Thread: Stainless Steel vs. Carbon Steel

Thanks a lot Gents! Great advice.

I have both, more carbon than stainless but I like both equally well.

Yeah, as was said above, 'Good steel is good steel'. I have many more Carbon than Stainless but that is only because they're easier to find and flea-markets and the like.

stainless is harder to hone than carbon but stay longer.

So would it be safe to say that a $200 investment on a Dovo Stainless steel is a good start?

Originally Posted by Mando23

So would it be safe to say that a $200 investment on a Dovo Stainless steel is a good start?

You are new to straight razors? I was a complete newbie a few years back, so I still remember it well

My advice: go with a DOVO 'Best Quality' razor unless you know you want something fancy. Make sure you get it shave ready.

The reasons:
1. It's cheap.
2. The German-made blade is really good, to my face it seems to be better than some of the more expensive ones
3. The carbon steel responds quickly to stropping, and my Best Quality responds very well to the canvas strop. When you're doing it right, you'll know it.

This also means that you will learn faster. By the way, the canvas strop? Highly recommended.

Well, this has been my experience anyway

$200 is a plenty of money for a razor. I think you can buy two off of SRP classifieds and get some decent razors.

Lots of great choices!

Pabster

I know it is difficult go know what you are looking at when you are on the classifieds but there are some excellent razors for sale for far less than $200. Robert Williams was selling some Kobars a while back and I think I paid about $100. Amazing shaver!

I find carbon far easier to hone than stainless blades. I, personally, do not find stainless capable of obtaining the keenness that I get from carbon steel. I know that this not a popular view but a far larger number would agree that carbon is easier to hone. Since honing is such an integral part of us0ing a straight shaving go with a quality carbon blade. Just my humble opinion.


Take Care,
Richard

All good advise above. Since you are new to straight shaving I would suggest getting a professionally honed razor, not factory honed and not from someone new to honing. Most people on SRP have several razors so odds are that you will also. Carbon or stainless, get one that you like, I would suggest at least two razors, one purchased a month or two after the first. Having two gives you a spare for when you send the first out for re-honing. Later, after you have used a straight for several months you can learn to hone on one while still using the other. Learning to hone on a carbon straight may be easier for you but everyone is different. My comments are just things you may consider. In the end be sure you are happy with your razor(s). As a side note, most of my razors are used vintage and of various brands and all shave very good but there is nothing wrong with wanting a brand new razor if your budget allows for it.

I think what makes honing SS razors harder then honing Carbon razors are everyone of these threads that everyone says "Honing SS razors are harder"

If you could hide the fact that a razor is SS vs Carbon I doubt many, if any, could tell the difference on the hones or the face... Maybe we could try an experiment at some of the Meetups ?????


The only real difference I have ever found to be true is that they "Stain Less" as in two words not one