Design my own razor

[rawkstar320]

Hey everyone,

I have been considering designing and making my own DE razor. My plan isn't to make a "better" razor than someone we might spend more than $100 on, but more for that "I made that" value. As an engineer/designer, this just seems like a perfect project for me.

I have access to a light duty CNC machine where I plan on milling wax/plastic models of my design to prove it out somewhat, then I will either find someone with a mill capable of milling the final product OR (most likely) I will utilize Shapeways.Com to 3D print my design in stainless steel (or similar material). Without the handle, I have estimated that the 3D printing will cost around $30-$50.

My question to you is this: Has anyone out there already machined your own razor? How did you go about determining the design of the razor head? (aggressiveness) Any other information that might be useful? Is there a "magic" angle or equation that determines blade contact? I can copy the razor I currently have, maybe even find images of other that I could scrape some data off, but if there is some design information written down, that is always more useful.

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[dfoulk]

Maybe go for something that takes the pro blades like a cobra classic or the huntlee katana. That way if you actually come up with something good you can sell it and only have two competitors who will always be sold out. I'd look into the angles on the cobra and then the katana once it's released. If you can do something like this at a reasonable price you'd really have something. Even just the head to attach to an aftermarket handle would be awesome.

 

[SystemaCid]

Dude!! If you make a slant I'll take two
Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Commander Quan]

I've heard the future of razor design is one with multiple blades, a single blade for trimming and a light to help guide you. I took the liberty of designing this one for you.

The single blade can also work as a shoe horn if you're careful.

 

[rawkstar320]

the Cobra and Katana don't look like they use standard DE blades? I will have to investigate them further. As far as the flashlight, I will look into it, seems incredibly useful. ;-)

 

[DamnFineBob]

I've heard the future of razor design is one with multiple blades, a single blade for trimming and a light to help guide you. I took the liberty of designing this one for you.

The single blade can also work as a shoe horn if you're careful.

You need to make an AD for that marvel and post it up here for all to enjoy.

 

[tri33]

I've heard the future of razor design is one with multiple blades, a single blade for trimming and a light to help guide you. I took the liberty of designing this one for you.

The single blade can also work as a shoe horn if you're careful.

I think you forgot to make it vibrate...

 

[Teppanyaki]

I've heard the future of razor design is one with multiple blades, a single blade for trimming and a light to help guide you. I took the liberty of designing this one for you.

The single blade can also work as a shoe horn if you're careful.

Hey, it's an open comb - it can't be that bad! At first I thought that was a sniper scope . . .

More seriously, if I were designing a razor . . . I love open combs. The idea of an open comb that takes SE blades like a Cobra/Huntleigh would be interesting. Or an open comb that takes SE blades but modernized. To be honest, the open comb SE sounds more interesting to me.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/162987-Photo-Analysis-of-Razor-Designs?highlight= is a thread that shows blade gaps and tangents; I posted it so you could get some ideas that way.

Good luck, and keep us posted - don't be surprised if people want to try out prototypes!

 

[Chadao]

T-Yaki--I was just thinking of the iKon OSS as a kind of SE...or two SEs. Although,I just received my OSS plate, and my first shave was not as good as the Shavecraft. I'll give it a lot more time, but an idea that I originally thought was kind of goofy, is now making more sense, if I can get the angles right.

Hey, it's an open comb - it can't be that bad! At first I thought that was a sniper scope . . .

More seriously, if I were designing a razor . . . I love open combs. The idea of an open comb that takes SE blades like a Cobra/Huntleigh would be interesting. Or an open comb that takes SE blades but modernized. To be honest, the open comb SE sounds more interesting to me.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/162987-Photo-Analysis-of-Razor-Designs?highlight= is a thread that shows blade gaps and tangents; I posted it so you could get some ideas that way.

Good luck, and keep us posted - don't be surprised if people want to try out prototypes!

 

[alex2363]

Hey everyone,

I have been considering designing and making my own DE razor. My plan isn't to make a "better" razor than someone we might spend more than $100 on, but more for that "I made that" value. As an engineer/designer, this just seems like a perfect project for me.

I have access to a light duty CNC machine where I plan on milling wax/plastic models of my design to prove it out somewhat, then I will either find someone with a mill capable of milling the final product OR (most likely) I will utilize Shapeways.Com to 3D print my design in stainless steel (or similar material). Without the handle, I have estimated that the 3D printing will cost around $30-$50.

My question to you is this: Has anyone out there already machined your own razor? How did you go about determining the design of the razor head? (aggressiveness) Any other information that might be useful? Is there a "magic" angle or equation that determines blade contact? I can copy the razor I currently have, maybe even find images of other that I could scrape some data off, but if there is some design information written down, that is always more useful.

Thanks for the help everyone!

First of all welcome to B&B. Second of all I think that you may be in over your head. Even an inventor and MIT grad both known as Gillette and Nickerson needed experience, money, tools, factory/building work space, and many investors just to get a few razors designed and sold. They made many errors and needed a lot of investors to get back on the road to razor making.


You dont have any experience or resources to get started. I do hope that you can attain sucess and make a razor that is affordable and functional, but even profitable companies like Fatip, Muele, Merkur and other Indian or Euro razor makers have many quality control and production issues. I hope that you get resources or investors to help you, and then you study Traditional shaving history and razors to help you get experience so you can produce a razor according to what you know and not what others suggest. Good luck and welcome to B&B.

 

[engblom]

Today with CAD and 3D modelling, 3D printers and such developing a good head is much simpler provided we have access to such tools. We also have the history to look at.

