Thread: Stainless Steel - Can it be shave ready ?!

Hello
I hear many times people here and there that claim that a Stainless Steel razor can't get the same sharp and keen edge as a carbon based razor
Is it true or not?
Can it get a keen sharp edge as good as any other steel? and how hard is it to hone to strop it?
I am not asking it because I have one, but just curious about it
Tank you

I do not agree with that comment. I think honing stainless steel is an entirely different process, requiring a completey different mindset than carbon but it can get just as sharp, I think.

I find it takes a little longer to hone and requires more passes.

Before you really learn how to hone a stainless razor you can believe that it doesn't hone as easy, but its more in the limits of your honing ability.

Some people believe that if they do not possess the ability to do something than it is un-doable. Kind of a silly perspective.

I find that stainless often feels different when shaving though. I do not know whether that difference is related to sharpness levels though. If it is, someone should inform my whiskers as they get mowed down pretty quickly with stainless or carbon blades.

interesting, so what do you mean "shave difference" ?
Also
I thought only hone it require more "power" but stropping also take longer ?

I don't know why but sometime people refer to those blades as an "B" grade compare to Carbon, they say they just can't get the same quality of carbon and so on

Why is that and is it true?

All stainless steel razors tend to be very hard, whereas only a few of the carbon steel razors are that hard. Harder steel is harder to hone, and the nickel in stainless seems to affect the honing process as well - stainless razors hone a little differently than the very hard carbon steel razors (they seem to be less brittle and less prone to microchipping, but they seem to need more time on the polishing stages). I suspect stainless got its reputation because the guys that had grown up with nothing but carbon steel had trouble adapting to stainless.

Stropping doesn't take any longer. I'm not sure what you mean about honing taking more power - it's sometimes helpful to use a bit of pressure in the early stages of honing stainless, but the same would be true for carbon steel razors of equivalent hardness if they weren't so prone to microchipping).

It's probably true that the best carbon steel will take a sharper edge than the best stainless steel blade, however the cutting fin of the carbon blade will start corroding almost immediately, while the stainless blade will retain its edge for longer than the carbon steel blade so it's a bit of a wash really.

As for shaving differences between the two, it's not really a difference in efficacy, more of a sensory difference. It's hard to describe, but the stainless blades sound and feel more scratchy when you shave, probably because the different alloy is stiffer and vibrates at a higher frequency.

The differences between high-carbon steel and stainless steel in terms of shaving and honing are no more significant than the differences between the low-hardness vintage sheffields and the high-carbon modern TI's.

Edit: And some people are just steel snobs. Carbon steel is more "pure" and therefore inherently superior.

I'll share my perspective from a metallurgical point of view.

Stainless steels tend to be more ductile the high carbon steels. They don't grind as easily and they're typically not capable of the same level of hardness with a similar degree of toughness.

For virtually every production application, high carbon steel is preferred UNLESS corrosion resistance is an important criteria. The alloys that go into making stainless steel are not added because they have properties that make a better blade. They're added for the sake of stain and rust resistance.

While I haven't had any stainless steel razors tested for hardness, I'd wager that they're not as hard as the better high carbon steel razors. The challenge in the honing isn't due to the hardness of stainless steel as it is in the ductility, in my opinion.

With all that said, is it possible for stainless steel to achieve a really super shaving level of sharpness? The Feather Platinum Stainless Steel blades prove beyond any doubt that it is possible. The Henckels stainless (440c and probably 59-60 HRC) are well known to be excellent razors. The Dovo Inox is very well respected.

These stainless steels go through an excellent heat treatment and cryogenic tempering process which brings out the best in stainless steel.

I still don't think it's quite as good as high carbon steel, but that's a subjective call on my part. For the most part, I think great high carbon steel and Stainless steel either one can be made truly "shave ready" if they're good steels from good manufacturers and well honed. I'm not sure there are many people that can actually hone well enough achieve the finest edge either one can offer.

There are awesome carbon and stainless shavers out there. There is not much difference when it comes to honing other than adding a few more polishing strokes. The water resistance is a nice thing, but stainless will rust as well if left unattended. As with everything else, when someone has difficulty honing something, it usually is the razors fault........hahahahahahahaha. Although in the case of the Pakistani's and a few other low grade razors, it really is. As stated there is much subjectivity in this sport.

Lynn

First thing
Tank you all for the info (Well keep it coming, I like reading these stuff )
Second
What do you mean high-quality razors when it come to steel? can you please give an examples?

Examples of high quality stainless razors:
Maestro Livi
Henckels Friodur
Puma INOX

Examples of high quality carbon steel razors:
Robert Williams
Dubl Duck
Thiers Issard

I think the main reason people trash stainless is because it only appeared in razors towards the very end of manufacture of straights and the old timers were use to carbon steel and had this automatic prejudice towards them. I have 5 stainless razors from Dovo, Puma, Dorko, henkels and the Maestro and they give shaves the equal of any quality carbon steel razor. Nothing shaves better than the maestro.I find it takes a tad more time to hone but nothing extreme. I would certainly never pass up a chance to buy a quality razor because its stainless.