Thread: Why are some straights heavily Magnatized?

I'll try it. I imagine so since it sticks to about anything it's next to. It's just unreal it's so magnetized it holds another razor up like that!

Originally Posted by Gunner777

It's funny stuff that's for sure. I love those old BS ads. Your right they loved radiation to. Anybody remember the shoe store device that was an early XRay machine that showed your toes inside the shoes so you could make sure they fit!!! People got radiation sickness and the government pulled the machines out of store---LOL. I guess it's not funny but geez!

That was the foot adducter chain back east. I remember because I had my feet examined there several times. It was a fluoroscope device. Mostly the problem was to the employees who were exposed all day. Huge radiation leakage.

If the magnetic idea is a hoax, there are woodworkers past and present who believe magnetized plane blades last much longer between sharpening.(Carbon steel not modern alloys)
There is also another angle to look at this, magnetite ore is superior in making carbon steel for tools, razors etc. It is not as common as other ores like hematite. There are deposites in North America and in Sweden. That is why Sheffield cutlers imported their ore. Magnetite is of coarse a natural earth magnet. Not as important now as because of modern methods and alloys. Historically, the best swords began their life as magnetite and they did have superiority over all other steels in their time. So although this is a little convoluted reasoning, the best razors as far as raw materials go historically would have made the best magnets.
Mike

Interesting information that goes along with some of the things I've read today-----Thanks.

I imagine that a large chunk of magnet would generate enough magnetic force to help stabilize its structure (thus holding an edge), but the amount of magnetic material in a razor? The theory may be there, but if you compare the amount of magnetic force acting on the .5 micron edge, to the relative forces on that .5 micron edge, I'm not sure it would work as significantly. You know what I mean? I think the principle is viable, but I think in practice because razors are so small and thin the relative effects of magnetic force vs structural stress from shaving is reduced.

Metal atom get together a little different on an atomic level. They form collectively a metalic bond where they share electrons. Remember electrons are the part of the atom where things happen chemically speaking. With so many woodworkers past and present claiming magnetized blades keep an edge better, should the idea itself be so easily dismissed?
Mike

If you have Leonard Lee's book on sharpening, look at page 27.
Mike

I don't have one of Bill's jigs, but I did make my own using rare earth magnets, an improvised version of Bill's, inspired by his design. I've definitely had some razors become quite magnetized after restoring on the jig. I bet some of them could pick up a wedge, but definitely not so strong that I would have no fear of it falling off. Some razors become quite magnetized while others don't get magnetized at all. My theory is that it comes from the fact that when sanding rigorously, the blade can break free and slide a bit... I think this movement is what does it, similar to magnetizing a screwdriver by sliding a magnet along it. I'm actually a little weary to use my jig now, because setting the bevel on the DMT hones after is a real PITA when the blade is sticking to the hone. You might think it's helpful, but for me, it's just a nuisance.

I wouldn't be surprised if some razors were sold magnetized as a gimmick or whatever, I'm just saying that it's not hard to get one magnetized yourself if you want to. With the thousands of razors out there that are 100+ years old, God only knows how many people have had their hands on them... it seems likely that some people might have magnetized their razor on purpose, for experimentation or whatever.

It was a marketing gimic just like silver steel that originally had just a touch of silver in it.

IIRC silver steel got its name from the the silver like colour and shine that high carbon steel has. AFAIK it never had silver in it.