Thread: 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

Originally Posted by logorus

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.

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

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.