SFK stamped Wapp stainless steel blade?

Not sure if this has been discussed before but this has been bothering me for quite some time.

I think the original Wapi (SFK stamped version)… the blade is made of Stainless Steel. I have been trying to tarnish one but it seems to resist rust as well as any other stainless blade.

So without any definitive tests here is my reasoning:
The all-Steel design of the Wapi was meant for military hospitals because it’s easily sterilized by boiling in water, especially on the battlefield. And if I’m not mistaken, in the 50s, 60s, 70s (before the age of disposable super plastics) most medical utensils were made of stainless steel, or glass (Pyrex) for that reason.

Also I am sure most will agree that the scales are stainless steel, and most believe the blade to be carbon steel, however it doesn’t make sense to have materials with different stain resist properties permanently attached to make a utensil intended for medical use…. But then the BLADE from the material that least resists tarnish?

Now I don’t have the un-stamped Wapi for comparison so I cannot say the same for those however if I get my hands on one I will surly test.

Could someone who knows better shed some light on this so I can finally get some sleep.

If a magnet sticks it ain't stainless.

I am positive that neither of my SFK stamped Wapienicas are stainless.
That's not to say that they don't exist. Just that mine aren't.


Hope this helps

-Rob

From what I have read, the scales are stainless and the blades are carbon steel. I believe this is true for all of the original Wapis, regardless of stamping.

But, I have also heard that they are extremely resistant to staining/rusting. I actually can't say that I've ever seen one with staining.

I have a stamped Wapienica that definitely does not resist tarnishing lol.

Smythe, do you think there is a possibility that your razor was coated in rust-resistant material? Or maybe some are stainless and some are not. :shrug:

I have 3 Wapi's, 2 stamped and 1 not. It was only yesterday that I had to use Autosol to remove some rust from one of the stamped blades (it came off easily). My step son must have caused a tidal wave in the bathroom which I didn't know about....! So I guess mine aren't stainless. I was led to believe that the blades were made from Swedish carbon steel. Mine also stain, I have one solitary watermark, from a single blob of water. I haven't tried to remove it either.
BTW, I think the Wapi's are excellent shavers and are certainly as good as my Puma and Kropp, if I had to chose one for a desert island, it would be a Wapi any day!! Just my 2 pence worth.
Best wishes,

Mark....

Yes, I can also confirm the non-resistance to rust issue with the SFK wapi blades. Gave one to my brother, it was returned a rusty hunk of metal in less than 2 months.

I also, a long time ago, tried that cold blue chemical on the SFK scales - thought they might look nice blued. The scales are definitely stainless - the chemical did nothing at all to them. Although the pins turned blue....

James.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sicboater

If a magnet sticks it ain't stainless.

I am positive that neither of my SFK stamped Wapienicas are stainless.
That's not to say that they don't exist. Just that mine aren't.


Hope this helps

-Rob

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Sorry, but your info on the stainless not sticking to a magnet is incorrect.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sicboater

If a magnet sticks it ain't stainless.

I am positive that neither of my SFK stamped Wapienicas are stainless.
That's not to say that they don't exist. Just that mine aren't.


Hope this helps

-Rob

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This is only true of the lower quality stainless, such as what you might use in commercial kitchen work tables or flashing!

I have one each of SFK stamped and generic Wapis. Both have had no tarnishing whatsoever, but then I do a thorough job of drying and keeping them away from water. They do seem more resistant to tarnishing than my other carbon steel blades though -- my Dovo Bismark has water marks above the bevel along the whole length.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sicboater

If a magnet sticks it ain't stainless.

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I have one of those TI wall hanging razor boxes with a glass front and magnetised backing (to keep the blades in place) and all my blades, stainless and carbon, are held by the magnets. In fact, the wapis, with their stainless steel scales, are very difficult to prise away from the box. A cut finger can testify to that!:o

I get a fair number of Wapis to hone. I can testify, they will rust, stamped or not stamped. I have not seen a stainless blade on any Wapi yet.

Well OK, I did an unscientific test with a “stainless steel” dinner fork… the magnet sticks, now there may be other type of stainless steel that are not attracted to a magnet but the average consumer grade stainless will be attracted to a magnet. The Wapi is attracted to the magnet just like my “stainless” dinner fork.

Did a bit of research. It seems Stainless Steel with high Nickel content is not magnetic and not hardenable. Nickle changes the magnetic properties of the steel...
Stainless steel with high Carbon content, and low or no Nickel content is hardenable and is magnetic… sounds like the magnetic stainless is the one for razors.

Now anyone reading this thread and want to try this magnet trick on any razor... PLEASE be careful, if the magnet is strong enough (like those Neodymium magnets found in computer hard drives) will grab the blade from your grip with such a force… when the blade hits that magnet… And if you turn the spine to the magnet, once the spine touches the blade, you make the mistake and relax your grip... but it will attract the thin side and roll the blade so quickly slamming the edge onto the magnet and snap the blade… It happened to me…. Use a small magnet or a useless blade.

I think stainless steel can have different Chromium content. The higher the Chrome content, the better the stain resistance but, the softer the steel.
It is possible the steel in the Wapi has above average Chrome content... but as we all know, Stainlesss will still stain... but stain less than carbon steel.

But to resolve this I think I will ask Wojtec76 (if he is still around) for a few of his broken ones (even if I have to buy them) and perform destructive tests that will put this issue to rest (and I'll get some rest). I want to know if it will take longer to stain or stain "less" than carbon steel under the same conditions or will there be no difference.