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Gibbs Adjustables and their offspring

Thanks Dave @Dave in KY
I've also been watching that. I will be very surprised if he achieves half of that price. Free enterprise, you can ask what you want and if I don't like it I move on.

Thanks Frank @Dragonsbeard
I do believe that you are going to like the Taiga. They seem pretty progressive so they might offer different options - lets see.

+1 on the "easily obtained BBS"
 
Clouds said:
I've also been watching that. I will be very surprised if he achieves half of that price. Free enterprise, you can ask what you want and if I don't like it I move on.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that reality check. I also saw the Personna and was wondering if that was the going price these days. I assumed there was a premium over the Gibbs for a Personna, but not a 3x premium.
 
bobmsp said:
Thanks for that reality check. I also saw the Personna and was wondering if that was the going price these days. I assumed there was a premium over the Gibbs for a Personna, but not a 3x premium.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen one in a while but that is more like 8x the price.:eek: Add with a cracked handle. 😱😱 Its on its second term at the moment.
 
Its finally arrived
So after been jerked around for over 10 days by our customs department, my Palmera has landed.

Here are my initial impressions
Quality of the top is on par with a Gibbs, when you go under the head and get onto the stem it becomes a "little rough around the edges". Nothing bad but it is not the same as the top, which frankly speaking is all that really matters.
It hasn't got a mark on the adjuster wheel, the values are stamped as opposed to engraved and they are not all complete as is unusual with stamping but they are there and that, again is what matters. Balance feels about the same as a standard Gibbs.

There are a couple of other machining marks that haven't been completely polished out. I was told that they are not as well made as the Gibbs so there are really no surprises.

The handle could be Gibbs but its not because it threads nearly 2,5mm deeper. The thread pitch is the same - so 1 full turn equals 1mm blade gap, same as a Gibbs, Personna or the Taiga. The length of the handle is standard, so around 72/73mm - same as a standard Gibbs or Personna

The top cap is wider than all the others and completely covers the blade tabs. The posts are on the top cap and are round as seen in the picture.

There is absolutely no doubt of its pedigree, and from posted images, the upcoming Heritage has copied this more so than the Gibbs.

The proof is in the pudding, so roll on tomorrow morning for my first shave with it.


Palmera 7 a.jpg​
 
Clouds said:
Its finally arrived
So after been jerked around for over 10 days by our customs department, my Palmera has landed.

Here are my initial impressions
Quality of the top is on par with a Gibbs, when you go under the head and get onto the stem it becomes a "little rough around the edges". Nothing bad but it is not the same as the top, which frankly speaking is all that really matters.
It hasn't got a mark on the adjuster wheel, the values are stamped as opposed to engraved and they are not all complete as is unusual with stamping but they are there and that, again is what matters. Balance feels about the same as a standard Gibbs.

There are a couple of other machining marks that haven't been completely polished out. I was told that they are not as well made as the Gibbs so there are really no surprises.

The handle could be Gibbs but its not because it threads nearly 2,5mm deeper. The thread pitch is the same - so 1 full turn equals 1mm blade gap, same as a Gibbs, Personna or the Taiga. The length of the handle is standard, so around 72/73mm - same as a standard Gibbs or Personna

The top cap is wider than all the others and completely covers the blade tabs. The posts are on the top cap and are round as seen in the picture.

There is absolutely no doubt of its pedigree, and from posted images, the upcoming Heritage has copied this more so than the Gibbs.

The proof is in the pudding, so roll on tomorrow morning for my first shave with it.


Click to expand...
Eagerly watching (y)
 
The Palmera shave


As with any "new" adjustable razor, I start with the setting at around the halfway mark and a used blade. I then take the first stroke and assess from there. No exception here.

The blade was a Wizamet Super Iridium on its 3rd use, which for me is about as perfect as you can get it.
A few other things to note:
Yesterdays shave was with the Taiga OC version with the same blade.
The handle used was the standard one, so balance was a little off for me.

First stroke took off quite a bit, but not quite what I expected so I dialed it up another quarter turn and finished my shave on about 4,5ish. Remember no indicator on the dial so its just by feel.

My normal WTG, AGT and XTG plus my normal two touch-up spots produced a shave that is on par with a Gibbs or a Taiga

Because of the widened head and the posts on the head itself, the one anomaly with it is that removing the blade isn't as easy as the others in the family.

How smooth is it - Its no different to a Gibbs.
How efficient is it - Same answer...
Its what Gibbs owners are looking for in a razor. Its such a pity that they are like the Scarlet Pimpernel to find.


SOTD200319.jpg​


My further plans with it:
This one will get its Brass handle because that's what I do. And because I prefer the balance.
I am going to make it a new dial adjuster with an indicator. I have some ideas but nothing final as yet.
I can't match up the thread on the twist knob so that is still in the air. If I do manage to match it, it will get one of them as well.
All original parts will be stored safetly.
 
