Ouch!! First Fat Boy Shave

**istandalone** · 12-18-2007, 08:43 AM

Well I purchased a Fat Boy. Tried it this morining and had a terrible time. Cut the dickens out of myself. Set on 1. I normally shave with a Tech and do two passes. I use panasonic (israel made) stainless steel blades.

Question - is the blade supposed to rest on the bar? mine has a gap between bar and blade.

I probably had the angle all wrong. It was very aggressive compared to the Tech.

I need to let my chin and neck rest now for a while.

Ouch.

**iron maiden** · 12-18-2007, 08:54 AM

I think you have an out of adjustment fatboy....surely one of the other guys here can tell you how to fix it.....it shouldn't be that aggreessive, or even remotely aggressive...normally a gentle razor.

Don't worry, it can most likely be fixed.

**Newfie** · 12-18-2007, 08:56 AM

There is supposed to be a gap, but the adjustment will open or close that gap.

What did you have it set on?? If you had it opened quite a bit, there is a big part of your problem.

My guess is to match a Tech, a 2 setting might be the equivalent.

**SilkySmooth** · 12-18-2007, 11:33 AM

Sorry to hear that! I hope you figure out the problem. I'm not sure what you're doing differently. Don't give up!

==Tom

I love mine

**istandalone** · 12-18-2007, 11:36 AM

Set on one - the gap is twice as wide as the gap on the Tech.

The adjustment knob just changes the angle of the blade.

On one the blade is flat, on nine the blade is arched. If you look at the end.

**istandalone** · 12-18-2007, 12:00 PM

Okay, I found this. I think I'll try it.

Originally Posted by cooncatbob

I just posted the fix on SMF but here goes. Turn knob all the way to the right. Push on clicker tab with paperclip or othe small tool while turning to the right. The knob should jump over the stop back to it's proper range. I might be backwards so if this does work try going the other way. This is also how to go beyond 10 so don't tell.
BTW. This won't work with a Toggle as the clicker isn't exposed

**istandalone** · 12-18-2007, 03:48 PM

I think I am getting there. Took it apart, cleaned it, adjusted it; however, now it is now loose when loaded - seems like the doors are not making contact with the blade.

Is the blade supposed to be loose - maybe I adjusted it too much??????

**Fish Slayer** · 12-18-2007, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by istandalone

Set on one - the gap is twice as wide as the gap on the Tech.

The adjustment knob just changes the angle of the blade.

On one the blade is flat, on nine the blade is arched. If you look at the end.

I don’t think that this is correct. The blade in my Fat Boy sits on 4 metal pads that are close to the safety bar. The lid bends the blade down to these pads. The blade holding parts move in relation to the safety bar when the adjustment is turned, but the amount of bend in the blade does not change. Only the height (or gap) of the blade above the safety bar changes.

If you set the razor on a high number, load a blade and close the lid then adjust the dial to a lower number, the curve in the blade will decrease, BUT the lid will also be loose. When you re-tighten the lid the razor will bend the blade to the same curve as before. Similarly, you can not (or should not try) to adjust a Fat Boy from a low number to a higher number without first loosening the lid. If your lid will not close down to bend the blade at the lower numbers, your lid closing mechanism may be gummed up.

**iron maiden** · 12-18-2007, 10:34 PM

You might give cooncatbob a PM...he seems to know how to fix these razors.

**Mr. Gillette** · 12-19-2007, 07:37 AM

I've been driving a Fatboy since Timmy Boston was an embryo

and it sure sounds like you have a problem there!

A very VERY basic thing...make sure you make the adjustment BEFORE the doors are closed.

ALSO...make sure the doors actually close...make sure the thing is clean, completely, inside and out. A couple of days ago I felt like I was taking a hunk out of my face-- realized I just didn't have the doors closed fully--but this can simulate an incredibly aggressive razor!

IMHO A FB set on 1 should be mild as a pussy willow...certainly should be on the "comfortable" side of what you're used to with Super Speed, and definitely no more aggressive than that. Head angle in certain spots will feel somewhat different, because the head is a bit thicker than the SS, it's heavier, and the handle is heftier.

Finally-- it could be that you've been "pushing" a bit with the SS and not noticing it, because the thing is so light. If you exert any similar downward pressure on a FB, it's like driving a 24,000 lb earthmover over your front yard after a rainstorm-- the tires might not be aggressive, but they'll leave a serious rut, just from the weight and pressure. Be careful

And for God's sake...don't give up! Make sure it's clean inside/out-- make sure it's working, and realize that it's going to take some learning curve.

