The carbon blades, good and bad ..

Hi guys, I have a question that I hope you can answer. The carbon blades are worse than mild steel? Have defects than the other? They are not advertised like any other, so I think that is worse! They are less durable? Thanks in advance ...

 

they are harder steel and hold an edge for longer. They can give you many more shaves than a normal DE blade. However they can rust up fast and cause those issues. I haven't ever used one... But want to try one. If you get some let us know how you find Carbon Blades.

 

Both stainless and carbons have their particular +/-.

Stainless blades: they can hold a very sharp edge for multiple shaves (tricks to maintain the edge vary) but once it wears down it's pretty much shot; being a harder steel I'm honestly unsure if stainless blades can be effectively rehoned ("effective" meaning, is it even worth the effort given how cheaply stainless blades can be had these days).

Carbon blades: Being softer than stainless, sometimes even one shave can wreck the edge of a good carbon blade. But, as with carbon cutlery, carbon razor blades can take a sharper, finer edge than stainless and can be rehoned repeatedly (but not endlessly) to restore that edge. However, that extra sharpness may or may not benefit your shave; both carbon and stainless can be TOO sharp, depending on your tastes and needs. Carbons also rust very easily, as Regan rightly points out. But I've found a quick dip in 99% store brand alcohol prevents it quite nicely.

So as to which is better/which is worse? Depends on what results you want, and what you want to put into it, time and money-wise. I use both carbon and stainless but the cheapskate traditionalist in me loves the idea of rehoning ancient, dirt-cheap carbons just because I can. But when I'm not in the mood to mess with it and just want to shave, I grab stainless.

 

I've used carbon steel blades in both DE and SE flavors. They work great, not better or worse than SS.

I have a different regimen for CS blades than gorgo uses. I apply mineral oil at the blade installation, and after rinsing and shaking the razor off after use I reapply a few drops of MO. It keeps the blade from rusting. But I'm basically lazy and that's an extra step that I don't enjoy (I enjoy shaving not the minutia if there are easier alternatives). So while the CS blades work fine, they don't make the cut for stocking up on as long as there is an alternative, and there are alternatives.

The last DE CS blade I tested was a Treet, and it was a fine blade. The SE CS blades I got out of CVS and Rite-Aid worked fine too, but one needs to tend to them.

 

Thanks for your answers, in fact I would be tempted to try some carbon blades are very curious! If others have experiences to tell, I can only say thank you ...

 

Send me your mailing address in a PM and, if I can afford the postage, I'll drop a few Pal carbon DEs in the mail that Stingraysrock was kind enough to give to me. Good quality old carbons in fantastic shape.

 

Good idea...your MO repels the water beforehand, my alcohol removes it after. We attack the problem from opposite ends and both work fine.

 

Yes but no matter how it's handled it's a PITA to do. That's why I'm not all over CS blades. They work fine otherwise so my mind tells me.

I treated the problem as if it was a firearm, well sorta.

 

I have not used a carbon steel in several years which brand do you find the best?

 

Single edge carbons are still around but I use my SE so rarely now I don't have a SE blade preference. DE carbons don't exist anymore, as far as I know. If those are what you're talking about, any sealed, undamaged packs should still be fine. I've used Smith, Pals, Sheffield...whatever comes up cheap on eeebay.

 

I think Treet still makes carbon D/E blades:

Treet Black Beauty & Treet Classic "Dura Sharp"

 

I stand corrected, and look forward to trying those DuraSharps someday.

 

treet Carbon Steel With A PTFE Coating are available on amazon uk. althoughI have never tried them.(dura sharp)

 

Thanks guys for your answers, now I have more ideas' out! What do you think of the treet Classic? Did someone try?

 

I tried a Treet Durasharp blade out of the TSD sampler I bought yesterday, and I got two AWESOME shaves out of it so far, (Yeah, I shaved twice that day) So far it's going to be a battle between it, the Astra, and Voskhod. Of course, I haven't really looked to see what each blade was made out of.

 

The Treet Durasharp is a great blade.

Old time carbon steel feel, smooth and very sharp.
I hand strop the edges after each shave to prevent rust.
For me: 5 great saves on average.

 

I've got the Treet Black Beauty and Treet Classic Dura Sharp; get great shaves from both. I don't shave with a DE very often and don't feel bad about tossing it after 1 shave. They were about $6.00 / hundred when I bought them. (Circa 2006)

 

I started experimenting with vintage carbon blades a few years ago. Initially I didn't care for them but I persisted and came to adjust to the noticeably different feel that they have. I came to like them more and more and today carbons are what I use 90% of the time. There are many worthy vintage brands that are very good if you can find them in good condition. I like Pal, Fan, Personna, Star, Durex, Marlin, Club, Don Juan, and several other brands.

 

Ted Pella sells Feather carbon steel DE blades as item #121-9, and emsdiasum sells them as item # 72002-01 and 72002-10.

 

Today at flea market someone had 2 mint boxes of (I think) New York blades...had to be from the '40s at latest. $25 per box, which means he probably would have come down to $20. I passed. Someone else had a shabby box of Marlins; didn't even look inside. Best find I found was a cased near-mint TV Super Speed. Several other razors, nothing worth grabbing, though. Long and short, I spent $7 to get in and park (never again) and left empty handed.