Thread: different razor smoothness

I heard that some razors shave smoother than others, why is this?
Is it differant steel or differant hones being used. Which razors shave the smoothest

Well, I don't know the definitive answers to those questions, but I'm sure others do. At a guess:

Probably the razor-independent consideration is the edge itself, and how well it's developed (fine grit hone, proper stropping).

Beyond that I've noticed that my wedge-type blades feel smoother, as does my 8/8 Friodur. So maybe there's also a link between structural strength of the blade and smoothness, ceteris paribus.

But these are guesses...

James.

There would be a lot of different factors I would think, from hones to honers right theough soaps and such, but if you're talking about the razor specifically, I'd say it has to do primarily with the quality of the steel. Sheffield steel is my favorite, but I've got an Eskeltuna that I really like the feel of too. It should eb said that even the best steel will not feel good if it's not properly honed and that any of the good steels will feel very good when they are.

X

There are many factors which will affect the ultimate capabilities of each razor, the steel, the tempering,the grinding, the honing, the stropping and the skill of the user. Sometimes you can buy two razors of the exact same brand and model and one will shave very different than the other. Sometimes the skill of the honer can compensate but from my experience there are some razors that no matter what you do they only have it in them to do so much. Sometimes the difference is a minor degree. Two razors may give equally close shaves but one may just be smoother than the other and you can do all the honing in the world and it just won't improve.

OK, I'm not shy (you may already know that from my n00b shaving video), I didn't know what ceteris paribus meant, and had, in fact never seen the phrase. Now I do. You are a better man than I am, Gunga Din, er... Jimbo.

Originally Posted by Namdnas

OK, I'm not shy (you may already know that from my n00b shaving video), I didn't know what ceteris paribus meant, and had, in fact never seen the phrase. Now I do. You are a better man than I am, Gunga Din, er... Jimbo.

No Namdnas, I just had a misspent youth studying an economics degree. But I do find that phrase an excellent way to cover my ass (as do economists, I imagine) in areas where I know little or nothing The beauty of it is, of course, that people think you must know something, because you've used latin. "All else being equal" or whatever sounds so mundane...

Here's another one I learned from economics: sumptus censum ne superet

Vade in pace (my son...)

James.

As some have said, the quality of the steel, the grind and the heat treat/tempering process are all very important. Some processes are better than others, but I believe mass produced razors in high carbon steel sacrifice some of the potential of the steel for the sake of practical production processes. Poor heat treating can result in a blade that won't take or hold a paricularly good edge. Poor tempering can result in retained austenite, which will also cause the blade to be less than optimum. I'd say heat treating and tempering are the primary source of variation from one blade to another from the same maker.