Thread: stainless steel blade

+1'ing with Lynn the only difference I have found in the SS honing combination is they like the higher grit stones a little more....

I have heard that some stainless blades can be harsher to shave with, but some are very smooth (Friodurs, Hess). It may be true that stainless blades give less feedback, but it's hard for me to say since my only stainless is a 7/8 Friodur. I can say that she's an amazing shaver; sharp as could be and very smooth on my face.

I haven't done near as much honing as Lynn of gssixgun, but from what little I have done, I have found it harder to appropriately set the bevel on the stainless razors that I have worked with. There is probably a trick that I haven't figured out yet that will help me with this though. Always learning.

A quality blade is just that. I find when properly honed you can't tell the difference between stainless and carbon. I find when a stainless blade starts to deteriorate it will shave harsher than a similar carbon blade. Unsually is just a few extra strokes with stainless to get it honed up over a carbon.

I think alot of people dis stainless because of the tradition thing. reminds me of the watch forums where many will only consider a Swiss watch.

I have a big 8/8 Friodur (ice hardened stainless) and think it shaves super, one of my best actually. As others have mentioned, it does take a little longer to hone. I set the bevel on a 600 diamond plate, smooth it out on a 1200 plate then the 4K/8K Norton, chromium oxide and leather. I give the stainless about 50% more laps than most carbon blades, including the CO and leather.

Once it is set, it is super sharp and retains its edge a little longer than carbon steel. That Friodur is the only blade I have ever been able to fillet a hair in half on which is darn impressive. Beard type plays a big role in razor selection; I have noticed that the handful of stainless blades I have tried shaved more like wedges than a hollow ground. The steel feels stiffer and will knock down a tough beard with ease. I like, and use both stainless and carbon blades. If I have skipped shaving for a day or two and have a heavy beard, I grab the Friodur or a big W&B wedge.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

That Friodur is the only blade I have ever been able to fillet a hair in half on which is darn impressive.

I have read things like this before! Help me with this. How on earth do you hit the end of the hair? That seems difficult to me. My hair is very fine. I don't think I could do this, even if I had the sharpest blade on earth. I don't know!

Steve

I filleted it, not on end split. Catch the hair on the side and shave it in half. I actually have it on video, somewhere on Google.

you can fillet hair with a knife, and shold definitely be able to do it with a razor. Remember hair has a grain structure to, a series of overlapping shingles, if you will. Like this:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<--- Arrow A Arrow B --->

If you move your knife in the direction of arrow B, it may skip over the shingles. If you go in the direction of Arrow A, the knife catches on the "shingle" and splits the hair.

Scanning electron micrograph of human hair:




Video of hair whittling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZZa1Ng5bzY