1959 Fat Boy & Astra SP = Rough as hell?

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106
Howdy all, had my last 2 shaves with a newly acquired 1959 fat boy, threw in the only blade I have ever used in my Merkur 34C since starting DE shaving a month or so back, the Astra SP....

First shave with the combo felt alright, seemed OK, not bad, not as smooth as the 34C by a long shot however. Had it set to 5.

Second shave I tried it set to 7, then 6, I could hear and feel it scraping the skin, the razor was definateley NOT gliding. I wound back to 5, bit better but still rough and not smooth by any means. By this point I was on my 3rd pass and decided to switch back to my 34C which felt like silky smooth heaven compared to the fat boy.

So is this just a case of old vs new design? Me trying a new razor with incorrect expectations set by the Internet, or is the Astra SP not the greatest blade to pair with the fat boy?

I already have some Feathers, I intend to try using them in my 34C next shave onwards, but I also bought some Gillette Silver Blue's based on research as they seem to be popular.

After tonight's shave with the direct at the time comparison to the 34C, I am seriously considering putting the fat boy on the shelf as a vintage ornament rather than use it.

So, time to find a better blade pairing or am I just unlucky?
 
Interesting-
About 10 years ago I bought a nice fatboy and had it replated, lovely razor and it always shaved really well with Astra's. But then (as you do) I sold it to buy some super duper stainless overpriced pos which inevitably got sold sold on.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I bought a solid but scruffy fatboy off the bay. Initially it was great with Astra's. But a few months back after having bought a new batch of blades it now doesn't shave at all well.

Anyone else had this problem as I think Astra's have fallen back in the quality stakes. Needless to say I bought a 100 :rolleyes:
 
Interesting-
About 10 years ago I bought a nice fatboy and had it replated, lovely razor and it always shaved really well with Astra's. But then (as you do) I sold it to buy some super duper stainless overpriced pos which inevitably got sold sold on.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I bought a solid but scruffy fatboy off the bay. Initially it was great with Astra's. But a few months back after having bought a new batch of blades it now doesn't shave at all well.

Anyone else had this problem as I think Astra's have fallen back in the quality stakes. Needless to say I bought a 100 :rolleyes:

My batch of 100 Astra's were from Amazon UK, bought in January. When and where did you get yours?
 
Never tried it with an Astra but did use another blade (name escapes me) from the same factory with similar results, anything over setting 4 resulted in a rough shave. I just stick to Feather's for the most part these days. Blades are really one of the most subjective areas of shaving, you find your perfect blade, buy a hundred of them, upgrade your razor and discover they're rubbish in the new one... We've all done it :D
 
My Astras are probably 10 years old as I bought way to many of them (and others brands too). I would normally stick an SP into my Fatboy out of habit and have no complaints. Having also used a 34C, I think it shaves as well as the Fatboy, not any better unless I have dialled the Fatboy to the wrong number.

Since you have got the head closed that would be no 1. How many blade you tried? It could be a one off bad blade so try another one from another packet and see how it goes.
 
Interesting-
About 10 years ago I bought a nice fatboy and had it replated, lovely razor and it always shaved really well with Astra's. But then (as you do) I sold it to buy some super duper stainless overpriced pos which inevitably got sold sold on.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I bought a solid but scruffy fatboy off the bay. Initially it was great with Astra's. But a few months back after having bought a new batch of blades it now doesn't shave at all well.

Anyone else had this problem as I think Astra's have fallen back in the quality stakes. Needless to say I bought a 100 :rolleyes:
Interesting. I got given a box of 100 Astras about 6 months ago. I don't rate them in my 37c at all, but find they match well with my SuperSpeed. There's a weird, unfathomable interaction between user, razor and blade, and trying to work it out...? Well, it's just one of those things.
 
Howdy all, had my last 2 shaves with a newly acquired 1959 fat boy, threw in the only blade I have ever used in my Merkur 34C since starting DE shaving a month or so back, the Astra SP....

First shave with the combo felt alright, seemed OK, not bad, not as smooth as the 34C by a long shot however. Had it set to 5.

Second shave I tried it set to 7, then 6, I could hear and feel it scraping the skin, the razor was definateley NOT gliding. I wound back to 5, bit better but still rough and not smooth by any means. By this point I was on my 3rd pass and decided to switch back to my 34C which felt like silky smooth heaven compared to the fat boy.

So is this just a case of old vs new design? Me trying a new razor with incorrect expectations set by the Internet, or is the Astra SP not the greatest blade to pair with the fat boy?

I already have some Feathers, I intend to try using them in my 34C next shave onwards, but I also bought some Gillette Silver Blue's based on research as they seem to be popular.

After tonight's shave with the direct at the time comparison to the 34C, I am seriously considering putting the fat boy on the shelf as a vintage ornament rather than use it.

So, time to find a better blade pairing or am I just unlucky?
I love my '59 fatboy. I use astra blades and no issues. Try winding it down to 2 or 3? I used mine at 2 for several years, 3 passes - lovely shave.
 
I don't own a fatboy but if everything looked good with the blade gap on both sides and it was tightened down, I personally would be blaming the blade. When I was using a dovo shavette a half Derby was the blade I preferred, but I dont really like derby's in de's, I have a slim that I use with mostly feather, but I really do find it weird why a certain blade works well for some people in a razor but not for others, I am sure you will sort it out.
 
Howdy all, had my last 2 shaves with a newly acquired 1959 fat boy, threw in the only blade I have ever used in my Merkur 34C since starting DE shaving a month or so back, the Astra SP....

First shave with the combo felt alright, seemed OK, not bad, not as smooth as the 34C by a long shot however. Had it set to 5.

Second shave I tried it set to 7, then 6, I could hear and feel it scraping the skin, the razor was definateley NOT gliding. I wound back to 5, bit better but still rough and not smooth by any means. By this point I was on my 3rd pass and decided to switch back to my 34C which felt like silky smooth heaven compared to the fat boy.

So is this just a case of old vs new design? Me trying a new razor with incorrect expectations set by the Internet, or is the Astra SP not the greatest blade to pair with the fat boy?

I already have some Feathers, I intend to try using them in my 34C next shave onwards, but I also bought some Gillette Silver Blue's based on research as they seem to be popular.

After tonight's shave with the direct at the time comparison to the 34C, I am seriously considering putting the fat boy on the shelf as a vintage ornament rather than use it.

So, time to find a better blade pairing or am I just unlucky?
I'm sure you'll find something that works for you in the Fatboy within the blade pack from Iain.
 
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