Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    20
    Thanked: 0

    Default stainless steel vs high carbon

    anyone want to buy a razor but don't know the difference between high carbon and stainless, any thoughts?
    p.s. untill now I've been using disposable straight by dovo, so I don't know much about materials

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    844
    Thanked: 155

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by logorus View Post
    anyone want to buy a razor but don't know the difference between high carbon and stainless, any thoughts?
    p.s. untill now I've been using disposable straight by dovo, so I don't know much about materials
    All steels are alloys, carbon steel is primarily and alloy of iron and carbon, though there are usually other materials in the mix. The addition of carbon to the iron increases its hardness, which is critical to taking and holding an edge. Carbon steels are subject to rust and other forms of oxidation, including the slow development of a grey patina over time.

    Stainless steels are also iron-carbon alloys, but also include a minimum of 11.5 wt% chromium. It's the chromium that provides the corrosion resistence or stainlessness of these alloys. Stainless steels are also not as hard as high carbon steel alloys so they do not hold an edge as well. Most stainless steel blades are made of one of the martensitic alloys. These contain less chromium and more carbon than the more common austenitic alloys. This makes it possible to harden these steels via heat treatment. Even so, they will not be as hard as a properly hardened high carbon steel blade.

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    20
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    thank you, the question I guess is which one is better? stainless cost more.. so are they worth it?
    thank you for your time

  4. #4
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    32,737
    Thanked: 5016
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    I don't think most of the stainless blades I've seen cost more and there is no reason for them to cost more unless your talking a specific brand like some of the henckels friodur's. Dovo makes more stainless than carbon and they are about the same price.

    I wouldn't worry about materials when buying a razor. I would just get what you like.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •