Bent Fatboys, and Slim Adjustables Fix(Butter Knife Fix)

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by DaltonGang, May 9, 2021.

  1. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I have acquired one bent Fatboy , a bent Slim Adjustable, and a sticking Slim Adjustable, from a fellow member.
    One Slim Adjustable will be put up in the The Shave Den Auction.

    Here is the F-4 Fatboy(Middle One) before the fix. It looked like this on both sides.
    The one Slim Adjustable looked the same.

    [​IMG]
     
    Joshua223 and John Beeman like this.
  2. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    This kind of repair has been confusing for many, for years, and some fixes, especially those involving pliers can destroy the razor.

    This first picture is all three razors repaired. They need to be polished out a little.

    P5091552.JPG

    Step 1. make sure the razor is clean. If it doesnt look bent, and is sticking(doors) , then boil water and dunk the razor in it, with a little Palmolive. I use a Pyrex measuring cup. Let it soak, with the doors open, until the water cools. Work the doors, and see if it is moving smoothly. If not, move to next step, because the razor has a bent part, usually a bent safety bar. It can be very slight in one direction or the other.

    Step 2.
    If the safety bar looks bent upwards, use this step to pull it down. Get a sturdy butter knife, and insert it between the slightly cracked door and the safety bar, from outside the door. Then apply a little pressure, by pulling the knife handle away from the wazor. Apply just a very little amount of pressure, then retighten the razor, and check the gap. If it the gap needs to be larger, repeat this step, DO NOT TRY TO DO TOO MUCH ADJUSTMENTS AT ONE TIME. Only Small increments are needed. If the doors act like they are sticking a little, reduce the gap a little, with the next step.

    P5091554.JPG

    Step 3. If the gap is too large. Also do if the doors are sticking a little.

    Insert the blade from underneath, with the doors open, almost all the way. The knife is between the safety bar, and the inner side of the door. Pull the handle of the knife away(outward) from the razor, with little pressure, and check the gap frequently. Do this until the sides are at the proper gap.
    This procedure will fix sticking doors, many times. Re-adjust all four corners until they are all the same.

    P5091553.JPG

    This fix can be used with almost every Gillette with butterfly doors, and a solid safety bar. Even the Expensive British ones.
    I cannot emphasize enough, how potentially destructive using plyers can be. Plyers can scratch the finish, and very easily over correct the issues. I have even seen plyers pull the safety bar outwards(looked like it was bulging straight out). Much more difficult to fix when done the wrong way.

    I hope this helps save many of your razors.

    ..
     
  3. Slipperyjoe

    Slipperyjoe Rusty Metal Tetanus

    This looks like a great fix thanks very kindly! Ya can concur the pliers thing doesn't end well...
     
    Ijustmissedthe50s likes this.
  4. stingraysrock

    stingraysrock PIF'd away his custom title

    This would make great video! I have an aristocrat that has lazy doors, or something. One side opens and closes later than the other side. A video may be a better way to explain the process of fixing the problem.
     
  5. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I also have an easy fix, if the twist knob comes loose, and isn't secure.
     
  6. stingraysrock

    stingraysrock PIF'd away his custom title

    The twist knob seems secure. There is some resistance when opening and closing. One side of the door closes before the other side and then one side opens first too.
     
  7. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Several things have to be checked. But, if everything locks up the way it should, then ignore the slow door. Unless you are a little OCD. Then it is the little things that bug you.
    Back in the day, I was snatching up a bunch of Fatboy razors, that had been abused, and I had to learn how to fix them. Most I purchased for between $10-$15..
    I even took a broken POS Fatboy, and had internal parts machined, by a shop that specialized in small precision tool making for the space industry, and airplane industries. They owed me a favor.
    So, "FrankenFatty" was born, and passed around, until it started to act up, and loosen up. It's been in a drawer ever since.
     
    Ijustmissedthe50s and Enrico like this.
  8. stingraysrock

    stingraysrock PIF'd away his custom title

    Thank You. Also, it is CDO, as it should be! ;)
     
  9. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    OCD, and Dyslexic? Bad combination. :happy102:
     
  10. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    I had some luck with crooked doors by opening them wide and gently pressing each door against a hard flat surface. Prying safety bars *gently* also fixes some issues quickly, as seen above. A combo of the two often did the trick.
     
    Ijustmissedthe50s likes this.
  11. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    There is also adjusting the side plates. But, I have some Nylon flat nosed Pliers for that. This adjustment works if the doors don't align, when shut.
     
    Ijustmissedthe50s likes this.
  12. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    It seems some might need a refresher course, on this topic.
     
    brit, Joshua223 and gorgo2 like this.
  13. Joshua223

    Joshua223 Member

    Thanks for bumping this. :happy088:
     
    brit likes this.

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