Martin

[global_dev]

i like razors that are heavy and top heavy.. the super speeds felt too light, i liked the fatboy better than the slim, but not by much... a haevy new would be nice to try.

[Crixus]

i like razors that are heavy and top heavy.. the super speeds felt too light, i liked the fatboy better than the slim, but not by much... a haevy new would be nice to try.

A heavy new is nice. But since I prefer the short bar handle (hollow), I had to weight it myself. But that is very easy to do and experiment on a temporary basis to see if it's something you like.

[turtle]

I have both but rarely use either (never even put a blade in the slim).

Razors are personal preference and each shaver is going to prefer one over the other for their own reasons.

My personal preference on DE is Merkur Vision. This is a love hate razor for any/all who have tried it. For me, I have to force myself to pick up a different razor I like this one so much.

If you prefer one razor over another just chalk it up to your personal shaving style and preference. Stick with what works the best for you regardless of what others say.

[dgilman]

I have had a Slim for a while, but I seem to neglect it because I find it too heavy-headed. I just don't like the balance compared to, say, my Red Tip. For those of you who have or have had both a Slim and a Fatboy, I'm interested to know if there is an appreciable difference in balance between the two.

Thanks!

There's definitely a difference. The way I shave, I have come to prefer a slightly more even weight distribution in a razor than a really head-heavy distribution. That being the case, I tend to like my Fat Boy a little better than my Slim. Also, I feel a little more comfortable and in control of a razor with a thicker handle. The length of the Slim doesn't do as much for me as the girth of the Fat Boy. That increased sense of agility compensates, I think, for the larger head profile of the Fat Boy.

And since you bring it up, I have also tried a Red Tip, and had little interest in it. The balance, however, felt good, and definitely seemed a bit closer to the FB than the Slim in that regard.

[Clutch Cargo]

If one judges balance by finding an point on the handle where one can balance the razor on one finger, the balance point of the fatboy and the slim are both on the knurled handle immediately under the adjustment dial. The slim being a longer, thinner handle that the fatboy compensates by having some of it' weight further away from the head.

redrako is absolutely correct. I tried the "balance test" on both a Slim and Fatboy, and both have their balance point on the knurled handle, immediately under (and almost touching) the bottom of the adjustment dial. That left about the same distance from that pivot point to the top (head end) of each razor, but the Slim was definitely longer on the other side. Some feel like they have more control with a longer and narrower handle, while others appreciate the larger diameter, but shorter handle. Having both razors in my rotation, I think it's all a matter of personal preference. Both the Slim and Fatboy provide excellent shaves.

[Old Man Army]

I have both a Slim and a Fat Boy. When I'm home both are in my rotation, but I tend to use the Slim more often. I am conidering having the Fat Boy replatted in Rhodium, which might move it up in the pecking order.

[Crixus]

redrako is absolutely correct. I tried the "balance test" on both a Slim and Fatboy, and both have their balance point on the knurled handle, immediately under (and almost touching) the bottom of the adjustment dial. That left about the same distance from that pivot point to the top (head end) of each razor, but the Slim was definitely longer on the other side. Some feel like they have more control with a longer and narrower handle, while others appreciate the larger diameter, but shorter handle. Having both razors in my rotation, I think it's all a matter of personal preference. Both the Slim and Fatboy provide excellent shaves.

Although what you and redrako say about the location of the balance point of the two razors being roughly the same, the big difference in balance is how you prefer to hold a razor. For someone like me, who sits the bottom of my razor handle on the first front knuckle of my ring finger, handle length dramatically changes the head-heavy balance of a razor. Knowing what I like, every razor I own has a 3" handle. That is my sweet spot.

Can I effectively shave with other length razors? Yes, but I don't really enjoy it. The length, and thus the "balance", actually picked me. After trying multiple razors over a couple of years, I noticed that I always seemed to favor (and thus got better and more enjoyable shaves) a shorter razor with decent to larger than average girth. The fact that I can custom weight the handles of a couple of these is a great bonus.