Thread: Stainless or Carbon

Gentlemen,
I have both stainless and carbon steel razors and find no measurable difference in the honing and the shaving. Although stainless steel razors are a wee bit easier to maintain — my travel razor is a Friodur INOX — I still clean and oil them as I do carbon.

Obie,, we should all have your maintenance habits :<0) It looks to me like the OP has been answered in that if there is a difference you would be hard pressed to notice it.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,
I have both stainless and carbon steel razors and find no measurable difference in the honing and trhe shaving. Although stainless steel razors are a wee bit easier to maintain — my travel razor is a Friodur INOX — I still clean and oil them as I do carbon.

+1
Agree completely.


Although, when I caught my Henckels Friodur SS virus, the second Friodur I found proved extremely difficult to put a nice edge on.

I bought this one as new old stock (NOS) from a specialty knife/razor shop in Europe and believe it was produced towards the end of the Henckels straight razor production era. It came in a small metal coffin with Henckels instruction leaflet, but strangely does not carry any model number on shank or tang.

In the meantime, I managed to tame this one too and most of my shaves are now SS Friodurs, followed by carbon Austs as close second.

@JimmyWetshaver
Sounds like whoever ground the blank didn't temper it afterwards or didn't temper it correctly.

I have Ralf Austs in both carbon steel and stainless. I cannot feel or see any difference. They both are great shavers. I'd say it's your choice as to which you want.

I'm a carbon kind of a guy. I find at the very pinnacle of your honing ability, carbon takes a very slightly keener edge. Is the difference worth worrying about? No.
Of course, stainless is much lower maintenance around water.

I have both types and I prefer the stainless. IMO stainless is a bit harder to dial in on the hones, where carbon seems to fall in place for me. Stainless seems to hold it's edge better and need less touch ups .

Thanks Guys, I am so much in awe of the knowledge available on this site. History, metallurgy, honing and shaving. All in one place, amazing. Now how can I tell one from the other, remember I'm a Noob. I ask because I have a Clauss, a Jung, and a Worchester. All shave well (my limited opinion) two pull and tug while the other one feels much smoother. All honed by experienced honers. All have close to the same blade size. Is it possible it's the steel? Or just me. Lol

carbon they are easier to hone and get a keener edge.

All honed by the same guy? Also different razors have different feels and need different techniques at times. I prefer the feel of heavy grinds myself.