Thread: Friodur questions

I have a Henkels Friodur 5/8 that I recently acquired, and I have a couple of questions about it.

First, are all Friodurs stainless steel? This one isn't marked that it is--the tang just says Solingen. I was under the impression that Friodurs were stainless and also that stainless razors were marked in some way. One of these assumptions is wrong.

Second, there are some very light rust spots on the blade. It looks like a few droplets of water sat on the blade and started to oxidize.

The blade also has some gold wash on it. Some of the rust is on top of this gold stamping. I'm not sure if I want to leave the gold long term, but initially I'd like to try to save it.

Is there a way to remove the rust without removing the gold? I know MAAS would take the rust off, but I'll be the gold would also come off pretty quickly.

Thanks,
Josh

I don't know. All of mine say Friodur INOX, but Henckels currently makes a 5/8 INOX that isn't marked as a Friodur. There's nothing about the cryogenic process that ties it to stainless steel, the two were just developed about the same time. I think the Wonderedges are cryogenically treated and they're not stainless.

Are all Friodurs cryogenically treated, regardless of whether they're INOX or not?

Does this make even the carbon razors harder than a traditional treatment?

Josh

I'm fairly certain the friodurs are stainless steel, though, probably a higher carbon stainless than most others.

Gold plating is probably one of the easiest things to remove, so going after the rust is quite likely to remove it. However, I have heard that areas that are gold plated have a slightly higher affinity for rust, which may be why there is more rust there. So removing the gold wash may actually be beneficial.

Friodur is supposed to refer to the tempering and ice hardening. Inox refers to Inoxiable, non-rusting stainless.

I know on kitchen knives one can buy Friodur or Inox or both together. Some older Henckels are not stainless.

Tony

Originally Posted by joshearl

Are all Friodurs cryogenically treated, regardless of whether they're INOX or not?

Does this make even the carbon razors harder than a traditional treatment?

Josh

AFAIK henckels only used the friodur tag on cryo'ed razors. I don't think it makes the razor harder, I thought it makes them less brittle so they could be made harder to begin with.