GB Buckingham and Sons razor test

Got this for a review a few months ago and since it was not holding an edge I decided to find out just what I was dealing with.

The cutting edge is not tempered and thus cannot hold an edge. Detailed pictures I'm referring to are at http://imgur.com/a/QXSCL#0

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Test (assessment)
• Quality
• razor
• straight razor
• Damascus
• destruction
• shaving

[canterios]

I feel sorry for that Damascus steel blade you destroyed by not understanding what properties a blade like that should hold, and therefore considering it cheap when put next to a high carbon steel blade. When carbon is added to steel is increases the hardness of the steel/blade meaning it will be stronger and hold an edge longer, but it also means that it will be more brittle. Metal forms a crystal matrix pattern when it is heated and worked which also increases the brittleness of the piece.

[theshockwav]

@canterios You might want to do a bit more research there on the pattern steels. This is large carbon crystals between folded layers to get the look. Not the same. I can get the same look using salvaged iron nails and powdered charcoal - it doesn't make it a razor.

I'm sorry that you think you are trying to defend this obvious failure of a razor.

[1Curmudgeon]

Note to self, never shave with channel locks, vice grips, and a hammer. Don't play at being an expert until you have some proper knowledge and test equipment. If you did this evaluation with a Brinell tester and microscope it might have a credence of credibility. As it stands it comes across as Sparky doesn't understand, let's break it.

[theshockwav]

@1Curmudgeon Agreed a proper lab test would be nice it's not the only method. A tempered blade will break instead of bending, this did break at the spine but not the cutting edge. It folded rather than shearing on a face on strike. Using a control (the Genco) razor I repeated the steps and the differences are apparent.

I didn't claim to be a metallurgist but I don't need to be to show that this is not properly tempered and the interior is pattern welded steel.

[keepingitreal2k]

Response:

1. Proves Razor is genuine welded Damascus steel

2. Proves they use a counter sunk Brass washers (you wont find detail work like this in a cheap razor)

3. Shows that they use nice counter sunk machine screws for easy blade tension.

4. You can call them paper washers but funny after months of use they still look fine.

5. Anyone that knows metals knows that Damascus Steel was an ancient process of folding steel to create strength....

Continued Below...

[n2skcmo]

@amund72

They are also cheap knock offs a a good mans designs and work.

[canterios]

@theshockwav a true pattern weld crosses the crystal matrix during the folding and also other compounds are added in during the folding, such as borax, carbon, cementite and hematite to name a few. at the present time we cannot recreate true Damascus steel, we can only imitate, and on most occasions proper pattern welded steel will be stronger. I was more trying to point out the properties this blade held you attributed as cheap, when simply the blade did not achieve them well enough.

[canterios]

@theshockwav I never said that the high carbon steel blade did not do the job better, I simply stated that you misunderstood the properties a pattern welded steel should possess. using a force gauge when breaking the blades wouldve been much more convincing evidence, but i can only take your word for it. my grandfather has been a metallurgist for 65 years. i understand the properties of metal very well. so i will say this. this razor, was probably NOT a true pattern weld.

[theshockwav]

@canterios Incorrect annealing and tempering will make steel of any quality useless as far as being able to hold an edge.

This failed using half the pressure the thinner razor took ergo - it's not as strong.

The edge never chipped, it yielded and rolled like red hot steel. Hardened steel such as is required to hold an edge CANNOT be soft.

I can make a blade from pattern welded titanium if I like but if it cannot support the geometry it's never going to work as a blade.

[canterios]

The process of pattern welding does these effects to some degree to begin with. by making so many folds in the metal you disrupt the crystal matrix and it gives the blade strength in multiple directions. by further tempering and annealing the blade you get a strong blade with soft traits then when used properly will exceed its requirements for the job.

[canterios]

pattern forging and pattern welding were techniques developed to give steel a more malleable yet still remarkably strong characteristic. As well as the process of annealing the piece of steel. Annealing the steel after bringing it to the martinsitic phase is how we currently make some of the strongest steel. we take it to the hardest form of the crystal matrix, cool it, and then anneal the metal in order to bring some softness back into the piece.

[amund72]

I've had the "pleasure" of honing a G.B.Crappingham razor. Worst POS pakistani steel ever.

You don't need fancy lab gear to figure out these are worthless, anyone that have a minimum knowledge of honing and straight razors will understand it in a second.

[ThatPony]

God, how many accounts is that loser from VSR going to make to dislike this video?