**istandalone** · 12-19-2007, 09:35 AM

Thanks for everyone's help.

I think I am going to give up on this one. it is a D-4, so I might look for another one later down the road. The gap between blade and bars just seems to be too great, no matter what I do. Maybe the bars have been bent down at some point in time??

I tweeked the adjustment so that the 4 pads are below the base and the blade just rattles. I have followed everyone's advice.

I'll just stick to the simple Gillette Tech for now. There is something about the simple blade holding technology that is not present in an adjustable.

How can the blade be supported from both below and above in an adjustable razor???

**Barcochris** · 12-19-2007, 10:42 AM

I tried the fat boy, I had a lot of problems, I think for me just starting out there were to many adjustments. I was trying different blades and different settings. I will go back to the fat boy but I need to learn how to shave with my HD then maybe another go around.

**duna** · 12-19-2007, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by istandalone

Thanks for everyone's help.

I think I am going to give up on this one. it is a D-4, so I might look for another one later down the road. The gap between blade and bars just seems to be too great, no matter what I do. Maybe the bars have been bent down at some point in time??

I tweeked the adjustment so that the 4 pads are below the base and the blade just rattles. I have followed everyone's advice.

I'll just stick to the simple Gillette Tech for now. There is something about the simple blade holding technology that is not present in an adjustable.

How can the blade be supported from both below and above in an adjustable razor???

istandalone, that razor (the fatboy) is an outstanding piece of equipment and the blade must NOT rattle. The blade is firmly supported by the silo doors (from above) and from four bars (from below). The clicker adjusts the position of the four protruding bars, modifying the blade exposure. The silo doors are fixed, once closed. Only the four bars are adjusted in order to modify blade exposure. Probably something is loose/unengaged/unscrewed in your razor, at the moment. I'll exclude a problem on the safety bar side, even if they are bent, because a bent safety bar would surely modify severely the correct blade exposure but if I'm not mistaken the blade even in this dire circumstance should be supported by the four protruding bars, anyway.

**istandalone** · 12-19-2007, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by duna

istandalone, that razor (the fatboy) is an outstanding piece of equipment and the blade must NOT rattle. The blade is firmly supported by the silo doors (from above) and from four bars (from below). The clicker adjusts the position of the four protruding bars, modifying the blade exposure. The silo doors are fixed, once closed. Only the four bars are adjusted in order to modify blade exposure. Probably something is loose/unengaged/unscrewed in your razor, at the moment. I'll exclude a problem on the safety bar side, even if they are bent, because a bent safety bar would surely modify severely the correct blade exposure but if I'm not mistaken the blade even in this dire circumstance should be supported by the four protruding bars, anyway.

Yes, the rattle only happened when I tried to adjust the adjustment knob skipping below the 1 per cooncatbob's posting. With the proper adjustment knob setting there is no rattle, just a wide gap, leading me to believe the bars may be bend down - I don't have a pristeen Fat Boy to compare to.

**duna** · 12-20-2007, 03:25 AM

In this thread you can find pictures of pristine Gillettes. Number 6 is a Fatboy. Please compare the position of safety bar between those and your razor.

**istandalone** · 12-20-2007, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by duna

In this thread you can find pictures of pristine Gillettes. Number 6 is a Fatboy. Please compare the position of safety bar between those and your razor.

Duna,

Thank you. I saw that last week, but could not find it again. I will compare the two. Might take pictures of mine. It does seem that the pristine Fat Boy has less of a gap between the silo doors and the base plate/bar.

**iron maiden** · 12-20-2007, 08:22 AM

I hope you can fix it.....a properly adjusted one is a wonderful razor.....maybe you could send it to somebody who knows how to fix it?? Anyone? Anyone?

**jss** · 12-22-2007, 11:17 AM

Hope someone can help you fix it.

**istandalone** · 12-26-2007, 10:02 AM

Well, I got it all fixed up. adjusted the bars (took a couple of tries). Shaved this morning with no nicks or cuts. Left a few stubbly patches, but practice will take care of that.

Put it on 1 for first pass and 3 for second pass.

Too used to my Tech now. Need to try different blades as well.

I'll keep trying.

**duckintheface** · 12-27-2007, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by istandalone

Well, I got it all fixed up. adjusted the bars (took a couple of tries). Shaved this morning with no nicks or cuts. Left a few stubbly patches, but practice will take care of that.

Put it on 1 for first pass and 3 for second pass.

Too used to my Tech now. Need to try different blades as well.

I'll keep trying.

istandalone, could you give us details of how you fixed it? That will help someone else who is in the same position you were in. What did you do to reduce the gap?