Thread: carbon vs stainless steel razor material

Originally Posted by ssmfc

I've given up on a $150,- Thiers-Issard Evide Sonnant razor, could have been stainless steel for all I know, simply threw the thing away. I don't know how many hours I've spent trying to get the edge back on it. It did very well for about a year (daily use, full face), but that was that. Followed youtube advice on honing (great info source), got the Norton waterstones (1000 to 8000), even got a 10K grit thinking that'd make any difference, but I just couldn't get a reasonable edge back on. About two years ago, I bought a $10 used carbon razor on Ebay (Geneva Cutlery, NY), ran it on the stones and it is perfect. I touch up the edge every 5-6months or so for a few minutes: kept the edge on for two years now. Isn't as pretty, doesn't shine or 'sing', but I can count on a perfect shave every time I use it. I would most definitely advise against stainless steel (or whatever TI uses for their Evide Sonnant for that matter), unless aesthetics are crucial, you're a pro at honing or you don't mind paying to have your razor maintained professionally.

The next time you 'Throw away' a razor, throw it my way! I have plenty of time on my hands! (I'll pay the shipping) Sorry to hear about your frustration! I've yet to have to try to touch up my 18 year old son's 8/8 Friodur! (He's used it since December) It may be a challenge, but as I said I have plenty of time to work on it! However, if by chance, I can't pull it off, $25-$30 sent and received is a lot less expensive than replacing it!

This thread is worthless if we cant talk about the steels types. Is not the same the 420 than the 440 or the 440C stainless steel. Whe have to know the steel type used in the straight razors. If Thiers-issard said it uses S30V instead 420 then I will bought it with confidence.

This comparison is very personal. There is no best razor in the world, too many different views. For me carbon steel (Puma) gives the softest shave. I'm for carbon steel.

Something else to think about is that steel alloys can be optimized for certain criteria, so adding a corrosion resistant criteria could well inhibit its qualities in other ways. Of course razors are not high precision items that require exacting materials and will only be used in very specific ways. They will be dropped and occasionally mishandled and the like so that differences that matter in say a die don't matter so much.

Could you make a steel that would be classed as non corrosion resistant that would out perform stainless steels, probably, but it might be impractically expensive. I remember hearing at work we bought a specific alloy block of steel for something like $3000 for a 1"x4"x4" block. But it is for tooling in our dies and as such has exacting requirements much more so than a razor does.

Originally Posted by Zelenbakh

This comparison is very personal. There is no best razor in the world, too many different views. For me carbon steel (Puma) gives the softest shave. I'm for carbon steel.

This really kinda sums it all up. The job of a razor is to get hair off. If your razor does that, what is so special about the kind of steel it has? Old steel, new steel, wunderstahl, unobtainium...it all comes down to the angle at the edge and the hand of the user.

"My steel is cooler than your steel..." is common human behavior. Knowing that helps to drive sales of one maker's stuff over another's.

I've honed both steels and shaved with both steels and I've noticed no difference other than SS seems to like a few more strokes on the finishing hone.

Other than that they're pretty similar.

I was also a machinist for most of my adult life. There are so many kinds of stainless and each type can vary depending on the job. My first straight edge was a Dovo carbon blade (Bismarck) it shaves very well. I have bought several more Dovo stainless. They also shave well. I can't tell much difference in the sharpening. For a tool that is used in water every day it makes much more sense to use stainless. Stainless will resist the moisture better than carbon. Both types need serious care but the stainless does give one more resistence in its environment. As a general rule (not to be confused with a perfect rule) anything that sharpens easily will lose its edge easier. You will be happy with either type.