Thread: Sheffield steel superiority

I love the feel of Sheffield steel! It takes a great edge, and feels oh so smooth on the face.

I now may have evidence of the actual qualitative difference.

For your consideration:

Two razors I just honed up:

-The first, my re-worked Wapi, finished to 0.5 um on diamond film

-The second, my Marshes & Sheppard Marshian, finished to the same 0.5um on diamond film

Can you see how much smoother the Sheffield edge is? They are probably similar "sharpness", but the edge just looks (and feels...) smoother.

Back in the '80's I was as a Tool and Die Maker specializing in a newish machining technique, Wire EDM. The company I worked for was trying to cut costs and started using tool steels made in the far east. We had major problems cutting this steel on the Wire EDM. After close microscopic inspection we discovered 'bubbles' all through out the metal which caused the wire to break after extremely short cuts. The edge on you Wapi looks very similar to what we found in the tool steel I just described. The darker spots in your microscopic image of the Wapi may be microscopic 'bubbles' with metal rolled into them from grinding and/or polishing. In this way, and probably numerous others, the Sheffield steel is far superior.

I don't know if it is correct but I have seen it posted that Sheffield used Swedish steel.

You guys only just now figuring this out?

James.

I would have to agree with parts of the assessments of the Steels...

When asked, I usually break them down with these descriptions, DISCLAIMER: These are my opinions and have no actual basis in any scientific fact, just my observations from restoring, honing, and shaving... and also are in general because as stated some of the steels and makers were intermixed...


Sheffield steel: Very hard steel, very smooth edge when honed properly

Spanish Steel: A silky smooth feel on the hones, and the face, possibly slightly softer steel..

German Steel: Sharp, Sharp, Sharp, the edge will hold to a slightly sharper condition... very straight forward on the hones

American Steel: Very hard steel, but when honed correctly, it might hold the sharpest edge of all...

Swedish Steel: Extreme hardness, needs special attention on the hones, to keep from giving a harsh feeling shave....

Like I said those are just my feelings about the various steels and of course does not include stainless steel that is a whole new ballgame....

I have NEVER had a Wade&Butcher,once cleaned up and freshly honed-that wasn't a superb shaver.Amazing that they had such consistency. I'm sure there are still many examples of Sheffield's quality still floating around ready to be snatched up.

Swedish stainless steel, Sheffield silver steel and Toledo Steel are all conjure up different images in my mind from my youth as I am sure other steels do for each of us.

The steel is just one element. The second element is the way in which the metal is heated and cooled in the manufacturing process.

I agree that some steels seem to be softer or smoother or hold a better edge but today I tend to be more guided by one thing only and that is how good does my face feel after the shave.

My current razors show no real preference as to the source of the steel.
Puma - German steel
Wacker - Sheffield steel forged and ground in Germany.
Taylors Eye - Sheffield steel
Imperial Razor Co. - American steel

All of these razors hold there own on the shave quality front and sometimes the Taylors eye can be just too sharp which for me is a bad thing. Of course the price I paid for the razors had little to do with the quality. The Imperial is a well kept US secret.

I don't know all the technicalities, but I love my Sheffield blades. If I had to choose only one place of origin (), Sheffield would be it....

They are silkiest, smoothest shaving razors I own (EDIT: except for my Williams custom) - and the easiest to hone.

Jordan

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I don't know if it is correct but I have seen it posted that Sheffield used Swedish steel.

Jimmy, the Sheffield works in its heyday used Swedish iron ore. The mythical steel was all made in 100 lb crucibles, pretty much small lots by hand and held sway as the world's finest well into the industrial revolution. That steel found it's way all over Europe and I'm sure suffered being branded as home town steel in a lot of places besides the UK. Now the Sheffield district is pretty much a ghost town.

Well, I don't know squat about steel but I have them all including stainless and if I used them all with the names hidden I couldn't tell the difference except for my japanese straights. They all shave wonderful.