Razor blades

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bjalongi

Joined
Oct 23, 2006
Messages
640
What type of steel is generally used in razor blades?

When I was in the navy, there were rumors that Gillet would buy decomissioned US Navy vessels because they contained high quality steel.

I have a big bucket of used razor blades, that appear to be non-stainless in composition that I'm either going keep for a future project(s), or toss to make room in my shop.

Have a good St. Patty's Day.

Don't drink too much green beer.:D
 
im irish. i have to drink the green guinness. its in my blood. just curious what were you planning on doing with the razor blades?
 
AEB-L was the first stainless steel ever sold to Gillette, that's about all the information I have.
 
If they are worth keeping, I was thinking of keeping them for when I feel confident enough to make some damascus. I thought they might be nice for layering. They would definitely be good for holding an edge...
 
it depends on the brand. i have had razors that wouldnt hold an edge for very long. i dont remember what brand they were but they got dull in no time at all.
 
Jacob, If you started shaving at birth, you would never have used a non-stainless blade.

The double edged blades used to be made from a HC steel, similar to 1095 (probably stopped being popular in the 1960's).The old joke was that when ships were decommissioned they went to Gillette or ,"To the Razor Blade Factory", both of which were untrue. They went to the steel scrap industry. Where the scrap ended was any body's guess. Some of it made it back into razor blades ,I guess?. ( the other phrase of the 50's was, "Scrap Metal for Japan", as the budding Japanese steel industry was buying of all the iron and steel scrap they could get.With shipping being cheap back then scrap steel was a big export. Scrap yards were everywhere.)

The old blades were good for a couple of shaves and you changed them. That is why they were double edged,to get twice the life. Look in your medicine cabinet. If your cabinet is and older model that was made years ago there might be a small slot in the back of the bottom shelf. That was the blade slot. You stuck the used blades in the slot, and they fell down into the wall space. I have done re-mods on bathrooms of old houses that had (probably) ten thousand blades in the wall.

There is no real knife use for the used blades. If you wanted to make some can damascus,just for the fun of it, you could use them in the mix as long as they are carbon steel. (just because they rust does not mean they aren't stainless!)
Stacy
 
Thanks bladesmith.

I'll keep them for a rainy day project. Never know, they might be good for making fancy letter openers, if nothing else.

You confirmed my suspisions about the old rumor.
 
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