What steel do stainless steel razors use?

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11-24-2009, 10:40 AM
cotdt

What steel do stainless steel razors use?

Anyone know what steel stainless steel razors use? I know Dovo's say "INOX" but I don't know if that refers to a specific steel or just any stainless steel.
11-24-2009, 10:48 AM
Seraphim

Most production razors use 440C stainless.

Custom makers also can use some of the newer high tech steels.
11-24-2009, 10:51 AM
cotdt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Most production razors use 440C stainless.

Custom makers also can use some of the newer high tech steels.

Isn't 440C a terrible choice because of all the 20+ micron carbides breaking out of the edge?
11-24-2009, 10:55 AM
Seraphim

Here's a pic of the Dovo Renaissance stainless at 200x.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...l-dovo200x.jpg

Any variation in that edge is roughly 1 micron or less. The Dovo stainless are nice and smooth in my experience.
11-24-2009, 10:57 AM
cotdt

That is freshly honed though, right? In my 440C knives with an acute edge, by the end of a day's work the edge looks like a sawblade under a 100X.
11-24-2009, 11:03 AM
DPflaumer

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt

That is freshly honed though, right? In my 440C knives with an acute edge, by the end of a day's work the edge looks like a sawblade under a 100X.

That may be, but just look at what you are doing with a knife. The toughest thing your razor comes up against is a little stubble. And there is very little pressure straight down on the cutting edge, unlike any work likely to be done with a pocket knife where you are essentially forcing the edge into hard objects.

I'm not a smith or anything, but I feel like 440c may be poorly suited to knife applications while working just fine for a razor. Again though, just my thoughts.
11-24-2009, 11:08 AM
Yahoochiewatchie

Inox is the french word for stainless steel.
11-24-2009, 11:27 AM
decraew

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yahoochiewatchie

Inox is the french word for stainless steel.

Yup, comes from inoxidable (cannot rust)
11-24-2009, 11:30 AM
mainaman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yahoochiewatchie

Inox is the french word for stainless steel.

Inox however can be summarizing for different kinds of stainless. Some inox steels are really good.
11-24-2009, 12:27 PM
JimmyHAD

Here is an archived thread kicking this topic around and here is another that might be of some interest. :hmmm:
11-24-2009, 05:31 PM
mackie

Just a note for anyone who does not know. Any razor, or knife for that matter, which is stamped 440 stainless is poor quality. If it were 440 C it would certainly be stamped that. There is no comparison between 440 and 440C. I once bought a large quantity of 440A stainless before I knew better,and it was not worth anything. It would not heat treat above Rockwell 54 I ended up using it for decorative parts. I saw a razor at the flea market last week marked as 440 stainless and the guy selling it said "look here, it is 440 steel". Mack
11-24-2009, 05:37 PM
sparq

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

That may be, but just look at what you are doing with a knife. The toughest thing your razor comes up against is a little stubble. And there is very little pressure straight down on the cutting edge, unlike any work likely to be done with a pocket knife where you are essentially forcing the edge into hard objects.

Do a little research on toughness of human hair, combine that with the actual thickness of razor edges and the mechanical stress they have to endure during shaving, and you will end up with non-trivial demands on quality of steel needed for good razors.

"A little stubble" gives zeepaks more than little trouble for sure.
11-24-2009, 05:38 PM
Seraphim

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotdt

That is freshly honed though, right? In my 440C knives with an acute edge, by the end of a day's work the edge looks like a sawblade under a 100X.

Here is that same razor after 20 or so shaves, leather only stropping.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...aves.jpg?ltr=D

And here is my stainless Tuckmar, also at 200x, after probably 15-20 shaves as well. White pasted canvas & leather stropping on this one.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...-tuck-20ox.jpg
11-25-2009, 01:45 PM
ChayesFSS

I prefer Sheffield steel
11-25-2009, 02:34 PM
Seraphim

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChayesFSS

I prefer Sheffield steel

Marshes Pond Works Sheffield 200x
http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...-edge-200x.jpg
11-25-2009, 02:35 PM
ChayesFSS

Great picture! Sheffield just feels softer on my skin, Stainless is somewhat harsh imho.
11-25-2009, 04:03 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChayesFSS

Great picture! Sheffield just feels softer on my skin, Stainless is somewhat harsh imho.

A friend of mine sold a Chandler custom stainless wedge to me because he thought it felt harsh. He is quite a good honer so I didn't have to change anything and the razor has felt smooth as silk to me after many shaves. Never retouched it yet. I guess it is a difference in skin/whisker type ? I have a number of stainless razors both new and vintage and they all are fine with me. I love old Sheffield steel too BTW.