Thread: carbon or stainless

just a quick question ?
as the thread says is the difference between the 2 just in relation to sharping or is there a difference in the actual shave because i'm looking into getting another razor, i have a 5/8 carbon black star,
would a thiers stainless steel make a nice addition to my lonesome collection
thanks in advance

I have several of both. Carbon steel can get to a harder state than SS, but SS may be more wear resistant and at times, rust proof (type of ss (determines hardness) and needs to be passivated to become stainless). Both shave well and smooth. Some here state that SS is harder to hone and relate that to harder steel than carbon. Honing SS razors just requires a different approach. If you try to hone it the same as a carbon steel blade it may give you fits.

If you like the TI and want to try a SS, go for it. If you are new to honing get it shave ready.

Good luck.

Hmm, I didn't think TI made a stainless razor of course I could be wrong.

I have several vintage and new stainless models and to tell you the truth when I shave with them they don't feel any different than carbon. As far as honing goes I find them to usually take a few more strokes but nothing extreme. I've found some carbon razors to be far harder to hone than any stainless I have.

The Henckels Friodur is quite easy to hone, and gets wicked sharp. It shaves just like my best carbon steel razors, except it does not patina or rust. The mirror finish does accumulate oils, but rubbing alcohol quickly restores the mirror finish.

I don't see the point of using carbon steel for razors. Not that I have any issue with rust, but because they don't shave any better than my stainless razors. On average, my stainless razors actually shave better.

Its more an issue that carbon steel is considered THE classic material to make a blade from. I would guess if you polled the guys who do custom razors most will tell you HCS is all around the best for razors.But as with anything else you have to decide whats best for you.

cool,

If you are hung on the horns of dilemma about getting a carbon or stainless (rust resistant) steel razor - continue hanging as both are very good. I have some of each and a couple of stainless (rust resistant) Friodurs are current favorites. Before that a couple of carbon steel Le Grelots were in the front of the favorite rotation. The "stainless" may take a bit longer to hone as the chromium in the steel makes it wear resistant. Then again the high ratio carbon steel razors can also be quite wear resistant and thereby hone resistant.

The "stainless" might be a bit easier to maintain as it is less fussy about damp conditions. Get one of good reputation that appeals to your eye for style and fits our hand well and you'll be ahead of the game regardless of the alloy of the blade.

I personally do not like stainless steel razors. I do not like the rigidity and they way that they feel when one shaves with them. To be sure I have had only a half dozen but I personally have not had much luck with them. I have had full hollows and 1/4 grind in stainless. They are a lot different to hone and that is probably where my failing is. I have had stainless razors honed by some of the best guys around, yet for me they were always lacking. They shave ok, just not in the top 10%. Shaving with a straight is a personal thing and there are many variables and some of us like one variable or the another, thus the conflict.

One thing I would put out there is, if one is new at honing, then it would probably be best to not drastically change the material that you are honing and I would pick a full hollow because they are easier to hone all things being equal.


Take Care,
Richard

I have 27 straights. I think only two are stainless: an 11/16s friodur 70 1/2 and a 13/16s otto busch weltmeister.

They are two of my favorite razors to shave with and two of my easiest razors to hone. Probably #1 and #4 if I had to order my razors by how much I dig them.

So I don't see any difference in how one hones them or how hard they are to hone. What makes a difference in that for the most part for me is blade shape - it's a bear to hone my W&B wedge with smile and my very hard filarmonica 13 from classic that has an odd smile shape.

I also find my filarmonica and geneva cutlery are "harder" than my stainless razors.

So I think if stainless matters in how to hone, it's low on the scale of what has a big impact.

Originally Posted by riooso

I personally do not like stainless steel razors. I do not like the rigidity and they way that they feel when one shaves with them. To be sure I have had only a half dozen but I personally have not had much luck with them. I have had full hollows and 1/4 grind in stainless. They are a lot different to hone and that is probably where my failing is. I have had stainless razors honed by some of the best guys around, yet for me they were always lacking. They shave ok, just not in the top 10%. Shaving with a straight is a personal thing and there are many variables and some of us like one variable or the another, thus the conflict.

One thing I would put out there is, if one is new at honing, then it would probably be best to not drastically change the material that you are honing and I would pick a full hollow because they are easier to hone all things being equal.


Take Care,
Richard

Richard, just out of curiosity, which stainless razors have you had that you had trouble with? My two honing nemesis razors are american - a cattaraugus lizard and a brockton razor. And I think those muhthas are HARD but whether they are hard steel they are hard for me to hone. But they are carbon.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

Richard, just out of curiosity, which stainless razors have you had that you had trouble with? My two honing nemesis razors are american - a cattaraugus lizard and a brockton razor. And I think those muhthas are HARD but whether they are hard steel they are hard for me to hone. But they are carbon.

Two that I have had the most trouble with were a Bill Ellis 1/4 grind and a TI 9/16 full hollow. I could not get them sharp and smooth at the same time. I used stones, films and pastes to no avail. I have been honing on my own for almost 2 years now and have even honed up one that a guy sent back because he said it was to sharp for him. I have an extremely tough beard and I think perhaps is the problem. My razors must be "scary" sharp for me to get a really great shave and I have just not found that possible with a stainless, thus far. Lynn was kind enough to hone one for me, but it did not matter. My best stainless is a fully ground 7/8 no name, made in Soligen, that I bought at a knife store. It was my first razor strangely enough. The blade is so thin by the time you get to the edge that I literally see it bend on the contours of my face. One of these days I would like to be in a room full of straight shavers and get a poll going and see who likes stainless. I am betting that they are not of Portuguese or latin origin. I am the former and have a patch on each side of my chin that even a 1/4 will sound off on, just horribly tough! You know, I am probably all wet but it is hard since I live almost in complete isolation when it comes to using a straight razor.


Thanks, did not mean to hijack the thread,
Richard