Is there a standard thread pattern/s for safety razors? I think I would like to tinker with a few handle designs and don't want to start by taking a handle to the hardware store and guessing at what might fit. thanks.
There are two different threads used on Single Edged Razors, but I thought (no direct knowledge) that virtually all of the Double Edged razors were swappable.
Most of the DE are 10/32, but there are, if I recall correctly, a few that are different. That's from a couple of threads I read somewhere on one of the shaving forums. But most of the modern and vintage DEs use the same thread, or are close enough that they work. You see posts in the SOTD threads and other places with guys interchanging handles between modern and vintage all the time. I use my Maggard handle with my vintage Gillettes all the time, and my Fat Handle Tech handle with the Maggard quite frequently as well. Watch some of the John Hallock videos and you will see him do this quite often.
I've used an Edwin Jagger head and handle, Fat handle Tech head and handle, and Razorock Jaws head and handle, Old type and New head and handle to create frankenrazors. Old and vintage are the same for DEs in well-known brands.
I think that Fatips have something odd about them, but can't remember if it's diameter or length. There are versions of the NEW, both LC and SC, that have narrower openings on the bottom of the head and some handles with wider tops may need a spacing washer or a grinding to fit those.
I'm getting rusty. I worked in a hardware store for several years. There was a time when I could determine thread dimension and all manner of minutiae like that.
Yea, I know people that can look at a bolt and tell you which socket it is. I never could do that with any degree of accuracy.
My Maggard MR6 is like that. It does not drop down into the little area under the bottom of the head on my LC NEW. It doesn't stop me from using it, though. It will still tighten up and work, it just looks a little odd. As long as you don't crank it down like the Incredible Hulk(and you shouldn't with any of them), it won't hurt a thing.
10/32 American and M5.8 British. They are basically the same size and will interchange, with the British being slightly fatter from what I remember. SE handles use both a 10/32 and on some types like the Gem Damaskeen it's an 8/32 thread I believe. Hope this helps. [Edit] I forgot to add most modern and Gillette DE handles will interchange, I've done it on many razors..
