How does one go about removing the baseplate from the handle of a Gillette "Old" if one wanted to ? And how to properly re-stake it after ? I am going to attempt some comb / tooth straightening / annealing, that said , should I fail and want to use the handle and parts for another "Old" ( whether attaching it or not) how to remove it with out damaging it short of just wiggling and pulling ? Having never attempted this , I am curious who has and what is the method? The tooth straightening I have no problem with as far as reading up on it , having found a wealth of information here .
How does one go about removing the baseplate from the handle of a Gillette "Old" if one wanted to ? And how to properly re-stake it after ?
- Thread starter firedan
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Anyone ????
For a genuine Old Type, your chances of removing the handle without cracking are slim; I would say that re-installation and re-crimping is not going to be possible.
Most/all of the old Gillettes were never stress relieved after production, e.g., handles were made from tubing that was knurled, had the neck (and end, for ball-end) press fit, which causes work hardening.
A work hardened piece may be stress relieved, or annealed, to prevent stress fractures forming later. On a mass production scales, some treated razors would warp, which adds to production cost for what was considered a disposable item.
In theory, you could anneal your razor, before starting your project, which would decrease the odds of snapping comb teeth as well. However, unless you really know what you're doing, and have a bench kiln (that achieves and holds temp accurately), I would have to give really low odds.
Just fire annealing the comb, and doing some tooth straightening, would have better odds.
I've successfully straigthened 1 tooth, in many years. Broken 2, and learned the art if fine soldering.
Most/all of the old Gillettes were never stress relieved after production, e.g., handles were made from tubing that was knurled, had the neck (and end, for ball-end) press fit, which causes work hardening.
A work hardened piece may be stress relieved, or annealed, to prevent stress fractures forming later. On a mass production scales, some treated razors would warp, which adds to production cost for what was considered a disposable item.
In theory, you could anneal your razor, before starting your project, which would decrease the odds of snapping comb teeth as well. However, unless you really know what you're doing, and have a bench kiln (that achieves and holds temp accurately), I would have to give really low odds.
Just fire annealing the comb, and doing some tooth straightening, would have better odds.
I've successfully straigthened 1 tooth, in many years. Broken 2, and learned the art if fine soldering.
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- #4
For a genuine Old Type, your chances of removing the handle without cracking are slim; I would say that re-installation and re-crimping is not going to be possible.
Most/all of the old Gillettes were never stress relieved after production, e.g., handles were made from tubing that was knurled, had the neck (and end, for ball-end) press fit, which causes work hardening.
A work hardened piece may be stress relieved, or annealed, to prevent stress fractures forming later. On a mass production scales, some treated razors would warp, which adds to production cost for what was considered a disposable item.
In theory, you could anneal your razor, before starting your project, which would decrease the odds of snapping comb teeth as well. However, unless you really know what you're doing, and have a bench kiln (that achieves and holds temp accurately), I would have to give really low odds.
Just fire annealing the comb, and doing some tooth straightening, would have better odds.
I've successfully straigthened 1 tooth, in many years. Broken 2, and learned the art if fine soldering.
Hi Rob... I was specifically wondering about the bottom plate in the three piece type: I guess I might try heating and annealing it to remove the handle , but first I will give it ago straightening teeth. I specifically bought this $10 razor just to do that, so no matter the outcome , I will have learned something . I will definitely anneal multiple times and take it slow...thanks for the response.
Pushers / pullers /grabbers /holders
I've popped them cold. simplest holder for a handle is drill a hole between two bits of timber one woofteenth smaller than the handle, insert a simple mandrel in the handle assemble in a bench vice.
Then you need a jack to jack the baseplate off, some pipe fittings work, although i went overboard with the "Dalek".. a self contained vice and jack in one, and a few other versions.
Reinstall is simply a ball bearing, or punch shaped similarly, a good ole bashing, or as complicated as you wish to make it.
Is not that hard or technical, and very possible with limited tooling.
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Pushers / pullers /grabbers /holders
I've popped them cold. simplest holder for a handle is drill a hole between two bits of timber one woofteenth smaller than the handle, insert a simple mandrel in the handle assemble in a bench vice.
Then you need a jack to jack the baseplate off, some pipe fittings work, although i went overboard with the "Dalek".. a self contained vice and jack in one, and a few other versions.
Reinstall is simply a ball bearing, or punch shaped similarly, a good ole bashing, or as complicated as you wish to make it.
Is not that hard or technical, and very possible with limited tooling.
Beauty ! So simple that it's brilliant ! I will give that a go soon ! By the way , I was lost in a rabbit hole the other night reading all your posts..... having British grandparents on one side of the relations made it easier to decipher but the language down under is not the kings English..... lol... It reminded me of my mate Terry who was married to the ex's best friend in the Philippines..... I miss him terribly,, he was a sapper in Vietnam and cancer got him a few years ago..... my son is 9 now, when I read back on the facebook posts when I had my first and only child with my lovely wife #2 it brings a tear to my eye how happy he was for me ...... but I digress.... great stuff, need to read up more on replating ..... was caught in a rabbit hole a few minutes ago watching a proper machinist build a knurling tool with his Grandpops lathe...... more talent in his little finger than I have , I get by , but he brought it to another level ...... ah, the fun we have with our hobbies ! I miss our flea market, covid killed it , and 32 years of adventure looking for stuff is gone....thank god for ebay
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