Cleaning a Gillette Fat Boy

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142
Today my father surprised me by finding my grandfathers Fat Boy. Its coded F2 which i believe is the second quarter of 1960 which is about right as he died in 1963. As you can see from the pictures it needs spruced up so what methods are there available to make it shining again?, will any simple household products do the job?. If you're going to say bicarbonate of soda i don't have any in the house :D

It still in perfect working order and the adjustments still click into place.

So excited i may try it tonight if i can clean it properly but on the other hand i don't know if its right that i should use it. My dad said to try it out :shock:

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Another question..........

What is the best setting for using an adjustable for the first time, should i start off at a low number?.

I currently use a EJ DE89 which gives me a really smooth shave and it will take something good to beat it.
 
Twinnumber2 said:
Another question..........

What is the best setting for using an adjustable for the first time, should i start off at a low number?.

I currently use a EJ DE89 which gives me a really smooth shave and it will take something good to beat it.

Hi there,

I'd suggest starting on #3 or 4, and see how that works. To me, the EJ feels like about #5 on the Gillette adjustable scale. The fatboy and EJ have two different heads though, and they don't perform the same way.

Almost all Gillette adjustables need to be tightened an extra 1/4 turn, once the TTO is snugged down a bit. You'll feel what I'm talking about when you try it yourself. That's what locks the blade in place, which prevents it from flopping around (a bad thing).

Good luck with the Gillette........that's a great model you have there.

Martin

Oh yeah, for cleaning and polishing razors I'll use Maas and Scrubbing Bubbles. The Maas will get a quite of the shine back, and the Bubbles do a nice job of overall cleaning.
 
Max (Frenchblade) knows a lot about restoring old razors like this, I'm sure he'll be along soon.

The toothpaste tip seems to work. For me, I use Cillit Bang to shift any areas of old engrained soap scum but I wouldn't do it often as the chemicals might be a bit harsh, but it works superbly as a one off deep clean.

That is an awesome find... no doubt for personal reasons you want to keep Grandad's razor, but just be aware it's highly sought after!
 
Canuck said:
Max (Frenchblade) knows a lot about restoring old razors like this, I'm sure he'll be along soon.

The toothpaste tip seems to work. For me, I use Cillit Bang to shift any areas of old engrained soap scum but I wouldn't do it often as the chemicals might be a bit harsh, but it works superbly as a one off deep clean.

That is an awesome find... no doubt for personal reasons you want to keep Grandad's razor, but just be aware it's highly sought after!

Awesome it is!. One things for sure is that i won't be selling it as it will be passed on to any kids i have. My dad wouldn't be a happy camper if i did lol

I'm so glad i got the razor as my brother got my grandfathers watch which is so not my style :D
 
A good thing to do with the vintage adjustables is to give them a good long soak in hot tap water with some washing up liquid added. Allow the water to cool and leave it soaking overnight. Maybe repeat this a few times. You'll be surprised at the amount of crap that will have found its way into the inner workings of these over the years and this is a good way of loosening it up without damaging the razor finish or removing the paint from the numbers.

You could consider having it replated so it looks like new, Dave at safetyrazors.co.uk charged £15 to replate my Fatboy.
 
Back In high school 1966 I used #4 ( I know - I carbon dated myself). When I got back into wet shaving last January, I started with the 4 setting and it wasn't what I was after. My routine now is 7,5 and finish with 3. So, my recommendation would be starting out with a 4 setting.

This is a wonderful present your Father handed to you. I'd go for the replating as well. Hope you enjoy tonight's shave --- oh look at the time, you've done shaved and went to bed.

Regards, Robert
 
Robert Otten said:
Back In high school 1966 I used #4 ( I know - I carbon dated myself). When I got back into wet shaving last January, I started with the 4 setting and it wasn't what I was after. My routine now is 7,5 and finish with 3. So, my recommendation would be starting out with a 4 setting.

This is a wonderful present your Father handed to you. I'd go for the replating as well. Hope you enjoy tonight's shave --- oh look at the time, you've done shaved and went to bed.

Regards, Robert

I haven't used it yet but I'm sorely tempted. Sunbury has very kindly offered to restore it and bring it back as good as new. Replating is an option but since it was my grandfathers i think i'd like to keep it original.

Thanks for all your advice on how best to use it.
 
Canuck said:
Max (Frenchblade) knows a lot about restoring old razors like this, I'm sure he'll be along soon.

If you want I'll do the whole works on it, no charge. (just pay postage back), you'll get it back as shiny & clean as possible.
Anyone else have a razor they want overhauled, first 5 PMs, I'll do it on the same conditions as above.

Cheers,

Max
 
This big old fatboy cleaned up well, looks nice and sparkly and numbers painted back in, it's adjuster is solid and clicks well
in every position and butterfly doors are nice and smoth, i would not get it replated as it's an original Razor and it's his Grandfathers....
just enjoy it as it is, it's got some family history and it will be a very nice Razor. ;)

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sunburyboy93 said:
This big old fatboy cleaned up well, looks nice and sparkly and numbers painted back in, it's adjuster is solid and clicks well
in every position and butterfly doors are nice and smoth, i would not get it replated as it's an original Razor and it's his Grandfathers....
just enjoy it as it is, it's got some family history and it will be a very nice Razor. ;)

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Proper job Steve. Just what do you do/use to get them looking this good? I have an ultrasonsonic cleaner and mine come up quite tiidily but nowhere as nicely as yours do.

What's the secret?
 
I use an Ultrasonic, leccy toothbrush, Fairy liquid, plentle of gentle scrubbing, light polish with Silvo, sometimes Autosol (depends on what i'm polishing as with Autosol, its abbraisive so you MUST be very careful).... etc etc

trick is, don't overdo it, as it is easy to wreck a nice vintage Razor by polishing too much or using the wrong cleaning materials.

Max and myself generally do the same cleaning routines on Razors.........

brings them up a treat

:D
 
KRF1963 said:
Proper job Steve. Just what do you do/use to get them looking this good? I have an ultrasonsonic cleaner and mine come up quite tiidily but nowhere as nicely as yours do.
What's the secret?
sunburyboy93 said:
Max and myself generally do the same cleaning routines on Razors.........
brings them up a treat
:D

Yes, we compared notes, we both have very similar techniques. I do find my new USC is a lot better than the cheap one I had.
But whatever you do, there is quite a bit of "manual" work involved. I've even used toothpicks for cleaning knurling on handles and TTO knobs.
And, yes, overdoing it is something you have to be careful with.

And TIME, lots of TIME! :p It's not just a question of popping it in the USC and presto!

Good job Steve on the Fatboy, sure it will be appreciated, and I agree on the replating, should be avoided, especially on something with sentimental value.

Max
 
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