Thread: Lifespan of the shaving edge Stainless Steel Vs Carbon Steel

I know that stainless steel stays sharp longer than carbon steel, but does anyone have a ratio of some sort. I notice my 8/8 henckels which I use 4 to 5 times more often than my carbon steel TI Evide Sonnant Extra 6/8 is as sharp as the day I got it while my TI needs some time on my pasted strop. Is there something else I am missing that is different with these two razors other than what they are made of?

The stainless will definitely hold its edge longer, due to the harder carbides formed in the edge. An exact ratio I don't know, as it would be variable across a wide variety of steels and their attendant thermal treatments. One thing to consider, too, is that carbon steel will dull even without you using it, due simply to oxidation of the edge. This process is retarded in the stainless steels (although they'll do it too if you leave them alone long enough)

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

The stainless will definitely hold its edge longer, due to the harder carbides formed in the edge. An exact ratio I don't know, as it would be variable across a wide variety of steels and their attendant thermal treatments. One thing to consider, too, is that carbon steel will dull even without you using it, due simply to oxidation of the edge. This process is retarded in the stainless steels (although they'll do it too if you leave them alone long enough)

Ahhh..haaa....that point about oxidation makes sense since my 8/8s are stainless and I dont use my carbon 6/8s as much anymore maybe once every month or so...and I can notice a slight difference...no biggie...paddle strop