...or do you leave it on the same setting throughout the shave? I leave mine set on the same number throughout the shave, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd pass all on #4. I've heard of others adjusting it throughout the shave: 1st pass on 9, 2nd pass on 5, 3rd pass on 3 or something thereabout. So what do you do with your adjustable, and better yet - why? Discuss...
I tend to do the first pass in the middle of the adjustment range and dial up for the second and third passes. On a Fat Boy I'd start at 5 and dial up to 7 for the second pass and back down to 3 for the cheeks.
Let me add to this, too... Do you use different settings for your different adjustables? I've found that my Slim has a very differently shaped head than my Fatboy, but I haven't used it enough to find the right setting - although I don't think it's going to be the same setting as my Fatboy.
This forum has a Fatboy expert from Atlanta named Shawn. I believe he sets his Fatboy on 1, then 9, then 6, then 9 again.
happy102:happy102 Ha! Good one I leave mine on 3 and it never moves....maybe is will try mixing things up a bit. I can shave on higher setting but just find it more comfortable at 3.
settings slim/fatboy ive found the slim's head being of smaller elevation gives a closer shave , that being said i set either for 5wtg,7atg,9xtg and get very nice results, i may just like to play with the settings i could just leave it set to 9 as i like to "feel" the blade on the skin ( im also a Str8 shver and am used to blade on skin) hope all goes well Grottolord
I have the black handled adjustable. I was doing 5 - WTG, XTG, and for ATG. But I used a new Derby Extra and didn't get the lather right. ended up with a brief rash and after that I used 4 for all 3 passes today. I mention that because it didn't seem as close and I'll probably go back to 5x2, then 4 for the third pass. BTW, that's the nice thing about adjustables for newbies, IMHO. You can dial it down after a mistake, bad reaction, etc. Once I settle on a setting and blade, I'll probably look to match that with a "fixed", but I'll always hold on to an adjustable, or two. To answer the question of whether the same # setting is different among different adjustable models, I can't imagine how it could not be different. In fact, I'll bet it varies, to some degree, on each indiviudal razor of the same model. I believe this to be true mostly because these razors were produced over various years and equipment (a new maching might be more accurate that a used, etc.). Also, these razors are "used" and with age comes wear, etc. and tolerances must surely change, allbeit ever so slightly in some cases. Someone with more experience can chime in, but I think it makes sense.
My Slim stays on 5 these days. There was a time when I would adjust it between passes, but have found that my particular razor is great if left on 5.
I tend to leave my Futur on 1 for the first 3 shaves on a blade, then up to 2. I sometimes jump to 1.5 on my neck if I'm having stubble problems...
I don't often adjust during a shave, but I do adjust. Depending on what kind of shave I am in the mood for, or what my face can handle, I choose different settings for the shave.
I try to stay on a setting of 3. But since I shave in the shower I usually change the blade right before I turn the water on. Which means I'm blind, and when I go to tighten down the doors of the razor, sometimes the dial gets bumped. But I can't see the numbers without my glasses, so.........<shrug> Probably somewhere between 3-5 is my setting, I guess. I should go check that...............
My 1963 Gillette adjustable stays on 5 for WTG & XTG most days and 3 ATG on weekends regardless of which blade I am using currently.
Hi, I use a Merkur Progress and I have found a comfortable setting and leave it there for the entire shave.
