Straight stell blade VS carbon steel ?

ead · Post by **ead** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:10 pm

Hi
What is the main distinction between Carbon steel razor and a steel one?
Is a Carbon better for a novice ?
What do you like and why?

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:32 pm

Carbon hones to finer edge and is easier to hone, but is more prone to rust and loses its edge quicker. Stainless is harder to hone, doesn't get quite as sharp, keeps that edge longer and is less prone to rust. Go with carbon steel until you have become an experienced honer.

It really is all in the Guide.

Chris

ead · Post by **ead** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:53 pm

drmoss_ca wrote:Carbon hones to finer edge and is easier to hone, but is more prone to rust and loses its edge quicker. Stainless is harder to hone, doesn't get quite as sharp, keeps that edge longer and is less prone to rust. Go with carbon steel until you have become an experienced honer.

It really is all in the Guide.

Chris

Yep but lets say that someone is sharp the edge for me (service), so isn't it better to take a steel and then have a razor that will last for more time and will get less rust?

Scrapyard Ape · Post by **Scrapyard Ape** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:00 pm

ead wrote:
drmoss_ca wrote:Carbon hones to finer edge and is easier to hone, but is more prone to rust and loses its edge quicker. Stainless is harder to hone, doesn't get quite as sharp, keeps that edge longer and is less prone to rust. Go with carbon steel until you have become an experienced honer.

It really is all in the Guide.

Chris
Yep but lets say that someone is sharp the edge for me (service), so isn't it better to take a steel and then have a razor that will last for more time and will get less rust?

That's a matter of personal preference. If putting in the extra effort to maintain a carbon steel blade does not appeal to you, then go with the stainless.

Tye · Post by **Tye** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:04 pm

If you maintain your equipment, you'll never, ever have to worry about rust. I do what Ilija (FiReSTaRT) suggests, wipe your straight with rubbing alcohol after drying it and that should take care of any worries about rust. Remember, these are tools, the better they are maintained, the better and longer they will wirk and last.

~Tye

ead · Post by **ead** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:13 pm

Oh I am guy who take cares of his "tools"
I have knifes and so on, and they all look like brand new, but I love "harder" steel that I won't need to sharp to often
So
Is it better to use a steel then carbon?

Scrapyard Ape · Post by **Scrapyard Ape** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:21 pm

ead wrote:Is it better to use a steel then carbon?

There really is no answer for that. Again, that is a choice best left to you. Both choices have advantages and disadvantages.

Tye · Post by **Tye** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:21 pm

ead wrote:Oh I am guy who take cares of his "tools"
I have knifes and so on, and they all look like brand new, but I love "harder" steel that I won't need to sharp to often
So
Is it better to use a steel then carbon?

~sighs~
Perhaps a Mach3 or Fusion is the way to go for you.

~Tye

ead · Post by **ead** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:28 pm

Yep I see
amm well that is a "hard" decision

What do you guys have and why?

Scrapyard Ape · Post by **Scrapyard Ape** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:32 pm

ead wrote:What do you guys have and why?

I personally prefer carbon steel. I feel the extra bit of sharpness is worth the extra maintenance.

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:56 pm

ead,
DO NOT get a stainless steel straight razor as your first razor. I cannot put it more clearly than this. By all means get someone else to hone it for you, but even so, the stainless edge will only very rarely be as good as a carbon steel edge. When you learn to hone for yourself, you will find stainless very frustrating. I know, as my first straight razor was stainless steel!

Chris

ead · Post by **ead** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:08 pm

drmoss_ca wrote:ead,
DO NOT get a stainless steel straight razor as your first razor. I cannot put it more clearly than this. By all means get someone else to hone it for you, but even so, the stainless edge will only very rarely be as good as a carbon steel edge. When you learn to hone for yourself, you will find stainless very frustrating. I know, as my first straight razor was stainless steel!

Chris

Ok
Tanx man!

So I should go for the carbon stell as a first one?

prism · Post by **prism** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:17 pm

Just going out on a limb here ead, but I think Chris recommends you get the carbon steel.

Tye · Post by **Tye** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:21 pm

After re-reading Chris's post a time or two, I have to concur with Prism on this one.

~Tye

Tye · Post by **Tye** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:26 pm

Any bets on the next question being 'what brand'?

~Tye

CMur12 · Post by **CMur12** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:15 pm

Well, once you've got it down to carbon steel, there are still brands and sizes to be worked out.

- Murray