Thread: So I thought INOX was stainless?

Are the Stainless Steel INOX razors 400 series or what? I didn't think Stainless was magnetized?

It depends on the alloy. Most of the stainless used for razors is pretty close to the high-carbon end of the continuum.

I don't know what kind of wussie steel is not attracted by a magnet, but all the stuff I have is.

As a side note, stain resistant is a more appropriate nomer for what it does, but doesn't sell as much.

Originally Posted by Visibility

I don't know what kind of wussie steel is not attracted by a magnet, but all the stuff I have is.

As a side note, stain resistant is a more appropriate nomer for what it does, but doesn't sell as much.

304 and 318 stainless has very weak reaction to magnets.
@ OP: stainless does not mean it will not rust, it will if not cared properly for, it just will take much longer than carbon steel.
INOX is definitely stainless alloy that has very similar properties to carbon steel , in how keen an edge it can take.

Originally Posted by Visibility

As a side note, stain resistant is a more appropriate nomer for what it does, but doesn't sell as much.

I think stainless is quite accurate; it will stain less than normal carbon steel; it's just that the word stainless is pronounced differently than stain less.

I have yet to come across a stainless steel that has the same, or even close to, ammount of carbon in them. If their ability to becom one with a frigging mag strip is any indication Even my HIGH carbon stainless (ones I got my wife) cpm154, s30v, and so on, don't hang onto the magblok with even half the tenacity.

So I thought INOX was stainless?

Indeed. "inox" stands for "inoxidable", which is the French word for stainless.

The amount of magnetism depends both on the alloy and the treatment. Alloys include chromium, nickel, titanium, molybdenum, niobium and others, combined and treated to make five different types or families of stainless. The nickel content probably has most effect on the magnetic properties of the steel. The 300 series isn't magnetic, the 400 series that doesn't contain nickel is magnetic.

BUT - when 300 series is cold rolled or formed, some of the austenite in it (nonmagnetic) turns into martensite (magnetic), so depending on whether it is annealed or rolled when cold it is either non-magnetic or weakly magnetic to varying degrees..

300 series is "soft" and has more corrosion resistance than the 400 series, but the 400 series can be heat-treated to a suitable hardness for retaining a cutting edge. I think it is also cheaper to make.

Originally Posted by Bart

Indeed. "inox" stands for "inoxidable", which is the French word for stainless.

This is correct. I know the German word is technically "Rostfrei" but I think the Germans use Inox too.

As I recall Stainless is just a name for steel that lies between Nickel Steel and Chrome Steel depending on whether it has more of one over the other and then of course the trace elements that go into it too. There are more stainless types than you can shake a stick at.