Thread: FAQ: Why do certain razors require more honing than others?

Another factor is that some razors are "hardened" more than others. This process is called "heat treating" and involves putting the razor into a forge or molten lead ( which is used at Dovo and TI), raising the temperature of the steel to a certain high temp, generally more than 1400 F, then rapidly cooling the steel in a "quenching fluid", typically a high speed oil. Following that the blade is then put into a tempering oven at over 400 F for an hour or more. This will result in a hardness rating measured on the Rockwell C scale. The temperature's are determined by the type of steel used with each type of steel having its own "as quenched" hardness. The tempering then further "soften's" the steel. Each manufacturer will decide the level of "hardness" that they want.

Oh, and it is just speculation on my part but I think that some razors inadvertantly miss the tempering step which leaves them really hard!

Clear as mud?