Stainless and Chrome Blades

Smell The Glove · Saturday February 5, 2011

What's the difference?

In general, brand differences aside, is one sharper, smoother or more durable than the other?

I have no clue.

Canuck · Saturday February 5, 2011

Great question. I've often wondered the same...

Also, what about ceramic coatings?

andyjreid · Saturday February 5, 2011

Stevie, I started a similar thread when I found that my shaves with Stainless Steel blades (I had never used a blade branded with Stainless Steel until I tried Sharks) were much smoother than any blade I'd tried with the word "Chrome"

I tried Red IP's again this week and I came out all red and blotchy again, this was the first time I'd used a "Chrome" blade since I last had really bad shaves.

It's maybe all BS and it might all be in my mind but I find that shaves with SS blades are a lot smoother, if slightly less close, than shaves with Chrome blades.

I know jack about metallurgy so I don't know if all blades are SS then have other coatings or what the deal is. All I know is that I can have close comfortable shaves with almost any blade branded Stainless Steel and always come out irritated when using Chrome blades.

Yellow Jim · Saturday February 5, 2011

Maybe you have an allergy to chromium?

Canuck · Saturday February 5, 2011

andyjreid said:
I know jack about metallurgy so I don't know if all blades are SS then have other coatings or what the deal is.

My understanding is that all blades start out made of stainless steel, and that coatings are applied to the cutting edge. Chrome is popular, but as I said earlier I'm very interested to hear what ceramic does to a blade, and how it's applied.

andyjreid · Saturday February 5, 2011

Who does ceramic blades?

moodymick · Saturday February 5, 2011

You can pick up Astra Keramiks, although you will have to look harder these days. As for the original question ditto Superior Platinum - what gives?

Canuck · Saturday February 5, 2011

I think Sputnik do ceramic blades too.

Very interesting topic... but few answers so far!

49er · Sunday February 6, 2011

By coincidence:

<a class="postlink" href="http://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItem.aspx?aid=220608586987&ebayref=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2FCeramic-razor-blade-great-emergencies-easily-hidden-%2F220608586987%26autoredirect%3Doff" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItem.as ... rect%3Doff</a>

Not sure I want to know what they mean by great for emergencies!

Blades · Sunday February 6, 2011

Scares me a bit!..

SS can be pretty harsh sometimes..Chrome/Platinum coating is used for the edge of the blade to have a smoother finish and much more comfortable to use and can even make the edge dull evenly (I hope) :mrgreen:

B

49er said:
By coincidence:

<a class="postlink" href="http://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItem.aspx?aid=220608586987&ebayref=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2FCeramic-razor-blade-great-emergencies-easily-hidden-%2F220608586987%26autoredirect%3Doff" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItem.as ... rect%3Doff</a>

Not sure I want to know what they mean by great for emergencies!

pedro083 · Sunday February 6, 2011

Also I think the person is lying as nearly all ceramic blades have metal in them to stop you sneaking them by security at airports and the such. (I say nearly as I do know of a couple that dont for special uses)