Thread: Glass razors?

Does anyone know if there have ever been any glass razor blades in use? Glass should be able to take quite an edge, but I'm not sure if it could be smoothed out enough. I'm also thinking the harder edge might not deform.

Anyone have any thoughts or, better yet, info?

How about ceramic? I see knives made of ceramic.

I've seen quite a few glass knives in antique stores when I'm on the prowl. Typically they have chipped edges, but that's probably from neglect or misuse. Wouldn't a super thin razor edge made of glass chip easily?

Chris L

Glass is a liquid with extremely high viscosity. Is glass liquid or solid?

I think obsidian has been used for scalpels. Perhaps glass is the next step for razors. We have alcohol for gasoline, wind for electricity, and crooks for bankers What other marvels will greet our future?

Come to think of it, I believe I read the Aztecs did use obsidian for shaving. Bruce, you should be the first to give it a try. Post pics of course!

Chris L

Originally Posted by Bruce

I think obsidian has been used for scalpels. Perhaps glass is the next step for razors. We have alcohol for gasoline, wind for electricity, and crooks for bankers What other marvels will greet our future?

Originally Posted by wopmanfixit

Glass is a liquid with extremely high viscosity. Is glass liquid or solid?

"There is no clear answer to the question "Is glass solid or liquid?".... Nevertheless, from a more common sense point of view, glass should be considered a solid since it is rigid according to everyday experience."

from "Conclusion"...last paragraph in the article.

Evidently a matter of 'preferred' interpretation.

Some people consider glass a liquid because the crystalization process lasts lifetimes. I.e. plain glass is forever locked in a phase change. Or so I've heard.
You might as well call a tree 'liquid'.

Originally Posted by The Blacksmith

"There is no clear answer to the question "Is glass solid or liquid?".... Nevertheless, from a more common sense point of view, glass should be considered a solid since it is rigid according to everyday experience."

from "Conclusion"...last paragraph in the article.

Evidently a matter of 'preferred' interpretation.

Well the best answer is really glass is a glass. There are interesting things being done with glasses made out of metals, it is an active area of material science.

The other point is that glass has not been shown to flow at average temperatures.

So if it flows it might be in the mm per millions of years level, but it does not flow in any as yet measured way.