Thread: Steel Composition

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

JImmy - do you remember that photo of you having your lunch sat on a girder high above the city - loved that photo!

Regards,
Neil

Neil, that is a famous photo, if we are thinking of the same one. Read the story of the photo and scrooll down for the interactive graphics.

Lunch Atop a Skyscraper Photograph: The Story Behind the Famous Shot | History & Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine

I have seen that one before Jimmy, but its not the one I was thinking about.

The one I had in mind is a pic of just you - I can't remember if you were sitting on the top of a beam, or right on the edge of the girder with your feet dangling over the edge.

You posted it on one of the defunct razor forums quite a while ago, if that helps, can't think of the name, but is was hosted by a guy who made fine razors...

Regards,
Neil

PS: He's got a bit of a neck, that Irish photographer in the article you linked to:

"...For the Irish filmmaker Seán Ó Cualáin, the mystery surrounding the photograph is a large part of its appeal. “There are so many unknowns,” he says. Who was the photographer? And who are the men?

“They could be anybody,” says Ó Cualáin. “We can all place ourselves on that beam. I think that is why the photograph works.”

It couldn't have been me! I can tell you that for nothing!

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I was a bit of a tearaway, though (lap it up Tom, I know you know!).

Regards,
Neil

Moi? I would never!

Nice link on that Photo, Jimmy. They were way too comfortable, I always thought!
It hangs in my barber's shop!


Tom

From some things that I have found, it seems as though stainless steels started being used for razors around the 1960s. However, the info that I have found mentions stainless being used for "razor blades" in general and vaguely. It also follows the telling of safety razors being popular in the 50s and decreasing barber straight shaves.

Does 1960s sound correct for stainless STRAIGHT razor blades?

If anyone could shed some specific info of the use of stainless steel in the shaving world, such as articles with semi-specific dates and not just estimations (around 1962=semi specific, 1960s and 70s=estimation), I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

The story of what we now call 'stainless' began in the Firth-Brown research lab. John Brown's company started in the 1840s making files. Thomas Firth was the top melter at Sanderson's crucible steel plant in the 1830s - he went on to found his own firm and supplied Samuel Colt with steel.

The two firms came together informally as Firth-Brown in 1902 and built their lab in 1908. Harry Brearly, a famed english metallurgist was employed to work on a method to improve arms steel, especially heat corrosion and adding chromium as an alloying agent. The experiments resulted in 'rustless ' steel, discovered before but commercially marketed in 1913 as stainless steel.

The Great War interrupted marketing, but it began again in earnest in the 1920s, and was used for all typesof things including cutlery, knives, razors, etc. Brearly resigned in 1915, but research continued and 'staybrite' was released in 1924, containing nickel as well as chromium.

In truth, stainless in all but name was made much earlier than this - in the latter part of the 1800s, by surgical instrument makers. Most surgical steels contain the alloys we associate with stainless, and as most cutlers who produced lancets, scalpels, etc also produced razors it is not uncommon to come across razors proudly pronouncing that they were made of surgical steel.

Regards,
Neil

Is there a "sweet spot" for razor hardness? What types of numbers to be people look for to balance edge longevity, ease of honing, and overall potential for sharpness. I know this is subjective, opinions will vary, it will vary blade to blade and hone to hone. I am just wondering what numbers people like to see when considering a purchase and what a custom razor maker would consider acceptable before continuing to process a blade. Hardness scale can be HRC or HV or whatever microhardness scale you gets you excited.

Also, responses can be given in reference to Carbon Steels AND Stainless Steels.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by broger

Is there a "sweet spot" for razor hardness? What types of numbers to be people look for to balance edge longevity, ease of honing, and overall potential for sharpness. I know this is subjective, opinions will vary, it will vary blade to blade and hone to hone. I am just wondering what numbers people like to see when considering a purchase and what a custom razor maker would consider acceptable before continuing to process a blade. Hardness scale can be HRC or HV or whatever microhardness scale you gets you excited.
Also, responses can be given in reference to Carbon Steels AND Stainless Steels.
Thanks.

The short answer and probably the best is:
As long as the entire useful steel of the blade is at the same hardness, and over ~ 65+Rockwell C the shaves should be acceptable when that steel is properly honed.

Then...The harder the steel the longer the edge will last. I have razors over 62Rockwell C and they are a beast to hone and polish the edge properly but I have not had to re-hone them and my kids won't either. But, they are like glass and a drop would be catastrophic.

There also seems to be a co-relation between the crispness or comfort of the shave according to hardness. That is why some folks like the Sheffield Steel razors for "silky" shaves. The harder German and some French razors can be a bit too crisp. That, in my opinion due to the greater skill needed to produce a good smooth edge on those razors. They are more prone to micro-chipping.

Carbon and Stainless steels are much of a muchness at the hardness levels we speak of. The difference, in my opinion is that the stainless steels are in general a tougher and resilient steel. Makes them harder to hone to a smooth edge but they can hold an edge a very long time.
The advantage of stainless to me is that an occasional ride hard and put away wet will do less damage to the steel. They will corrode though so care is still required. I have seen and renewed really gross stainless HESS and Friodors and some edge breakdown was seen.

Metallurgy is a fascinating subject and a life long study to understand just what we already know.
~Richard