Clouds said:
The Palmera shave


As with any "new" adjustable razor, I start with the setting at around the halfway mark and a used blade. I then take the first stroke and assess from there. No exception here.

The blade was a Wizamet Super Iridium on its 3rd use, which for me is about as perfect as you can get it.
A few other things to note:
Yesterdays shave was with the Taiga OC version with the same blade.
The handle used was the standard one, so balance was a little off for me.

First stroke took off quite a bit, but not quite what I expected so I dialed it up another quarter turn and finished my shave on about 4,5ish. Remember no indicator on the dial so its just by feel.

My normal WTG, AGT and XTG plus my normal two touch-up spots produced a shave that is on par with a Gibbs or a Taiga

Because of the widened head and the posts on the head itself, the one anomaly with it is that removing the blade isn't as easy as the others in the family.

How smooth is it - Its no different to a Gibbs.
How efficient is it - Same answer...
Its what Gibbs owners are looking for in a razor. Its such a pity that they are like the Scarlet Pimpernel to find.




My further plans with it:
This one will get its Brass handle because that's what I do. And because I prefer the balance.
I am going to make it a new dial adjuster with an indicator. I have some ideas but nothing final as yet.
I can't match up the thread on the twist knob so that is still in the air. If I do manage to match it, it will get one of them as well.
All original parts will be stored safetly.
Click to expand...

thanks for the review. Can you do the ultimate test against the Gibbs and set them both on max setting?
Reason the Rex on 4. 5 setting to max setting changes fairly dramatically in blade feel & smoothness where as the Gibbs does not so I’m curious how that comparison would go
 
Dragonsbeard said:
thanks for the review. Can you do the ultimate test against the Gibbs and set them both on max setting?
Reason the Rex on 4. 5 setting to max setting changes fairly dramatically in blade feel & smoothness where as the Gibbs does not so I’m curious how that comparison would go
Click to expand...
Yes I will do, probably over the weekend / early next week.
I want to make a brass handle before I do that, simply because on either my Gibbs or my Personna, the weight just feels more familiar in my hands.
 
Clouds said:
Yes I will do, probably over the weekend / early next week.
I want to make a brass handle before I do that, simply because on either my Gibbs or my Personna, the weight just feels more familiar in my hands.
Click to expand...

Will definitely be waiting to hear the results my friend!
👍🏼
 
Palmera 7 shave 2

I made the brass handle and a new dial with an red indicator mark. When I made the indicator dial I noticed another anomaly - the numbers go the wrong way. As you turn the dial, opening it, it goes from 6 down to 1 or in my case - start at 1, then 6 back down to 1 again. Strange but so it is.... As with all my handles, I tune them so that the adjustment can be overclocked if you choose to so. This one goes all the way until what would be 7 and thats where I decided that I was going to do this shave. Once assembled it had that all so familiar feeling.

The blade used was the same Wizamet that I used on Thursday but in anticipation for this shave I made sure to use a different blade yesterday - so use number 4 on the blade.

I shaved WTG, ATG plus my normal two touch-ups, (I skipped the XTG because I had it fully open)

I actually had a Gibbs on standby, but there was no need to use it, even to compare.

And in answer to the million dollar question - At no time did I feel any harshness or drag and this is actually why I didn't transfer the blade to the Gibbs. This razor still smooth at level 7.

If you like a Gibbs 15/17 - the Palmera 7 definitely won't disappoint.


sotd200321 copy.jpg​
 
Todays workshop project - A short handle for my Taiga. Its the same length as a Rex at just over 78mm. I may shorten it a bit more but lets see.

I struggled with the twist-knob knurling, and had to relieve some of the knurling that goes under the adjuster dial so it would rotate freely.
I'll give it a whirl during this week.


Short Taiga.jpg​
 
Clouds said:
Todays workshop project - A short handle for my Taiga. Its the same length as a Rex at just over 78mm. I may shorten it a bit more but lets see.

I struggled with the twist-knob knurling, and had to relieve some of the knurling that goes under the adjuster dial so it would rotate freely.
I'll give it a whirl during this week.


Click to expand...
That looks really cool
 
Taiga Adjustable with OC Plate and Short handle / Wizamet Super Iridium
Rubberset 400 / Manchurian Bulb
Gillys - Unforgettable
Prep​

I know that some of you have been waiting for this - so here it is.

I used the short handle that I turned a few days back for the first time today. Since I made it, I have had the razor and both Stainless Steel handles on my desk. I have probably swopped them around 20/30 times, feeling the balance and - Yes, I do prefer the shorter handle. The next question that I want to answer is whether this needs shortening.

Onto today's shave. I set the dial on 6 and did my normal three pass, but when I got to the third pass there was no audio feedback, except for under my nose area. All the stubble was gone. My two problem areas still needed some buffing but overall, for me, its a better razor. :) I already have mine :) Lets hope that they offer a short handle option for you guys.


SOTD200402.jpg​
 
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