Thread: Carbon VS. Stainless steel

so I am rather new to the straight razor scene and I know that carbon steel is the only way to go but I am still not sure why. would anyone like to enlighten me on the pro's and con's of stainless vs. carbon steel for a straight razor?

Aside from Stainless being slightly easier to care for from the point of view of corrosion (and I'd stress the slightly, they still need effectively the same degree of care and attention when drying etc IME) I haven't noticed any great difference. Some say they take a little longer to hone but retain their edges a little longer too. I honestly haven't noticed a difference in this though most of my blades are carbon.

What Alan the deuce said.

+2
What Alan and Bruce said

They both shave well once you get a good edge on them.

So I was wondering about this too. I have this henckels friodur INOX and I must say the edge off the same stone isn't the same... I like the carbon edges better, though it could be that I don't know how to hone INOX or that the hone isn't appropriate for the INOX steel. So just out of curiosity is there a hone you guys prefer when using INOX blades?

I know this holds true for knives so I thought that maybe it also applies for straights. Thanks.

If you have a smooth Thuringian, I 've had nice results. YMMV. It's not the stone, it's the honer. Keep on plugging. Good luck.

+1 What Alan, Bruce and Glen said......

I have honed both carbon and stainless on Norton, Naniwa, Shapton, Escher, Coticule, Asagi, Kiita, Ohzuku, Chinese 12K, Charnley, and really never had a problem with either. Some stainless may take a few extra polishing strokes as do some carbon razors at 60 rockwell. The stainless has a little different feel on the hones. I can't describe it other than to say more feedback or a grainier feeling, but it is not a distraction.

Have fun,

Lynn

+1 to Alan the deuce, our good friend Bruce, the guy who shows razors with a moose, and the guy who drinks the Goose.

+1 with, erm, almost all of you.

(This thread is threatening to move me to tears: I've never read a thread with that much consent between the different member !! Peace & Harmony all over !! )