Gillette FlexBall

Durr - after one use - durr - yes - durr - it did - durr - or - durr - seemed easier and - durr - better. Durr - closer all over durr - like a - durr - like - durr - BBS - durr - easily. Bit obvious really as the blades are on a gimbal.
 
Are the blades for this razor the same "Fusion Super" ones I saw on sale in the supermarket today for somewhere north of £20 ? If they are then I'd hope the razor extends their usable life exponentially.

Johnny0. :icon_razz:/
 
First post here -- felt compelled to speak up.

I'm a former cartridge user that switched to DE safety razors just a couple of weeks ago, about 1 month after I started shaving my head. (It was time... Male pattern baldness had done its work years ago.)

Anyway, I used Mach 3 or Fusion mostly for my face for the last several years, and for a short while after I started head shaving, until I switched for a couple of weeks to the Head Blade. Then I (re)discovered safety razors and vintage safety razors in particular. I hadn't known these things even existed any longer.

Anyway, jumping ahead here. Just a few days ago, I gave the new Fusion with the "flex ball" a try because I had found a coupon for $6 off. I figured maybe I was missing out. So I bought one and gave it a try.

I *immediately* found that this razor, unlike the non-ball version, seemed to drag at odd angles and I had more cuts and irritation than I ever had before -- whether with a cartridge OR in my first attempts with a DE razor! I tried the older, non-ball version briefly for comparison and had normal results -- a close shave with no nicks or cuts.

I took the one I bought back to the store -- thinking maybe it was a quality control issue -- and exchanged it for another of the same kind. Had the same problem! Nicked myself several times before I skipped a day, then went back to using the old Fusion, then the head blade for two days until I healed up.

Long story short, and YMMV of course, but I hated my experience with the flex ball technology. Really hated it. I am now back to shaving with a vintage Gillette and a Schick Krona in rotation, or using the head blade occasionally if I am in a hurry on a given morning.

I suspect, for me, that it is a problem with the "gimbal" mechanics... After all, the way I think of it, by the time the blade needs to "pivot" to follow the topography of the face, it's really too late to make a difference for the blade, except to potentially pull that razor edge *off* line from the original angle. So instead of being in control of the oblique angle, the blade is moving independently of the stroke. At least that is my suspicion.

Whatever the real reason, I had the worst shave of my life with that torture device. If I had to either stop shaving altogether or shave just once more with the Flex Ball technology, I'd definitely quit shaving.

At best, I think it's a gimmick to allow Gillette to sell more proprietary blades at an even higher price point. At worst, I think it is an inherently flawed design that has been over-engineered and a complete waste of money.

So... There's my first post. A long one. But I felt strongly about this when I read the thread, and felt I should share my own view here. Take it FWIW. I have nothing to gain or lose by posting this... Just wanted to offer my own take.
 
I shall give mine another run out in a few minutes time - in anticipation of another excelllent shave from this innovative and highly efficient shaving tool - in my experience and thus opinion. Brilliant piece of kit, I reckon.

As it accepts the standard Fusion cartridges, I don't understand comments about higher priced cartridges.
 
Lots of people in here being critical of cartridge razors and promoting the DE stuff, even though this is a section of the forum dedicated to cartridge discussion.

A lot of anti-cartridge comments, even though Becht45 has clearly had a very good shave with one. Proof of pudding is in the eating, gentlemen.

Ian
 
Well - there's two out of two ultra easy, ultra BBS shaves froma Flexball.

I had an As -D1 loaded and ready to go when I read shotwell's post so I decided to postpone the double Feather shave until tomorrow and use the Flexball. I did a first WTG pass and then thought to finish the shave with the Japanese equqipment - but I just plain could not find anytthing left to shave! My skills with an As-D1 were not up to it. Anywqy, finished the other two passes with the Flexball and achieved - was handed on a plate - another ultra BBS shave.

For me, there is only one conclusion - brilliant razor. Or let's make that 'brilliant razor head' because I'm not fond of the handle - it's one of the standard Fusion handles with the grip parts mainly in the wrong places and made of a material that has a fairly low coefficient of friction.

If I can find where I keep my cartridge razors, they'll all go and be replaced with this single Flexball razor. I've no idea how many 'all' might be - knowing me though, it will be several (they shine, they come up on special offers, I'm a mug for both those things, so several).
 
shotwell said:
First post here -- felt compelled to speak up.

I'm a former cartridge user that switched to DE safety razors just a couple of weeks ago, about 1 month after I started shaving my head. (It was time... Male pattern baldness had done its work years ago.)

Anyway, I used Mach 3 or Fusion mostly for my face for the last several years, and for a short while after I started head shaving, until I switched for a couple of weeks to the Head Blade. Then I (re)discovered safety razors and vintage safety razors in particular. I hadn't known these things even existed any longer.

Anyway, jumping ahead here. Just a few days ago, I gave the new Fusion with the "flex ball" a try because I had found a coupon for $6 off. I figured maybe I was missing out. So I bought one and gave it a try.

I *immediately* found that this razor, unlike the non-ball version, seemed to drag at odd angles and I had more cuts and irritation than I ever had before -- whether with a cartridge OR in my first attempts with a DE razor! I tried the older, non-ball version briefly for comparison and had normal results -- a close shave with no nicks or cuts.

I took the one I bought back to the store -- thinking maybe it was a quality control issue -- and exchanged it for another of the same kind. Had the same problem! Nicked myself several times before I skipped a day, then went back to using the old Fusion, then the head blade for two days until I healed up.

Long story short, and YMMV of course, but I hated my experience with the flex ball technology. Really hated it. I am now back to shaving with a vintage Gillette and a Schick Krona in rotation, or using the head blade occasionally if I am in a hurry on a given morning.

I suspect, for me, that it is a problem with the "gimbal" mechanics... After all, the way I think of it, by the time the blade needs to "pivot" to follow the topography of the face, it's really too late to make a difference for the blade, except to potentially pull that razor edge *off* line from the original angle. So instead of being in control of the oblique angle, the blade is moving independently of the stroke. At least that is my suspicion.

Whatever the real reason, I had the worst shave of my life with that torture device. If I had to either stop shaving altogether or shave just once more with the Flex Ball technology, I'd definitely quit shaving.

At best, I think it's a gimmick to allow Gillette to sell more proprietary blades at an even higher price point. At worst, I think it is an inherently flawed design that has been over-engineered and a complete waste of money.

So... There's my first post. A long one. But I felt strongly about this when I read the thread, and felt I should share my own view here. Take it FWIW. I have nothing to gain or lose by posting this... Just wanted to offer my own take.
Click to expand...

Seeing as how you borderline detest it, pass it on, or flog it, perhaps, rather than having it around to irritate you, or binning it?
 
joe mcclaine said:
I'll take one of these off anyone's hands if they really don't like them.

Not the vibrating one though.
Click to expand...

So Vinnie, tell me if I got this straight or not,

Since you already have the vibrating one and don't need another, are you just looking to try a non vibro action one for comparison?

I nailed it......right?
 
joe mcclaine said:
I haven't got the vibrating one.
Click to expand...

That was my fault. I shoulda said you had 4 vibrating ones already and didn't really need another one. The crap in that post was tough to pick up on.

This is why I should have a good sarcastic thingy to include when needed.
 
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