Does anybody here actually *enjoy* their Gillette Adjustable DE?

[bluesbishop]

I put this baby on 5 and got bit on my upper lip.

Got one for my uncle, too. His took a slice out of his chin.

I've got a Gillette Old Type that people say is "sooo aggressive", but I got a BBS shave in one pass (1 and a half, tops!) and felt like I couldn't cut myself, even if I tried (which is strange, because I'm a total n00b). Perhaps being aggressive is actually a GOOD thing?? Unless we're talking about adjustables, of course!

If you actually enjoy your Gillette Adjustable...

- What do you have to compare it to?
- What settings do you use with it?

do I like my adjustables? Yes. Do I get as good as a shave as i do with my open comb? Not even close.

That being said, I don't know how any one can get a TRUE BBS shave with 1.5 passes, unless you are young with a soft fine beard and shave once or twice a week. I have a thick beard and even with my favorite OC or R41 it is normal for me to have three passes PLUS buffing/touch ups...Daily.

I do think OC get a bad rap for being overly aggressive.... efficient, yes.

[josie67]

I love both of my adjustables. The first is my slim set at 7, and the second is my Fatboy set at 4

[rgeudy]

I love my Slim as well. First two passes on 8, and ATG pass on a 2 or 3= BBS

[Rob72]

I put this baby on 5 and got bit on my upper lip.

Got one for my uncle, too. His took a slice out of his chin.

I've got a Gillette Old Type that people say is "sooo aggressive", but I got a BBS shave in one pass (1 and a half, tops!) and felt like I couldn't cut myself, even if I tried (which is strange, because I'm a total n00b). Perhaps being aggressive is actually a GOOD thing?? Unless we're talking about adjustables, of course!

If you actually enjoy your Gillette Adjustable...

- What do you have to compare it to?
- What settings do you use with it?

Multiple Gems (1912, Clog-Pruf, Junior...), Valet 1912(modified Gem blades) and 1947 (uses Feathers), Wilkinson Sword Empires(these will let you know what "aggressive" can really mean from a safety razor), De Haven Syncro-Keen (using Perma-Sharps), Coles & Pomco slants, Flair-tip, SS,Tech, few others.

I use my FB, Super & Slim on 7-8.

"Like" is a very relative, subjective term. All in all, I like the adjustables for their ability to deliver fine shaves, more efficiently, when I am tired or pressed for time. For pursuing that "Zen", carefully measured shave, I like my wedgies or the De Haven. I like the plethora of Gillettes for their styles and quality, but I find the SS and most closed combs to deliver in a very average way for me. Obviously, YMMV...

[NickyBobby]

If there's someone out there who DOESN'T enjoy their adjustable, I've been dying to get my hands on one and would be happy to relieve them of this burden. :-)

[thatsilverguy]

If there's someone out there who DOESN'T enjoy their adjustable, I've been dying to get my hands on one and would be happy to relieve them of this burden. :-)

+1, if there's someone else. I let a Super-Adjustable slip through my hands a couple days ago (cos I'm new to DEs and didn't know (str8 user usually))

I am learning the value of FBs and SAs and Slims now though.

[Theprofessor]

I just love my Gillette slim adjustable(1964) .
Its set on three for the moment

[turbo tom]

I started using a Super Adjustable a couple months ago after 13 or so total years with a black handled SS and more than a few shaves with a Tech.

Two full passes with the SA on 4, with a 3rd on the neck on 1, and I'm good to go with a COMFORTABLE DFS...which is all I'm interested in.

[NickyBobby]

I just love my Gillette slim adjustable(1964) .
Its set on three for the moment

Thanks for not rubbing that in...

[ThePatrician]

I've got a Slim Adjustable and just got a Fatboy, which I can't wait to get. I keep my Slim set at three, and if I'm in a hurry I will dial it up to five. Sneaky hobbit that I am, I got the Fatboy partially for me and partially for my son when he gets old enough to shave. Before that I had a Merkur 38C, which is still a great razor and I want to get another one further down the road, since I PIFed it to my best friend to get him into DE shaving. You know, for nostalgia's sake.

[larzone]

Showed my son my Fatboy today and told him that he, someday, will be the owner! Not in many years to come, I hope! :)
I have 3 adjustables, but my fattie gats all the attention.

[serbrus]

LOVE my Gillette Slim Adjustable - it's become my daily razor.

My routine is to decrease the aggressiveness with each pass. For example, this morning's shave was WTG with razor set at 5, XTG with razor at 4, then ATG at setting 1.

Other times, it might be 4-2-1, or 5-5-1, or even 7-5-2; depends on time since last shave, quality of previous shave, age of current blade, lather, etc. There was one weekend where I skipped a few days, and on Monday morning I started out at 9, then 5, then 1.

[Larry J]

I'm a newbie, but quickly saw the value of an adjustable and acquired both a Slim & Fatboy. I started with an EJ89L Barley which is an outstanding razor. While the Gillettes feel kinda toy-like compared to the heft of the EJ, being able to adjust for beard growth & specific pass just made a lot of sense to me. I love the Slim and Fatboy equally. The Slim for the longer handle and the Fatboy for the additional heft. I'm still dialing them in with respect to various setting. As always, YMMV.

[mdw15]

As a newbie I loved the idea of an adjustable from the start.

I still favor them.

[KindestCutofAll]

Using Personna Reds in this order it is Fatboy on 7 and the SuperAdjustable on 9. I can get a BBS shave on par with my Straight Edge razors.

I'll be trying Feather blades next and expect to drop to 6 and 8 respectively. I have Wire for Whiskers and Leather for Skin.

[TheGRman]

I really enjoy the shaves I get from my Gillette Super Adjustables. When I want an effortless shave, my fat handle Tech (with triangular slots and loaded with a Feather) gets some mileage added to it. I love that humble little razor!

[wolfmanxiii]

I've never gotten along with TTO type razors/silo door heads. I don't know what it is, but I can never seem to get it right and end up with nicks and irritation. I'll usually opt for my slant bar, SE or straight if I need something aggressive. I may have bust out the adjustables sometime soon though and experiment.

[Slash McCoy]

I have used straights off and on for 20 years, all "on" for the last 5 or so, except for occasional use of one of my slims, fatboys, autostrops, Techs, my Old OC, or maybe a Rolls. My first razor was a brand new Super Adjustable. So yeah, I have had a few shaves with Gillette adjustables. Yes, I find them enjoyable. Yes, YOU CAN CUT YOURSELF with one. I cut myself more with a DE than with a straight. The straight allows a lower shave angle than a DE, and more control in general. Just because it is a "safety razor" is not a license for carelessness. My usual setting for a Slim or FB is 3 or 4, depending on the blade. I can go 9, but I would rather not. I could go 1, but what's the point? 3 or 4 work great for me.

I think I used my Super Adjustable on 5 with Spoilers or Super Platinums or Personna 74's. I never saw any DE blades back then except Gillette or Personna. How the internet has changed things...

[doug1066]

I just got a BBS with my 1961 Slim set on 6 and an Astra SP. I love my Slim. The fact that James Bond used a Slim in "Goldfinger" makes the Slim that much more enjoyable for me.

[liv2ryd]

Slim adjustable set on 7 for a 3 pass BBS beauty of a shave. The only blades I've put in it that I just couldn't get dialed in were Astra Superior and Crystal. Built like a tank with great balance for me. My favorite in the stable for sure.