Printable View
Are damascus steel blades as good as they are cracked up to be. I've heard some say they just can't be beat in terms of holding an edge and I've heard others say they are very difficult to put an edge on. Maybe both statements are true! The question I have if all else is equal, are damascus blades the best shaving razors?
First the history lesson. W-a-y long ago, damascus was made to solve an armament problem. Swords of iron were too hard and brittle and would snap in two easily. Swords of bronze and softer metals were *too* soft to hold an edge well and were easily damaged. The solution was found by a bladesmith who took a hard metal, and a soft metal, and hammered them together while white hot. The he folded the wedded metals over upon themselves and hammered them together again. This was repeated a number of times. The result was a sword that could take a fantastic edge, and not snap in two during an engagement. A little acid on the blade highlighted the patterns created in the form of swirls of little lines. See:Quote:
Originally Posted by jim28277
The Key Role of Impurities in Ancient Damascus Steel Blades
Flash forward to the 19th century. Razor makers seeking decoration for their razors to distiquish them from a very competitive market supply, roll stamped the razor "Damascus". They weren't damacus in the historical sense, just a "tribute" to the damascus process of old. So those old eBay damascus-stamped razors in all likelihood, aren't. But some are, apparently.
Flash forward to the present day .... You have two types of razors that use the name damascus. One is of the DOVO type that isn't really a damascus blade, but has the blade etched in a pseudo-damascus style.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...VOdamascus.jpg
Then you have a real damascus blade, the T-I damascus that is layers of hard steel forged together in the old tradition.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...-Idamascus.jpg
One costs a little over a hundred dollars. The other costs just over a thousand dollars. Any confusion over which costs which?
Thanks for the info. So, are the $1000+ TI Damascus blades that much better than say the regular TI silver steel blades?
The differences in "quality and performance" are not linear with the difference in prices. Steep-geometric would better describe that curve, LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by jim28277
I can only comment in non technical terms but, I have honed up about six of these razors and when you shave with them you can't even feel the razors coming off. The steel seems very hard. Do I have a bunch of other great shavers? You Bet, but I really like this razor. Maybe it will end up being a hairloom......lol. I'm saving up for one of my own as we speak...... :lol: Lynn
Thanks for the responses guys. I've been drooling over the 5/8 TI Damascus since I saw it on Ray's site. I was kind of hoping you would tell me they are inferior and can't hold an edge worth a dam. I hate it when I start rationalizing! :roll:------ :roll:------ :twisted:----- :D
I want one BAD!!!!!!!! :lol: Lynn
Lynn, I'll make you a deal. We'll split the cost. I get to use it for the first ten years and you get the next fifty years. Sounds like a plan to me!!
:twisted:
Quote:
Originally Posted by adjustme69
I may seem crazy but $1000 for a razor seems out of this world to me. Damascus steel on a razor, damm we're not going to be crossing razors with anyone. So I am not worried about it being to hard. However I confess I have never shaved with one so I will rely on the experts on this one.
I'd really like to see a black ceramic Kyocera razor to match their knives. The downside of one would be trying to hone it, but if the diamond pastes would work...
I got this razor in a batch of lot of 3 razors I won for around $15.00. I rehandled it with the ebony Dovo handle. It's the sweetest shaver I own including Henckels, Bartmann, Dubl Duck Satinedge and some very nice Robeson Hammered Tang razors. It shaves amazingly comfortably and closely. I've never seen another like it or seen this brand before. The grain lines carry through the tang and monkey tail.
Kavall
http://www.tradtalk.com/images/Kavall.jpg
macro look at the blade
http://www.tradtalk.com/images/Kavall_macro.jpg
About the ceramics. I own two Boker ceramic knives. They were sharp as hell when I got them and held the edge for a long time. But they're extremely brittle and if you can restore a hair cutting edge on them with a diamond pasted strop, you know something I don't. I've been able to "touch them up" a bit but after an embarassing amount of time spent over the course of several weeks, I was unable to bring back an edge that satisfied me.
They're both sitting in a box somewhere wiating for me to get off my butt and send them back to Boker for resharpeing. I sure wish I knew how they did it. I suspect it requires saphire or diamond paste in very, very fine grit on a large hish-speed paper wheel or something similar.
To sharpen ceramic blades, we use a special grinder.
It holds the blade in position and uses a high speed diamond wheel to regrind the edge. It probably could be adapted to hold a straight razor.
A number of years ago, Kyocera R&D, made some ceramic blades for a modern type razor. They did not go over so well with the technicians as the blade did not flex and consequently left pock marks on the techs faces.
I know that modern "Mach type" blades are thin steel that flex quite a bit, but I'm wondering if a proper straight razor has any flexibility in it.
I work for Honeywell Ceramic Components, Kyocera's main competitor in the ceramics area. If any of ya'll have ceramic knives that need to be sharpened let me know.
Steve da Newb...
Diamond wheel? I am all ears. Do you make them in-house or purchase them? If you purchase them can you find out the vendor info?
Thanks,
I have two that need resharpened! Any help would be appreciated. The damned things are impossible to sharpen by hand, as far as I can tell, even with diamond hones. Thanks! wurdmeister@gmail.com
Hey Randy,
We buy the wheels, from a number of different vendors.
I'll find out more tomorrow and let you know.
I'll also try and get some photos of the knife sharpening process, to see if it can be adapted to razor use.
Steve
Thanks Steve! Much appreciated. :)