Hi guys, Today I saved a Slim aristocrat! The guy known nothing about it, and thought it was to put in a shelf on a barber shop =/ He didnt believe I really wanted it for shaving myself! So first photos:
But this beauty its still not working at its best =( Dial ok, last quarter ok, but the doors dont close without some help of my fingers. After some WD40 they are better. And they work freely. But when they start to close, they stop and you feel the pressure. Here you can view the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-8stKe7NlafIZjYsEOh1PMyYgU2pzHgW/view?usp=drivesdk Any advice?
I would resist forcing them. Maybe start with a long soak (or two) in liquid dish soap and then some more lubricant.
Only thing I can add is also keep working the TTO to open and close the doors on the razor while it is warm or hot after giving it another soap bath and keep doing the same periodically if you lubricate it again. Sometimes it takes 24 to 48 hours to break up whatever is causing it to not open or close correctly. It might also help to use a rubber mallet and tap the razor along the handle and TTO knob after lubricating like you would with a rusty bolt.
I've had good luck with many Gillette adjustables by hot but not boiling water and Dawn dish soap soak. An old toothbrush gives a gentle scrub where needed. Then dribble mineral oil (Baby oil is the same but with scent added) down the top of the handle, up from the bottom, into the adjuster ring, and work it in by operating the TTO knob and adjuster. Follow that with another Dawn soak. It's help dissolve crud inside the handle. Only had one out of more than a dozen this didn't bring back to service.
So quick update: warm bath all night together with Fairy soap. Today I applied some Ikea mineral oil that I had at home. Looking better!! Thanks. Its less stuck right now. So another 12h bath and when I return home later, lets oil it again.
Another method of cleaning - ultrasonic bath like those used to clean jewelry. I've not tried it, but I hear the vibration of cleaning fluids helps to break up crud on the inside of the handle tube.
If I buy a ultrasonic cleaner my wife kills me xD but yes, could be a solution. I will continue with the baths for now. Thanks
Does she wear jewelry? Do a little research. Germs and bacteria! She needs an ultrasonic cleaner to reduce spreading and carrying all that grunge, plus her stuff will sparkle when it's clean. Make sure you get one that's just big enough to hold a DE razor...
I also recommend the ultrasonic cleaner. I'm using one found on 'that auction site' for less than 35$. Beware that real cheap ones are just a pager vibrator motor stuck to a plastic container. Used it on a lazy slim cleaned a lot of white stuff inside. Squeaks like a new after.
After some 48h baths its a bit better but the problem should be mecanic =( Some pictures side by side with other slim that I bought from a great member @Sparrow The slim is a I1 and the aristocrat is L1. After shaving with the aristocrat I was cut in 5 places, the 5 seems like a 9 adjustment. And as you can see on the pictures they look different =(
The safety bar looks to have a different angle, more curvy, and the base plate is higher than the slim in the same dial number.
Looks like it's "Overclocked". That's a borrowed computer term for when a device has been pushed past it's normal settings. Here's some extra curricular reading that may help you alleviate the issue. At The Shave Den At The Shave Nook At Damn Fine Shave
The way to check if it is under or overclocked is use a feeler gauge. Here are the gap settings http://gilletteadjustable.com/misc-2/adjustable-razor-blade-gaps/ If the gauge shows larger gaps it is overclocked, to fix when you adjust the dial down to 1 you need to push in that clicker spring on the dial to turn it back to 9 then check the gaps again. If the gauge shows smaller gaps it is underclocked, to fix when you adjust the dial down to 9 you need to push in that clicker spring on the dial to turn it back to 1 then check the gaps again.
