Hobbyist DE Razor Showcase

[wquiles]

Since I started wet shaving with a DE, I had the idea of a Titanium DE handle for many months now. But when I recently participated in the Gold Dollar competition at the Badger & Blade, I decided to make a fix handle straight razor, using a Titanium handle. I will post the WIP for that Ti handle in another thread, but here is the finished product (from top: Feather DX folding, Feather RD Japanese handle, my custom Titanium handle straight razor):

Using the leftover piece of Titanium, I started trying a few grooves at various depth's to see how they felt:

Since I still had another Ti rod, I decided to give it a try:

I started by drilling a pilot hole:

And then start drilling:

adding a relief area for the thread start:

and starting the tap - so that it would be concentric with the hole:

Finish by hand. Ti is "springy", so it is easy to break a tap!

Clean up the external OD:

Start the grooves:

Another quick test:

Cut to length (plus a little bit, so that I can clean up the edge on the lathe):

The Ti handle is definitely heavier than the small OEM handle:

In fact, the Ti handle is about twice the weight of the OEM handle:

I did modify the handle a little bit later on to give it additional grip, and an easier way to find various indexing points along the length as some folks like to hold it by the end, by the middle, or closer to the DE head:

This feels better in the hand to me:

​

 

[Kentos]

Here for your perusal are Safety Razor related works from your fellow Hobbyist members.

Please note a Hobbyist Badge is required for posting in this thread.

 

[MrLara]

Can't even begin to describe how freaking awesome that DE handle is man.

 

[wquiles]

Can't even begin to describe how freaking awesome that DE handle is man.

Thank man. I got a "shorty" prototype, and I will be posting those pictures shortly.

 

[wquiles]

Here I am making a shorter TI handle:

All done:

Both of them together:

Group photo with my latest Ti brush:

 

[Kentos]

I think that shorty looks a lot better with the tapered shoulders like that.

 

[wquiles]

I think that shorty looks a lot better with the tapered shoulders like that.

Thanks. I like the taper one better as well.

These two handles are currently in a passaround at the USN forum, so I am getting some hands-on feedback from DE users.

I did not see one, but do we have passarounds in B&B? Would DE users be interested in trying these out?

 

[Merkur25]

I would love to try them out.... hint hint

 

[wquiles]

I would love to try them out.... hint hint

Thanks. Lets see how many show interest in these.

 

[MrLara]

Thanks. Lets see how many show interest in these.

What razor heads does it fit?

 

[wrinkles2]

I'd like to try it too.

 

[malocchio]

A really great photo documentary !

 

[wquiles]

These handles that I am making are using standard M5x0.8 threads, so they will fit most DE heads (this is the thread size used most often in aftermarket DE handles).

One of the guys in the passaround at USN has already used these two handles with an Ikon OSS head, and with a Weber DLC head.

 

[Shenanigans]

I'd also love to give these a try. Great looking everything.

 

[wquiles]

Does anyone know how to properly do a passaround here in this forum?

 

[Kentos]

Guys lets move questions to PMs as this thread is meant to showcase works vs. getting a passaround started.

 

[Z blade]

]Interested![/B][/COLOR]

 

[kats]

Did anyone remember my birthday is on Monday??? ....just sayin'

 

[french connection]

Excellent ! If only I could make the same kind of work ....finding rods is easy and probably cheaper in Europe, but the tools ....

Great job! The handle is just superb, I'd like to have one to try how it can be different versus my Hoffritz Slant handle ...

 

[french connection]

Did anyone remember my birthday is on Monday??? ....just sayin'

Happy B'Day a little bit in advance , too late to send a B'day card, you will get only my words here mate !