I love the Deluxe head so much...the ultimate Gillette design IMHO...So I made a long handle for head shaving. I get better control/blade angle with a long handle when shaving my noggin...Here is a pic...my first attempt at making a handle from scratch..Could still use some improvements...when I get it perfect I will make a brass handle and have the razor plated. The handle is the same length as a Big Fellow.
My Deluxe head shaver--prototype
- Thread starter Pike
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Awesome. How is it working for you?
Barrel looks a little skinny, I don't like to go below 7/16ths (.437) on my thinner handles and I do .483 on my fatter handles because that's where my knurling works out.
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- #4
I agree....It was the only stock I had on hand....left over from the psycho key project
Just a prototype 
Very nice work, Chris. Is your handle heavy (like Bob's Bull Mastiff) or is it a lighter variety? I am just curious what your preference is for shaving your head. I spent many years shaving mine and now am just using a pair of clippers....
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- #6
My preference is definitely for a heavy razor....I just made this prototype handle out of aluminum to see how it would turn out....I still need to make some design improvements, but the final version will be Brass and should be quite hefty. I am looking forward to giving my prototype a type a try in the morning!!
I really like that new deluxe head myself, here are a few of mine, notice the heavy XL Bull Mastiff in the pix. It is a nice shaver.
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By far my fave Gillette design! I am lucky enough to have 3 Deluxe razors. As my first custom handle is just a prototype....when I get the design down it will look very much like the Mastiff...CCBob is "the man"....I will be using his design for ideas....as I only plan on making these for myself, I don't think Bob will mind!
By far my fave Gillette design! I am lucky enough to have 3 Deluxe razors. As my first custom handle is just a prototype....when I get the design down it will look very much like the Mastiff...CCBob is "the man"....I will be using his design for ideas....as I only plan on making these for myself, I don't think Bob will mind!
I'm cool.
I actually prefer turning brass to aluminum.
Aluminum is kinda gummy to turn and the long chips are a pain.
Brass breaks off into tiny little chips, of course brass is about 3 times the cost of aluminum. It's also 3 times the weight.
There's only so much you can do design wise.
My handles evolved from what I consider the ideal sizes combined with elements from classic Gillette handles.
I did rip off the design of the Goodfella handle, but after I made my first Improved handle I sent an e-mail and pictures to Andrew at Kiwi-Shaving with my suggestions for improving their product, his reply was polite but stated that they were happy with their current designs and that they hadn't had any complaints.
Funny but I've made more then a few replacement handles for Goodfella owners.
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I am definitely using Brass for my final design...Aluminium is great to practice with! (And cost effective!!) TY again Bob for all your great advice these past months!!
(And cost effective!!) TY again Bob for all your great advice these past months!!Chris:
This is a really good handle design.
If you can score some 7/16th stock it's even easier to make, use the parting tool to cut the grooves .030-.035, use the micrometer stop and a piece of scrap twice the width of your parting tool to get the proper spacing , just walk it down.
I make an extra for myself and then I get an order and end up selling it.
This is a really good handle design.
If you can score some 7/16th stock it's even easier to make, use the parting tool to cut the grooves .030-.035, use the micrometer stop and a piece of scrap twice the width of your parting tool to get the proper spacing , just walk it down.
I make an extra for myself and then I get an order and end up selling it.