I have no access to such tools but would find it interesting to try something completely new like an open comb slant combination. I would make the comb pins less thick near the edge of the blade to let whiskers to be easier cut and removed.

 

[KQY61]

Today with CAD and 3D modelling, 3D printers and such developing a good head is much simpler provided we have access to such tools. We also have the history to look at.

I have no access to such tools but would find it interesting to try something completely new like an open comb slant combination. I would make the comb pins less thick near the edge of the blade to let whiskers to be easier cut and removed.

Hi,

Just FYI, but Open Comb and Slant was done in the 1930s.....

Stan

Edit: Add a Pic:



This is the DoppelSchrag, or Double Slant, from the German maker Fasan. If I were to program up a cadcutter to fabricate a razor out of SS, this is the design I'd pick, for sure. With the tools available these days, it is a lot easier to make something than it was back in Gillette's day.

Stan

 

[Slash McCoy]

Teflon cap or silo doors. Something super slick that will slide like magic over the face at all times. Every other part, yeah, make it stainless. You could even offer a stainless cap for those who want all stainless and don't care about the Teflon cap.

Adjustable. Definitely adjustable. Even if it is a slant. Either that or removable baseplate inserts that you can use to customize the shave. Ideally, you want your razor to be the last razor that the buyer ever needs to buy. You don't want the customer to wonder if he should get a milder or more agro razor. And you don't want potential buyers to shy away because they don't know if the shave will be to their preference of mildness.

Heavily knurled handle.

removable weights at the head end and the tail end of the handle, to adjust weight and balance.

Vibrate. That would be kewl. and a micro video camera to take vids of the shave right there at the blade edge. It would be nice if it had an mp3 player, too.

 

[LiveOak]

I am seriously intrigued by the possibilities of 3D printing. I saw a program recently where they 3D printed a crescent wrench. They put the wrench through a very thorough computer scan and then printed a replica. It was perfect, moving parts and all. Imagine the possibilities. You could take your beloved double ring and print a perfect working copy for every day use. We could all have high end stainless razors for very affordable prices.

 

[Slash McCoy]

I am seriously intrigued by the possibilities of 3D printing. I saw a program recently where they 3D printed a crescent wrench. They put the wrench through a very thorough computer scan and then printed a replica. It was perfect, moving parts and all. Imagine the possibilities. You could take your beloved double ring and print a perfect working copy for every day use. We could all have high end stainless razors for very affordable prices.

I'm going to have a clone of me printed so I can get all the stuff done in a day that I ought to get done.. Actually, maybe I will have a clone of Charlize Theron printed. Maybe an extra copy in case I wear out the first one.

 

[alex2363]

I'm going to have a clone of me printed so I can get all the stuff done in a day that I ought to get done.. Actually, maybe I will have a clone of Charlize Theron printed. Maybe an extra copy in case I wear out the first one.

Charlize.....dang i have a mad crush on her, she is next in line to win an Oscar.

My other fave just one last year

 

[rawkstar320]

Wow, I am impressed with the amount of input, thanks for the link Teppanyaki, those are extremely helpful. Wish I had checked back before the weekend.


My goal here is a one-off razor project. I may or may not sell the model, sell it via shapeways.com or have it manufactured. Its honestly just a personal project - so high volume manufacturing is not really a serious concern of mine, although I DO have a significant amount of experience in this field. My personal background is that I have been a 3D modeling consultant and currently work as an engineer for a machine manufacturing company. (we make machines, that we sell to manufacturers that make more stuff...)

So, this past weekend I got to work and knocked out my first prototype out of foam (sign board). It is a really dense foam that lends itself well to carving easily while still being strong enough to hold details. I only made the base and cap, just to see where the blade would land in reality and I have to say...I was wayyyy off. As you can see in the pictures, this would be one heck of an aggressive razor.



Quick question though, does anyone know what manufacturers generally use as a thread on a 3 piece razor? It would be nice if we could use existing handles (assuming they generally use the same thread)

 

[Mike H]

According to Bob Smith, AKA Cooncatbob, AKA Bob's Razor Works...

"The thread Gillette used on all there 3 piece razor is well know, it's the #10-32, the Europeans use the slightly larger M5 X 0.8.
This metric thread while larger has the same thread pitch as the #10-32, which seems kinda odd but it's true."

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...Gillette-3-piece-razors?p=1748499#post1748499

Your project looks promising, good luck.

 

[Bearded Buckeye]

I recently had a custom handle made, and we went with M5 x 0.8.

As Mike H. suggested, this tap will accept most new razor heads (metric) and most vintage heads (#10-32). From what I read, it seems like the overlap is a very convenient anomaly.

 

[Ender78]

Teflon cap or silo doors. Something super slick that will slide like magic over the face at all times. Every other part, yeah, make it stainless. You could even offer a stainless cap for those who want all stainless and don't care about the Teflon cap.

Adjustable. Definitely adjustable. Even if it is a slant. Either that or removable baseplate inserts that you can use to customize the shave. Ideally, you want your razor to be the last razor that the buyer ever needs to buy. You don't want the customer to wonder if he should get a milder or more agro razor. And you don't want potential buyers to shy away because they don't know if the shave will be to their preference of mildness.

Heavily knurled handle.

removable weights at the head end and the tail end of the handle, to adjust weight and balance.

Vibrate. That would be kewl. and a micro video camera to take vids of the shave right there at the blade edge. It would be nice if it had an mp3 player, too.

+1 to everything here except for the vibrate. For the love of all things shaving please do not make any razors out of Zalmak or any pot metal crap.