Does carbon steel razor shave better????

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boki_zca

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I started shaving with straight razor few months ago and really like the results you get.I own Henckles stainless steel razor and like it,but am getting another one because I need to shave every day.I found some Dovo razors that can buy for fair price and some are in carbon steel.Do they hold the edge longer and are they easier to sharpen????Or I should just buy another stainless one???ps.I would never go back to using mach3 etc...this is a much better and faster shave!
 
My limited experience with SS razors it that they hold an edge just as well as carbon steel. It just takes a little longer to get the edge right.

ETA I'm quite happy with my Henckels Friodur 8/8 INOX
 
Some say the carbon steel razors hold an edge longer. ? The steel is simpler to heat treat though I wonder about any utilizing a decent cryo treatment. If the makers get them up to 60rc and above (verified) then it would take a very good stainless to match that. I would'nt think any use 440C or ATS-34. To me a good stainless makes a Lot of sense for the application of a razor and its environment. I'd like to own a good stainles that held its edge for 2-3 shaves on one sharpening and only a little stropping inbetween. DM
 
Carbon is easier to strop and sharpen but edge holding is slightly superior with stainless. On balance I think you'll strop more frequently (but for less time) with carbon but sharpen/hone less often.

PS. I always dry thoroughly with toilet tissue after shaving and store in a dry place, no issues with staining etc. and all 4 of my straight razors are carbon/silver steel
 
Good-- I'd say thats accurate. Blade maintenance is a key. I dry mine thoroughly and lightly coat w/ vaseline before storing it. DM
 
I wonder what the stainless used in str8's is. I'd figure it has to be something with a very fine grain structure so a fine and smooth edge can be maintained.
 
In my early 50's Rolls Razor the paperwork says "the finest stainless available from Sheffield was used in this razor". Which tells me little. A number designation would be a big help. It seems to hold a decent edge for one shave and is finicky about consistently taking that best edge. DM
 
David Martin said:
I'd like to own a good stainles that held its edge for 2-3 shaves on one sharpening and only a little stropping inbetween. DM
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David, do you mean that you sharpen your razors every 3 shaves :confused:
I actually haven't sharpened my razors at all recently and I'm taking turns with 3 (2 TI's and 1 dovo) and stropping them right before and after a shave..
I'm finding out how often I need to sharpen but right now it's been about maybe 4 months or so...
Also I have switched to creams instead of soaps and do a better pre-shave treat with hot towels, I've never shaved so nicely as I do now.

can you expand on your previous statement?
 
Some stone passes, yes. Perhaps 10 per side very lightly but mostly stropping 80 after each shave. On a 10" strop. I'd like to do no stone or stropping for 3 shaves, one weeks worth of shaves. DM
 
David Martin said:
Some stone passes, yes. Perhaps 10 per side very lightly but mostly stropping 80 after each shave. On a 10" strop. I'd like to do no stone or stropping for 3 shaves, one weeks worth of shaves. DM
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Are you referring to your Rolls razor or a straight? I don't see a problem with a decent blade not requiring honing for several months, but stropping is a necessity to maintain the blade.
 
I just strop it about 10 times on each side on my old leather belt before shaving and it works very well!This henckels razor that i have is pretty good.Didnt have any stone above 4000 grit but now its perfect it just takes more stropping on green compound and then plain old belt!The factory edge on it wasnt ready to shave so i had to sharpen it by myself!
 
I don't have a stone above 4000 grit either. I just use my ceramic stone at 2000g and a non-treated leather strop. Seems to work fine. DM
 
Frank, Could be--I'm not so sure on that. It could be the way this stainless responds vs non-stainless. Doubt if I'll not get a finer stone as I'm comfortable with this system. DM
 
Might be worth the effort to have a "honemeister" sharpen your razor and see what kind of difference there is in edge retention... I know when I hone mine I go up to 12k on stones, then CrOx, then 0.5 diamond on felt, then leather... Not saying that's how you should do it (and I still suck at honing), just using it as reference more than anything else.

I know a lot of guys like Butch Harner have been using stainless for straights for a while (a lot of CPM154...) and turn out amazing razors!
 
On stainless v.s. carbon, I have both and don't notice any difference in edge holding or sharpening at all. My razors don't hold an edge that long either, probably have to hone every 2 weeks or so, and I rotate among 2 to 3 at a time. I've gotten 2 of them from "honemeisters" ready to shave, and they didn't do any better either. I like using them when I have time, but generally use a double edge or Mach 3 when travelling.
 
Its always funny here. Different guys different experiences and so right. Traveling can be a pickle. I usually don't take my Rolls. I have a small straight I carry w/ a black Arkansas and a small strop. Which is nonstainless and it doesn't hold an edge any better but usually gives me 5-6 nicks each shave. With the Rolls I rarely get one. The design fits me better and I've gotten used to it. With the other razor I just tell folks I've been out cutting wood. DM ;)
 
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