Adjustable Vs. non adjustable.

B

Bumppo

Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
1,290
Still at the beggining level for wet shaving, I bought a good DE and I have gotten confident with my ability to make a lather with a few different soaps.That is the most fun for me so far. It is time to try a couple of different razors, the first i had was cheap, light, and fairly agressive, The One now used is heavy and not aggressive, but well made.

What are the advantages of buying a high end adjustable like the Futur; if once I find a setting I like will I really need the ability to adjust the head? is there a method that promotes the changing of edge angles for different parts of the face?
 
I am curious about this as well. Also, what makes a razor aggressive?

Jeff
 
Agression is determined mostly by the combination of two things. The first is the space between the bar or comb and the blade; a wider space allows for a closer shave but risks nicks and razor burn. The second is the angle of the blade. On some adjustable razors, one of these two is fixed and the adjustment varies the other. The Futur is somewhat unique in that both vary simultaneously. The Merkur Vision allows independent adjustment of both.
 
The thing I like about ajustables is you can set it to what is most comfortable for the way you shave. I pretty much set it and forget it. Some do change the ajustment for each pass but I'm not one of them. I will move the ajustment sometimes if the blade seems a little dull or if I've gone more than 24 hours since my last shave. But it is very rare that I just don't use my normal setting.
 
I use a Merkur Futur, and I adjust the head during shaving. 3 or 4 for first pass WTG, 2 for 2nd and 3rd pass XTG and ATG.
 
When I had an adjustable I would move to more aggressive setting with each pass. My reasoning was less hair to cut each pass, so the razor needed to be more aggressive to shave it. I did find that I got extremely close and comfortable shaves this way, but in the long run I liked my older open comb razors better and I stopped using the adjustable. I ended up giving it to another member here.

The main advantage to an adjustable is the ability to adjust it to your face. I think when the first adjustable came out the designers were expecting the end users to find a setting and leave it there. Not jump around the settings during the shave like some of us do, but hey some of us are tinkerers and need to fiddle with anything we get our hands on. I can't begin to tell you how many lawnmowers and other things I took apart as a kid just to see the inner workings:o
 
I've been using my old Gillett adjustable for the last 50+ years. It's still going strong.

Rich
 
I find that different blades work better at different settings for me. I can go more aggressive with feathers than I can with personnas. Also I grow a beard in the winter months and shave just under my neck and some detailing on upper cheeks and bottom lip, dialing it down helps keep from burning the edge of my lip and removing a large chunk of my beard line when working up to the edge of it, since I keep it short.


-X
 
Gollnick said:
Agression is determined mostly by the combination of two things. The first is the space between the bar or comb and the blade; a wider space allows for a closer shave but risks nicks and razor burn. The second is the angle of the blade. On some adjustable razors, one of these two is fixed and the adjustment varies the other. The Futur is somewhat unique in that both vary simultaneously. The Merkur Vision allows independent adjustment of both.
Click to expand...

It also depends on the thickness of your beard.

BTW, anyone thinking about the Merkur Vision... DON'T. I have one and it is a total POS. I'm on #4 because of how badly designed & manufactured it is. First one came NIB with the head broken off. The shaving head is held on with a single spot weld, and it breaks very easily. And since it does come with a 10-year warranty, I have had to send mine back 3 times for replacement because of this inherent weakness. Plastic internal parts also.

The design is so crappy that one common complaint is that the razor is not secured perpendicular with the plane of the handle. This means that you can carve yourself up if you aren't careful.

Finally, the "adjustible" feature just means that the selector ring will rotate freely as it does not have any sort of "click" settings to hold it to your choice of blade height. I have cut myself shaving with the Vision because it had spun itself out of my setting.
 
The Merkur Progress, and even better with the Mergress custom upgrade, at the #4 setting is far superior to the Vision, IMO. I start high and lower the settings.
 
The Progress also doesn't click into its setting. But, I have yet to have it move on me. I think it is a great razor. I strongly recommend it.
 
CWL, Thats too bad. Hope you find a good double edge razor. Mine is a 1957 Gillett Super Speed, that I've had for a few years. After giving it a thorough cleaning I started shaving with it. Form day one I've had no problems and nothing but great shaves. DM
 
David Martin said:
CWL, Thats too bad. Hope you find a good double edge razor. Mine is a 1957 Gillett Super Speed, that I've had for a few years. After giving it a thorough cleaning I started shaving with it. Form day one I've had no problems and nothing but great shaves. DM
Click to expand...

Oh, I have about a dozen Gillette models! My preference are the Fat Boys! Got them all used on FeeBay and they all give excellent shaves! It is from shaving with these decades-old models that I am able to form such a harsh opinion about the Merkur Vision!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top