Thread: Why a silver steel or carbon steel razor?

I am looking to buy my second SR. I have only been using a SR for 2 1/2 weeks. I have a Dovo best quality carbon SR now. I am looking at a Dovo silver steel. What is better? Why is it better? I assume stainless is the best looking at prices! Thanks for the help!

I always assumed that Silver steel was just another variant of high quality carbon steel. There are a few formulas for creating a carbon steel suitable for use in straight razors and silver steel is just another version. Stainless steel resists rust better and some say it takes longer to hone and holds an edge longer than a carbon steel blade so there is the thought that SS is a bit harder. If they are all sharpened to the same degree they they should all shave equally well. The cost differential may be a reflection of some alloys costing more to make than other alloys.

Bob

Thanks Bob....I just can't make up my mind...broker...Dovo....silver steel...carbon ...stainless...plastic scales...wood...black white....to much! As long as it shaves nice! That's all that matters!

One other question....what is extra hollow ground mean?

yea, as far as I know there are only two types of steel used in razors. That's carbon and Stainless. Everything else are variants of those two. I know folks have experimented with ceramics and I'm waiting for someone to fashion a Talonite razor and I guess some have experimented with other exotic materials but production wise it the old two reliables.

I know exactly what you mean by choice overload. It really can be a bit much especially starting out. The easiest way for a first new razor is to buy a reputable manufacturer's blade from a reputable dealer who supplies them shave ready. The pick one that you like the looks of in the size you want in your budget range and go for it. Good luck.

Bob

How about full hollow ground vs. half hollow ground?

There is info here on grinds and much else The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki . For me,basically a hollow ground razor has a very thin blade and is noisy when shaving vs a heavier grind like the half hollow which have thicker blades and are quieter when shaving. With two razors of equal size the heavier grind will be heavier in the hand as less metal is remove in the grinding process. Both will shave equally well if both have the same sharpness. There id just a different feel when shaving using one or the other. Again it is a personal preference thing and not so much which is better in the pure shaving sense.

Bob

Thanks again Bob! I'm going with the Dovo silver steel ebony as a second of what I'm sure will be many in my rotation!

All steel is carbon steel (iron + carbon), and properties can be manipulated based on the ratio of carbon to iron. Add a little carbon and you have softer steels, add a lot and you get cast iron (a misnomer). Different chemicals (silver, platinum, rhodium, chromium and more) can also be added to tweak properties more. Add the right ingredients and you get stainless (the main additive is usually chromium). A lot of older razors can be found made from silver or platina steel (at least on paper; advertising wasn't strict back then). I'm not sure about the newer silver steels though. As to properties, I'm not aware of any drastic differences between standard steel and silver steel.