Thread: Mysterious magnetic razor

Originally Posted by Caledonian

That is an interesting device, and it is a pity a razor wouldn't fit into the holes. Without trying to pass myself off as knowing about electricity, there are two ways I can imagine an electrical device magnetising or demagnetising steel. One, as this appears to be, is by generating electromagnetism - presumably generating magnetism equal and opposite to what it already has. The other is by induction heating, which eliminates magnetism and heat-treatment just like any other kind of high temperature. I'd be wary of adopting someone else's inadequately described device, just because something has come out of it demagnetised.

Study the following. The razor is 0.760 inches wide and despite being a sacrificial Pak & Stan Brothers POS, has not been altered in any manner. It remains an intact razor like object. The third photo clearly shows 1.060 inches.



Yes, your knowledge of physics is somewhat in arrears. Consider another process of magnetizing and demagnetizing a piece of steel by exposing to another magnet's poles. Another magnet is all that is housed inside this cute blue plastic box.

What was that you were saying about how a razor won't fit into the holes? Is it possible for me to describe this device any more adequately? Otherwise I'll leave you to your doubts.

I've had several magnetized blades pass through my collection. They don't shave any better than non-magnetized ones, but they are an interesting curiosity.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Study the following. The razor is 0.760 inches wide and despite being a sacrificial Pak & Stan Brothers POS, has not been altered in any manner. It remains an intact razor like object. The third photo clearly shows 1.060 inches.



Yes, your knowledge of physics is somewhat in arrears. Consider another process of magnetizing and demagnetizing a piece of steel by exposing to another magnet's poles. Another magnet is all that is housed inside this cute blue plastic box.

What was that you were saying about how a razor won't fit into the holes? Is it possible for me to describe this device any more adequately? Otherwise I'll leave you to your doubts.

A piece of steel can be magnetised with another magnet? So I have always been led to believe. My mistake, quite possibly a silly one, was in assuming that the holes referred to were in the hidden underside, rather than the razor-sized ones. While certainly good enough for a workshop tool which is making a nuisance of itself, I doubt if this would be effective enough to eliminate the picking up of dust-sized fragments. But then as I said in my ignorance of physics, that is a pretty slim and theoretical possibility with a razor.

I didn't think it necessary to say that when I referred to electrical demagnetisers, it wasn't to this device, which was surely permanent-magnetic. I really would advise testing an unknown electrical device on something else first.

Originally Posted by HNSB

I've had several magnetized blades pass through my collection. They don't shave any better than non-magnetized ones, but they are an interesting curiosity.

I'd echo this. Some are marked as such, some not.

There are quite a few recently Magnetized razors out there too... They have been created over the last few years by restorers using the Rare Earth Magnetic Jigs to hold the razors for extended lengths of time during the polishing process...

As stated above some of the vintage razors were magnetic as a "Selling" point, I have heard a few dumb reasons as to why this was considered a good thing for shaving...

On the Wald you are showing it looks to have been obviously restored and polished, so the magnetic jig is a good possibility