Is Micro-chipping the cause of dull razors?

Larrin

Larrin

Joined
Jan 17, 2004
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Recently there was a journal article in Science demonstrating that razor blades could micro-chip just from cutting hair. Professor John Verhoeven contacted me to say that he had done a followup study to see what the primary dulling mechanisms are for razor blades. Professor Verhoeven is well known for his work on Wootz Damascus and writings on knife steel metallurgy so I of course offered to publish his findings on my website. https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/01/11/what-causes-razor-blades-to-dull/
 
That is an excellent article and confirms my own experience. I've never considered changing blades on a Mach 3 razor after only a week or even two, and I normally shave every day. I do wash razor in hot water after each use. When living on a boat the razor was stored outside the shower stall allowing it to dry and not get wet between uses. The blades tended to last much longer than as to now with storing razor in shower stall.

Good article.
 
Larrin said:
Recently there was a journal article in Science demonstrating that razor blades could micro-chip just from cutting hair. Professor John Verhoeven contacted me to say that he had done a followup study to see what the primary dulling mechanisms are for razor blades. Professor Verhoeven is well known for his work on Wootz Damascus and writings on knife steel metallurgy so I of course offered to publish his findings on my website. https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/01/11/what-causes-razor-blades-to-dull/
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Very interesting! Do you think that evaporites could similarly dull kitchen knives if they were left with some water on the blade?
 
I have found my biggest problem with the 5 blade cartridges is that they clog and possibly the lube adds to the clogging. I do have a relatively heavy beard and thick hair. I also don't shave every day and this makes the clogging worse. Strongly I have had no problems with my straight razor clogging. My wife got it for my anniversary a few years ago and it just took awhile to learn how to shave with it as well as to get stones that work well enough to sharpen it. Mine is a Hart razor made out if O2.

Larrin Larrin did I miss it or did you state how hard the blades are? I would assume that a harder blade will still hold a higher apex. Is this the case?

Cool article.
 
Storm W said:
Larrin Larrin did I miss it or did you state how hard the blades are? I would assume that a harder blade will still hold a higher apex. Is this the case?

Cool article.
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I don't believe that Dr. Verhoeven measured the hardness of the blades. It was micro-chipping, not deformation that was observed to occur in the edges so I don't think going higher in hardness would help in this case.
 
It says in the article that the razors are 62-63rc but maybe that is just an assumption of hardness and not actual measurement...
 
Seedy Lot said:
It says in the article that the razors are 62-63rc but maybe that is just an assumption of hardness and not actual measurement...
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That was in the introduction not the experimental section but maybe that is a reliable number I don't know.
 
I really enjoyed this article as well. Confirmed my own experience. I use the 5 blade cartridges. Once I started vigorously blowing the moisture off of the blades from front and the back, I noticed a massive improvement in longevity. My dad bought me this little gadget that looks like a rubber pad that has tiny ridges on it. You move the razor cartridge up the pad in one direction and it's supposed to act like a strop. The combo of using that little thing, but mainly blowing off the moisture, has vastly improved the life of the razor blades. VAST improvement. I only shave twice a week, but I am easily getting 8 or 9 months out of one cartridge before I feel like I want more comfort.
 
Storm W said:
I have found my biggest problem with the 5 blade cartridges is that they clog and possibly the lube adds to the clogging. I do have a relatively heavy beard and thick hair. I also don't shave every day and this makes the clogging worse.
Click to expand...

I switched to a safety razor years a go mainly due to the clogging in the multi-blade razors (and the fact that it's overpriced junk IM(ns)HO). You can buy a 100-pack of Astra Platinums for like 10-15 bucks which will last years, if not a decade....
 
Funny, one of my former students does "life hacks" on social media. One of her topics was making disposable razors stay sharp longer. Basically she advocated for rinsing the razor under hot water and then drying it under the blow dryer. She claimed it made the razor stay sharp much much longer...saving money...so you can afford a few more Starbucks lattes each month!
 
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