Thread: Silver/Sheffield Steel v Carbon Steel

Just had a question about the different types of steel in straight razors. I was aware that Stainless is more difficult to hone but keeps it's edge longer and Carbon is supposed to be easier to hone to a sharp edge. How about Silver/Sheffield steel where does it fit in? How difficult to hone a good edge on it and does it get very sharp?

If you are referring to the possibility of silver mixed with steel... I don't think it ever was.

Check this post
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=16431

That definately answers my question - the other post. I was just curious exactly what was meant by silver steel on razors as I wasn't sure where it really fit in with regard to sharpening, shaving, etc. but noticed it's more expensive. Thanks.

Silver steel is a marketing technique for the most part. Although I would also agree that it is also common use "shop shorthand" in machine shops etc.

It's a tool steel, therefore high carbon steel that can range up to 1.2% carbon, but is generally considered the equivalent of O-1. It works very well for razors. There is no silver in any modern manufactured silver steel. There may have been experiments alloying steel with silver but those didn't measure up to the usefulness requirements.

You could laminate silver and steel together but that is a diffusion bond not a true weld or alloy, and the result would be better referred to as mokume. That would be a lot more common, but unusual.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Silver steel is a marketing technique for the most part. Although I would also agree that it is also common use "shop shorthand" in machine shops etc.

It's a tool steel, therefore high carbon steel that can range up to 1.2% carbon, but is generally considered the equivalent of O-1. It works very well for razors. There is no silver in any modern manufactured silver steel. There may have been experiments alloying steel with silver but those didn't measure up to the usefulness requirements.

You could laminate silver and steel together but that is a diffusion bond not a true weld or alloy, and the result would be better referred to as mokume. That would be a lot more common, but unusual.

Mike thanks that download of knowledge. You learn something here everyday.

Now if you can tell us the meaning of life

Originally Posted by Amyn

Now if you can tell us the meaning of life

One version of the answer: 42

Another: begins in the fetus frightening room and ends with "one thin little mint."

mike, you're one funny man!
no need to mention the knowledge as anybody who's read your posts knows all about that

Mike,

Could you elaborate a bit on the stainless vs. carbon thing that the original poster mentioned?

My understanding is that carbon steel is both easier to sharpen and superior when it comes to holding an edge. Stainless is hard to sharpen not because it is harder but because the steel is more abrasion resistant.

The advantage of stainless isn't that it takes a better edge or holds the edge longer, but that it rusts less.

Am I close here?

Josh

Silver steel is actually a high carbon alloy steel that meets the following specifications:

http://www.silver-steel.co.uk/SilverSteelBS1407.html

These are Brittish specs. There are similar German specifications as well (DIN 1.2002) and French (AFNOR 120C2).

The carbon content is usually above 1% and it does contain some Chrome, usually about 0.40%, so can be thought of as a high carbon alloy. The chrome content is, however, substancially less than even some of the so called "low chrome" alloys such as 1-1/4 Chrome - 1/2 Moly.

It is usually considered a tool grade steel. It gets its name because of its bright appeance, which is due to the high carbon content. It is also known as "bright steel". With proper heat treating, it will harden to a RC of about 64.

Most common stainless steels will only harden to about RC58, so they are not as good at holding an edge as high carbon steels or high carbon alloy steels. There are some newer specialty steels that are both "stainless" (i.e. don't rust) and capable reaching very high hardness numbers