Quote Originally Posted by JLStorm
...Is this why its illegal in some countries? I understand the idea of putting graphite between the steel and lead as a barrier since it has a much higher melting temperature, but it still makes me a bit nervous. Of course I have never heard of a straight user getting lead poisening from a razor.
Gentlemen, allow me a moment. The melting temperature of lead is 600 F/327.5 C. The temperature of 850 C/1560 F would be an acceptable heat treatment temperature but far too high for a tempering temperature (around 400 F/205 C).

The most likely use, is to austenitize the steel, put all the carbon into solution and quench from that temperature. A molten bath, whether lead or high temperature salts (my choice, dangerous but not from nasty fumes) will be very easy to control temperature wise and reduce the risk of grain growth and other problems occuring when the austenitizing temperature is overshot. Frankly, the steel doesn't really care which method, of them all, is used.

The real purpose of both the graphite and lead (and so will molten salt baths) is to prevent oxidation at that temperature (scale formation). This is very desirable for production because the blade can be nearly completely polished and subsequently heat treated without any further grinding to clean up the steel.

The problems in production are the lead fumes that will cause nervous system issues. So the Euro equivalent of OSHA comes in to play. The steel, if finished sufficiently well, will not pick up any lead in quantity and unless someone is daring enough to routinely lick their blades, doubtful that enough will be ingested to make any difference. We're all nuts enough using straight razors to shave with eh?