Thread: Superplastic UHC Steel

Originally Posted by Seveneighth

My apologies, the confusion was all mine, both in terms of Mr Blue and where to start this thread.

How can the thread be moved to the forge section? Can someone do that, or do I need to re-post there?

Done and Done

Wootz is typically 1.5 to 1.55% carbon.
It needs a lot of carbon in order to be able to austenize while still leaving enough carbon for the wootz carbides.
The mechnical properties of wootz, or any steel are really not that important when it comes to shaving, because a razors edge typically does not flex a whole lot while shaving.

Thought that I would post this again here for anyone who has not seen it. Look for 'Al Pendray Wootz Steel' on youtube.

I am aware of wootz and what an amazing steel it is. Would love to own a wootz razor.

The interest in UHC steel is slightly different. Years ago I was at an open air show where they were demonstrating historical tool making. There was a blacksmith there who had made a bronze razor - I think it was bronze - I wasnt paying much attention when they were doing the talk . It was a different shape to a modern straight razor and the blade - what really stuck in my mind was the way the blade flexed when they demonstrated it. It curved to the shape of the surface it was shaving.

I couple of years ago I read on a knife forum about this guy who had made a pattern welded blade with steel and brass.

So... When I read about UHC steel and how superplasticity improves with brass laminates I started day dreaming about a razor that would flex to the shape of the face, made from pattern welded UHC steel and brass.

A razor that would flex like that would not be much joy to shave with, because if it flexes so much, with so little pressure, the edge will also roll and bend like that instead of cutting. I know of one person here who got a hollow ground that was so thin it would flex like that, and he told me it was useless.

I've got one of those extra hollow singing razors and when the blade flexes it does cut - but it cuts skin instead of hair. Flexing blades are worse than spike points.

I don't know, having a few extra hollow ground singing razors in my rotation found them to excellent shavers. They possibly need a lighter touch than the heavier grinds though.

Bob

Yup. You don't shave with a singing hollow in the same way you would with a wedge. With those really thinly ground blades you have to use a feather light touch.

I like the two singing hollow razors I own and would risk extra flex. I guess what I am thinking is that a superplastic blade would mean that the edge doesn't roll. But maybe that is my misinterpretation of superplasticity?