Thread: What kind of steel is my razor

Hi

How can I tell if my razor blade is carbon steel, stainless steel or nickle silver steel??


Thanks

Jacques

Originally Posted by Jacques13

Hi

How can I tell if my razor blade is carbon steel, stainless steel or nickle silver steel??


Thanks

Jacques

First, you should realize that "silver steel" is just a specific specification for high carbon steel (the Brittish spec is BS1407). There is no nickle involved (and no silver either). The most obvious difference between the carbon steel and stainless steel is that carbon steel will oxidize. This may be in the form of rust, dark grey spots, or a dark grey patina over the entire blade. If the blade has any of these, it is probably not stainless.

Dunk the blade in some hot vinegar for 30 minutes. A carbon blade will be covered in pitting and staining.

Just kidding, of course. Most razors--maybe 95 percent--are carbon steel. The ones that aren't are generally marked in some way. The blade might say "INOX," or "Stainless."

Also, I think stainless steels are a relatively new technology. If the razor was made before the 1950s (I'm guessing at this) than stainless is even less likely.

Hopefully some of our more knowledgeable metalheads will chime in...

Josh