Thread: Stainless or Carbon.... How to tell?

My girlfriend just recently bought me a Dovo straightrazor but I am unsure of how to tell whether it is carbon or stainless steel. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to tell without leaving the blade wet to see if it stains? (DUH)


Thanks

Shane

There are a couple ways. First, see if it says "stainless" anywhere on the blade. Manufacturers will advertise the fact that their blade is stainless. You'll see something on there that says "stainless", "rostfrei", or "INOX". You could also take a drop of cold blue solution (usually for guns), and on the tang or shank, drop one drop. If it changes color immediately, it's carbon steel. This also works using vinegar, orange juice, or other highly acidic liquids. With them, it will usually turn a dark gray immediately with contact with the acid. Don't leave it on there long, and some Maas will take that spot right off.

Thanks for your Reply,

I am going to assume that it is carbon because it is not marked anywhere on the box or razor that it is stainless. When I get some maas I will verify it by putting a drop of vinegar on it.

Again thanks for the reply.

Shane

you could use a magnet. A magnet will stick to almost all carbon steels.

Most stainless steels are austenistic and therefore will not stick to a magnet.

Straight razors are not aggressively Stainless when made so in my understanding. Rather than damaging the razor, why not survey DOVO's catalogue or perhaps view the ones sold at Classic Shaving to see if you can Identify it that way?

X

Originally Posted by Dogma72

you could use a magnet. A magnet will stick to almost all carbon steels.

Most stainless steels are austenistic and therefore will not stick to a magnet.

That's incorrect. Your austenitic stainlesses are soft (mostly), like food service shelves and countertops, and stuff like 304, 318, 416, etc. Austenitic steels are not hardenable by heat treating. You may have some work hardening, but they'll never be hard enough to make a razor. Steel used to make razors is martensitic. Martensitic stainless steel will get hard enough to make a razor.

One easy way to tell with Dovo razors is the color of the lable on the box. If it is gold it is carbon steel and if it is silver it is stainless.