Thread: Preferred Steel

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Define the use of the words "Razor Expert"

Razor Expert
noun
1. a person named Hirlau who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of all things razor related..
"Straight Razor Expext Extrodinaire " lives in South Florida.

synonyms: specialist, authority, guru, razor master, legend

I dont care how "exotic" the steel is. Sure, I can take a carbon steel, and take it to a hardness of 70 Rc and the odds of it not chipping or cracking when honed to a razors edge? None I would care to bet on.

MOST commercial grade stainless will not achieve hardness levels quite as high as commercial carbon steels. So what? at a hardness of 60, it doesnt matter.
Carbon or Stainless, will still produce a similar edge. What changes will be how difficult it is to hone, and how long it will "hold" that edge once achieved.

Interesting thread.

As some may know, we are reigniting the flames of the Wade & Butcher brand and aiming at releasing our first new straight razor model during the course of next year. Steel selection has been of considerable importance in our development.

Here is my personal view on steel for straight razors: In the year 2016, we have achieved so much and progressed so far in metallurgy, that a simple question of which is 'better' between simple carbon and SS, is somewhat of a moot point. It is far more pertinent at this point in time to ask 'which steel is better suited to the given task?'.

Now, all will agree that straight razor shaving forms part of the broader 'wet-shaving' world, and for us that 'wet' part is the real differentiator between razors and most other types of bladed tools. Straight razors are subjected to water, every day. They are intrinsically 'wet' tools.

So, all else being considered equal, it makes logical sense that a tool that is to be immersed in water every day be created from the finest material suited to it's given purpose of cutting facial hair BUT also that in some way (in a great way), resists the corrosive nature of water.

To me, a modern, sophisticated stainless steel that can achieve the appropriate hardness (60-63 HRC) and that presents a fine-grain structured tempered finished blade makes the most logical sense for use in the construction of a 'wet' bladed tool like a straight razor.

Ultimately folks will either care for their razors properly (applying protective oil), or they won't (or they may forget occasionally).
With a sophisticated SS their investment is already protected at the point of steel selection.

To me, the use of a quality SS makes a lot of sense in the crafting of a fine straight razor...

Cheers
- Mike.

I just want to reiterate the thought that one is better than the other. For instance many folks feel Carbon rusts too easily and is a pain to maintain with constant oiling and fussy care practices. I haven't experienced this, I just dry and strop my razor after use and box it or put it in its sheath and nothing happened. I haven't oiled a razor in years. I am bad right? but so far so good, what can I say. Stainless blades shave every bit as good as the carbons. People say all sorts of stuff about them they are harsh they chip they are difficult to hone etc. I say they are durable and long lasting and require just a little more honing effort, and yes if you live in a hostile razor environment you will sleep better at night knowing they aren't rusting away. In the end it doesn't really matter to me. Razor design, construction accuracy and edge quality does. My two cents.

I prefer Sandvik steel, but only made by Bessemer process.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Define the use of the words "Razor Expert"

"Expert"

X is the sign of the "unknown".

And a spurt is a squirt under pressure.


Regards

Kaptain "Nuff Said?" Zero


PS: As per a previous post I made somewhere else on this board, I tracked down a statement from a surgical instrument maker and the gist was "blood, puss and other body fluids would stain so called stainless steel in a matter of 20+ minutes due to (if I remember correctly) chlorine ions in said fluids. So in other words, if your razor is made from ANY kind of steel, clean and dry it promptly if you wish to prevent staining or worse.

I have used copper silver ionization systems to treat for legionella in water. We couldn't use it in the sterile processing areas because it was copper plating the stainless instruments.

You would have to search high and low to find more razor experts in another location. In addition, there are a handful of makers here that know a thing or two. There are a lot of modern steels that qualify as stainless that perform amazingly, but you will notice that most razor makers stick with the tried and true 1095 & O-1. Are there steels that are better? Probably, but are they worth the investment of the price of steel, cost of working & heat treating...I don't think that we are there yet. Stainless edges to seem to last longer while shaving due to the abrasion resistance of the stainless...but on the flip side they take a bit longer to hone. This pretty much equals one another out...so it still boils down to ease of making the blades & cost of material. Carbon steel wins at this time. What do I prefer? I'm still forging and heat treating with fire, so I have no true making experience with stainless steels.

Aesthetics, I know but I prefer carbon steel 'sound' and 'feel'. No challenge for me to get either sharp. I've tried several different Inox razors. Stainless edges may or may not last a little longer.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

"Expert"

X is the sign of the "unknown".

And a spurt is a squirt under pressure.


Regards

Kaptain "Nuff Said?" Zero


PS: As per a previous post I made somewhere else on this board, I tracked down a statement from a surgical instrument maker and the gist was "blood, puss and other body fluids would stain so called stainless steel in a matter of 20+ minutes due to (if I remember correctly) chlorine ions in said fluids. So in other words, if your razor is made from ANY kind of steel, clean and dry it promptly if you wish to prevent staining or worse.

I work in the O.R. every day and surgical instruments are immersed in blood puss saline solutions and other bodily fluids for Hours not minutes before someone even begins to think about cleaning them. I don't know how they survive?