I have a couple of old, beat up Gillette three-piece razors (tech, new, old) that I am thinking of replating. While I was at it, though, I thought I might as well see about upgrading the handles as well. I have a friend that makes custom pens with a lathe, but I don't know where to get the female threaded pieces for the handles to slot into. Any help?
Handles for Gillette 3 piece razors
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There really isn't a source. I have to make my own with this.
You can also recycle the spindles from old ball end handles that have cracked tubes.
Send me a PM as I have quite a few old cracked handles available for parts.
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- #3
Some of us would call replacing the original handles a "downgrade" as opposed to an "upgrade".
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I think that largely depends on what you replace it with. Bob's Bull Mastiff handles are pretty impressive.
It also largely depends upon how much you value the history behind these fine razors.
Often even though these handles are uncracked, they have flat and worn spots in the knurling and look worse when they're replated.
I have found even with the NEW Bar style handles 75 to 90% of the handles are not good candidates for replating.
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- #8
That pretty well describes the New I have. The only evidence of plating it has on it is underneath the head. Otherwise, the copper and gray metal are entirely exposed. I suspect replating it wouldn't improve the handle as much as the head.
As for the history.... I'm not so much married to the history of these razors that it would prevent me from rehabilitating something that would otherwise sit unused in a drawer someplace.
The first thing that needs to be accomplished in any effort such as this is to identify the thread with certainty that needs to be mated up to..
Thread repair inserts are readily availabe from industrial supply houses, and are perfect for providing long lasting metal threads in an attractive piece of turned wood of your choice..
This should work well..
http://www.groov-pin.com/groov-pin/faqs_tins.htm
and should be available from an on-line source such as Manhattan Supply..
http://www1.mscdirect.com/industrial-equipment.html
Something on this page should work well for you.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=261
Hope this helps in your efforts..
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- #10
While Gillette's Deluxe razors were the finest of their kind ever made, their low end stuff was just that "Low End" Brass tubing that cracked on almost every razors I've seen and Gold plating that was improper done right on top of the copper/brass base metal was a sure recipe not to last.
Any qualified plating shop will tell you that copper based alloys need to be first plated with nickel before they're plated with gold or other precious metals.
A mint razor of any type should be respected and kept intact or sold to someone who'll appreciate it.
But these worn out low end razors that only still exist because they were owned by people raised during the depression and they never throw anything anyway that's still useful, unlike folks today.
These can be restored and given new life.
Any qualified plating shop will tell you that copper based alloys need to be first plated with nickel before they're plated with gold or other precious metals.
A mint razor of any type should be respected and kept intact or sold to someone who'll appreciate it.
But these worn out low end razors that only still exist because they were owned by people raised during the depression and they never throw anything anyway that's still useful, unlike folks today.
These can be restored and given new life.
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.
I heartily recommended a customized Gillette. Here is a picture of mine from Bob. I also have a vintage New with the same head. The vintage Gillette has a cracked handle and I had to super glue the two ends to it as they started to fall off. Even though I still use the vintage Gillette, the heavier CooncatBob custom handle and re-plated head are a superior shave.
I think Bob has slant heads as well - that's another option
I think Bob has slant heads as well - that's another option
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And here's the vintage Gillette - the custom Gillette, and a Merkur slant side by side. I must emphasize that I still like the vintage Gillette - and as you can see it still looks great (despite the super glue). I just like the custom version better.
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My Gillette Old Type has a mysterious handle with sideways jagged hearts on it
Some people think the handle may have originated in Sweden and there are reports of another sighted in Oklahoma.
Either way it is better than the crackprone Gillette handles and inferior to Cooncat Bob's custom work.
Wp
Some people think the handle may have originated in Sweden and there are reports of another sighted in Oklahoma.
Either way it is better than the crackprone Gillette handles and inferior to Cooncat Bob's custom work.
Wp
If you want a fancier and heavier handle, the Durham razors will mate a Durham handle to the Gillette head. Most of them on the Bay are dirt cheap as blades are non-existent (unless you use carpet cutting blades, but that is another story).
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- #17
hi all
i have made some handles out of stainless,10-32 thread,seem a little tighter than the gillette threads,did they use a oversize tap?
i have made some handles out of stainless,10-32 thread,seem a little tighter than the gillette threads,did they use a oversize tap?
hi all
i have made some handles out of stainless,10-32 thread,seem a little tighter than the gillette threads,did they use a oversize tap?
I use a #10-32 with a H5 thread limit and have no problems with the Gillette heads.
I believe even the Merkurs use the slightly larger but same thread pitch
M5 X 0.8 metric thread.
Bob.
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That wire holder is so ghetto.
That wire holder is so ghetto.
