Thread: How to tell between carbon or stainless steel?

Hi Everyone,

How can I tell if a straight razor is carbon steel or stainless steel by looking at it? Are the mirror finishes generally stainless? Would a straight razor ever be coated with chrome or something like that?

Have a good day and God bless.

Thanks,
kelly

Kelly,

I believe that the stainless will typically
say stainless somewhere on the blade.
I also think but I am not positive that
INOX means stainless.

If I'm wrong I'm positive that others will
set me straight.

The mirror finish can be carbon as well.


Terry

Well I was going to say something smart like try a magnet because stainless steel isn't magnetic but I tried it on my two stainless razors and they are both magnetic which tells me the alloy used in stainless razors barely meets the definition of stainless. Most true stainless steels are not magnetic or are barely so. Actually my dovo is mildly magnetic while my dorko is highly.

Most stainless will be marked but some aren't. Usually the stainless I've seen isn't mirror polished and has that stainless grain look to it. However if it is polished other than a hardness test or a specific gravity test I'm not sure how you would tell quickly anyway.

Leave it in a bleach and vinegar mix for a couple of hours. One way or another, you'll find out And I do have one mirror-polished INOX -- the G. Butler

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well I was going to say something smart like try a magnet because stainless steel isn't magnetic but I tried it on my two stainless razors and they are both magnetic which tells me the alloy used in stainless razors barely meets the definition of stainless. Most true stainless steels are not magnetic or are barely so. Actually my dovo is mildly magnetic while my dorko is highly.

Most stainless will be marked but some aren't. Usually the stainless I've seen isn't mirror polished and has that stainless grain look to it. However if it is polished other than a hardness test or a specific gravity test I'm not sure how you would tell quickly anyway.

I would say that 50% of stainless steels are magnetic. Really depends on the alloy. The one REALLY good for razors is magnetic, so go figure.
Best way is know before you guy, normally it will say like others have said. If it is a used razor and the seller doesn't know for sure and it isn't printed on it, it probably isn't
Manufactuarer's like to brag that they have stainless steel razors. Doesn't mean it is a good razor though.