Thread: Quality of blades?

Hello all,

This is my first post outside the beginners section but, I noticed something the other day and wondered if I could find the answer here. I have 2 razors. One I bought brand new, a Cyril R Salter "Timor" and the other I bought on eBay 2 weeks ago. The second one is an old English one by Thomas Turner and is called "The Favorite". Now, once I received my Thomas Turner I sat down and compared the two. I was looking at the overall size of the blades and scales etc. Just looking for the differences. The one thing I did notice was that the Thomas Turner felt heavier. Anyway, for no particular reason, I tapped the edge of one with the spine of the other and then vice versa. The sounds were completely different. When I tapped the Cyril R Salter I got a tinny sound and when I tapped the Thomas Turner, I got a dull sound, almost like tapping a piece of lead. Why is this??? By the way, the old Thomas Turner gives a better shave!

Thanks in advance

Pete

Steel production technology has changed a lot in detail in the last couple of hundred years, although the basic principles remain the same. The best quality modern steels make the old stuff look like junk metal BUT it's rare to actually get the best quality for less than the highest price. Way back when it was always the best they could do with what they had.

The thud comes from the stainless steel blade and the ping from the carbon steel blade.

Carbon steel forms smaller crystals than stainless steel. One of outcomes of this is a carbon steel is more ductile (flexible) at any given thickness than stainless steel. When you give the blade a tap (on the back of the spine please!) the carbon steel well resonate more and longer which leads to the difference in notes.

This really doesn't affect how they shave provided the blades have been forged and tempered properly. It's just a cosmetic difference.

Different grinds of the blades will do that. A hollow will make a tinny sign but the wedge will make a heavy thud. I'm guessing the Thomas Turner is a heavier razor than the Cyril R Salter.

You will find as your learning curve grows that the differences in razors is vast.In many cases, it is like comparing apples and oranges. You just can"t compare. While a light full hollow ground german razor and a big heavy English wedge can be the same in shave quality, they will shave different (+ or - feedback) . They are made different, not of the same steel, not the same shape, weight, grind or size , but both are lovely. If you get bitten by the RAD bug, you will get to campare many razors. I do recomend that you tread lightely with ebay until you are well versed on how to grade razors as to condition. Lynn"s DVD is a must for new guys. Very best Regards and Happy Shaving, wildhog

Thanks a lot guys, that's cleared up my first question.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Pdav

...Anyway, for no particular reason, I tapped the edge of one with the spine of the other and then vice versa.

Please don't do this again, the edge of a razor is fragile when you consider tapping steel against it. You can very likely damage the edge.

Were the razors sold to you as "shave ready"? If not, you should consider having them honed.

The first one was and the second one wasn't. I've honed them both and they now give a clean ehave but i reckon they could be better. Maybe a pro hone will be of benefit. At least then I will know how much I will have to improve my honing skills! But, my shaving skills also need to improve so maybe with time I will find that it's my shaving and not the blades that are at fault. Time will tell. Pete

We typically recommend learning how to shave with a known shave ready razor, then once you have it down (normally takes around 30 shaves) you can start messing around with the stones. Without having someone to make your razors truly shave ready...you really don't know what a shave ready razor is. When I was learning to hone I kept a blade from a well known honer as a reference blade.

Cyril Salter razors are in the Wiki as ones to avoid I don't know if the "Timor" is included but I suspect that the steel isn't that great.