Thread: Is there a metalurgist in the house?

I know this is a very strange thread but I'm very interested to know what the properties are that make a good razor in steel. Commonly you hear "high carbon" and "stainless" thrown about haphazardly but without any real substance beyond that sliver of information. Now I understand that this sort of information is really important to your average user but it DOES interest some of us. Say for example you had a damascus razor made from 1084 and 15n20 would that be a good razor? What about L6 01 and pure nickel?

Go to Bladeforums, and look up an article by Joe Talmadge. Your question is really too broad. Lots of steels will make good razors, but generally, you want the simplest steel because they have the finest grain structure, hence, a finer edge. The steels you mentioned, and the combinations thereof, should make good razors, and good damascus as well. Maybe not the L6, because its as-quenched hardness is around 59-60, and most razors I see are tempered to around 63Rc. Nickel makes a steel much tougher. Combinations of steel, or even a great steel by itself, is only about 1/10th the total picture. How the steel is manipulated, and the heat treatment it is given, are far better predictors of performance that just the steel type.

Would you believe I'm an active member of BF with threads running on the same track as this one?

In fact Del Ealy is my supplier for the aforementioned steel. But much thanks for the thoughtful suggestion. I'm glad BF gets some rounds here as well I just figured somebody on a razor-centric forum might already have that info...didn't actually think about askng the makers themselves. Talk about a dumbass

Dumbass? Not at all. Believe me, I've asked way dumber questions. I would think 52100, treated right, would make an outstanding razor, along with O1. I think most manufacturers use some form of 1084-1095 for most of their non-stainless razors, but that's just a guess. I'd love to see a ZDP189 razor, but probably never will. If there was one, I'd guess it'd be over 1000 dollars, simply because of how hard it is to work.

Well...I've got my price for the stock now much thanks to Mr Ealy I'm one step farther along in my project. Next step is waiting on a reply from my knife maker connection who I hope to grind some blades for me from Mr Ealy's steel. The cost of the steel is within my grasp I just need to know what the heat treating and grinding is going to set me back. Once I have THAT price in my pocket I'll probably start saving towards it if I think I can swing it. I was considering Devin Thomas but his stuff is in such high demand that it doubled the price of the steel to order from him instead of a smaller forge. I may still pick up a bit of mokume for an accent on the brush handle though.

I had contacted a grinder for this already but he quoted me almost $1800 for the grinding which is well beyond the limits of my funding so I'm pursuing other avenues. If everything comes in looking doable I'm going to have to work every single off duty assignment I can lay hands on this year.

Originally Posted by Gawker

Well...I've got my price for the stock now much thanks to Mr Ealy I'm one step farther along in my project. Next step is waiting on a reply from my knife maker connection who I hope to grind some blades for me from Mr Ealy's steel. The cost of the steel is within my grasp I just need to know what the heat treating and grinding is going to set me back. Once I have THAT price in my pocket I'll probably start saving towards it if I think I can swing it. I was considering Devin Thomas but his stuff is in such high demand that it doubled the price of the steel to order from him instead of a smaller forge. I may still pick up a bit of mokume for an accent on the brush handle though.
I had contacted a grinder for this already but he quoted me almost $1800 for the grinding which is well beyond the limits of my funding so I'm pursuing other avenues. If everything comes in looking doable I'm going to have to work every single off duty assignment I can lay hands on this year.

I'm working on a similar project with Hitachi white #1 fro a well known maker. Should have them by summer.

This is awesome. Can any of you explain to me Takeda's approach to damascus with forging high carbon in between or the difference when he does a soft carbon and hard carbon blade? The Maestro has some blanks coming and in each case I understand there is three layers being forged together for a particular effect. Don't understand the technical aspects, but love trying to. Thanks. Lynn

My maker just dropped out on me. He's over booked as well and can't add anything new to his plate. Back to the old hunting grounds I guess...

Anybody know where I can find someone that can grind straight razor blades?

Originally Posted by Gawker

Anybody know where I can find someone that can grind straight razor blades?

You can try DOVO factory, and I'v heard there are some guys in France and Italy that do this...

I'm not sure how to take that Superfly...you're usually very helpful so I'm not sure if that was meant as facetiously as it sounded or if I missed something...I already tried to contact Mr Livi about this to no avail on several occasions so that rules out Italy (at least I think that's what you were hinting at) and do you really think a major company like DOVO would be willing to waste time on somebody from podunk Texas with a special project like this or was that the sarcasm I'm not catching...if so how would I go about contacting someone for that?