Stainless vs Carbon

Hello SRP members.

I've been trying to avoid falling prey to the adage "that poor men pay twice", so far - not so good.
Anyway, I'm in the market for a 7/8 razor. I've looked at some on the Shaveshop web site, the classifieds on various forums, Hart, customs, epay, etc., etc, etc. I'd like to narrow my search and confusion - if possible.

Any thoughts/experience on how stainless blade razors perform, hone, resale value, etc?

Thanks in advance to everyone who comments.
This Forum has been absolutely great!!

In my view stainless steel razors are great. I don't have many as most razors are made in carbon steel.

I find them just as easy to hone as carbon steel. The difficulty in honing really has to do with the grind. The more hollow the razor, the easier it is to hone.

I have found that stainless is no harder to hone than carbon and holds an edge just as well. If you get a good one like the Dovo I have.

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Originally Posted by GAP

Hello SRP members.

I've been trying to avoid falling prey to the adage "that poor men pay twice", so far - not so good.
Anyway, I'm in the market for a 7/8 razor. I've looked at some on the Shaveshop web site, the classifieds on various forums, Hart, customs, epay, etc., etc, etc. I'd like to narrow my search and confusion - if possible.

Any thoughts/experience on how stainless blade razors perform, hone, resale value, etc?

Thanks in advance to everyone who comments.
This Forum has been absolutely great!!

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The only two stainless blades I have are a couple wonderful Friodurs. IMO, they hone no different than any other but take a very sharp and stable edge. They shave great. BUT, all that said, I don't think this is particularly specific to stainless blades. There are other razors that I own that do the same and are not. I suspect that because they don't rust you will have a greater chance at a good resale value. In the end, stainless/carbon, your choice. The stainless/rust-resistant qualities can be nice since many of my other razors easily discolor or stain from water and soap while the Friodurs shine exceptionally all the time.

In my experience both are good. If stainless wasn't my guess is they wouldn't use it for razors anymore. I did a search for stainless vs carbon and came up with 4 pages if you want more info.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/searc...archid=1755640

I'll throw my half pence in!! I agree with it all, i've had 3 friodurs go through my hands, i kept one. Honing them isn't any more difficult, the shaves aren't any better, the edges (to me) don't seem to last longer or not. I treat them the same as I do carbon for honing, stropping and cleaning after usage. The one advantage in my opinion is that, due to their anti-rust characteristics, they will, under not-so-favorable conditions, outlast a carbon blade.

I have been chasing a decent stainless blade (at a good price) for a while. I finally have a nice Dovo Inox french point on the way, but I think the crappy plastic scales are going to have to go.

ive had 3 SS blades , 2 shaved great !! the 3rd one i never used so i wouldnt know ..lol..
for some reason i like a stainless look better , in my eye the carbons are jus a tad bit off colored next to a stainless .. ( prob mental )

I my experience using them there is no practical difference in performance. Stainless may have a bit of an edge over carbon as it is not as prone to rust.

Bob

I've never used a stainless razor so I can't comment on how well they shave. My experience with stainless knives is that they don't sharpen as easily, or take an edge as fine as their high carbon counterparts. In practice though if you keep the edge sharp you shouldn't notice any difference in shaving. You may have to touch up the edge more frequently though.

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Originally Posted by TonyFranciozi

I've never used a stainless razor so I can't comment on how well they shave. My experience with stainless knives is that they don't sharpen as easily, or take an edge as fine as their high carbon counterparts. In practice though if you keep the edge sharp you shouldn't notice any difference in shaving. You may have to touch up the edge more frequently though.

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I'm in the same seat as you, my carbon knives always take a better edge.
If the stainless razors are as good, why not the stainless kitchen knives?

I've had the same experience, carbon being 'better' than stainless with pocket knives. Particularly back in the '60s and '70s. With razors I've had good luck. I don't know if it is because of the thinness of the blade, fineness of the edge, or what, but the stainless razors I've got honed up well and shave well. Maybe a few more strokes but the end result has been fine. OTOH, I still like carbon better.

Well I don't know if it means anything, but I bought a Friodur (stainless) back in 2007 I think it was. There was a small blip with it after our house cleaner decided to try stropping it while I was at work (wiped off the edge, cut up my strop... :() in around late 2007 (again, I think), where it had to be rehoned. Let's call it 2008 to be safe.

I use that Friodur on average once a month and it has never been rehoned since that date. Not even a touch up.

I quite like that razor.

YMMV.

James.

I don't doubt a stainless razor can get and hold an edge, I just find it strange so many find the difference being so big when it comes to kitchen knives.
I have to get a stainless razor for myself and try it out!
RAD in the name of science!

You know it just clouds the issue for the OP to start throwing in kitchen knives and how stainless kitchen knives may not be as good as carbon steel ones. That is without any actual experience using a stainless steel razor. It might be an apples and oranges sorta of thing and a bit of a red herring. This subject is confusing enough to begin with for a beginner, at least it was for me when I was trying to decide. In the end I bit the bullet, several times in fact, and actually bought stainless steel razors to see for myself. Luckily I was not disappointed in the performance of the stainless blades for shaving with.

Bob

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Originally Posted by Lemur

I don't doubt a stainless razor can get and hold an edge, I just find it strange so many find the difference being so big when it comes to kitchen knives.
I have to get a stainless razor for myself and try it out!
RAD in the name of science!

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I wonder if it's because people tend to strop and hone their razors regularly, but let their kitchen knives go?

Ahh, sorry about that!
It was not my intention to make it more confusing.
I have friends who are more than happy with their stainless razors, that's why i hold no doubt they are as good as carbon dito.

I only have one friodur and it holds an edge a bit longer than my carbons. I love it.