Machining a 316L Stainless Steel Safety Razor

I thought I would share part of our journey and explain more detail about the thought process that goes into the stainless steel grades and the material we choose to use in our machined Carbon Cx-316L double edge (DE) safety razors.

As you explore your options we thought we would shed some light on the machining and properties of the iron alloy grades of stainless steel commonly found in safety razors or DE razors. We believe we use the best choice grade of stainless to create quality heirloom shavers for your wet shaving experience, lets's get started:

First, we need to discuss the grades of stainless used in safety razors, the machinability of different stainless steel grades, the corrosion resistance of the different grades and why we choose to use grade 316L or what is commonly called “marine grade” stainless steel. In July of 2023 we added another grade of stainless steel to our line, 904L. This is the same grade of stainless steel used by Rolex to make its "Oyster Steel". I write specifically about this grade in this blog here. When it comes to stainless steel, not all stainless steel is the same, some grades used in double edge safety razors include:

• Stainless steel Damascus(304 & 316)
• 904L (Exclusive to Carbon Shaving Co)
• 316L
• 17-4
• 304
• 303

Machinability Ratings Of Safety Razor Metals

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) ranks the ease of machinability of metal by assigning it a number. These numbers rate the ease of machining metal and are referred to as “Machinability Rating” or “MR” numbers. This allows machinists to compare how much it will cost (and the speeds and feeds) to machine a particular grade of metal.

Here is how it works, an arbitrary grade of steel was used as the benchmark (160 Brinell hardness B1112 cold drawn steel machined at 180 surface feet per minute). This material was given a ranking of 1.00. All other material is compared to this benchmark material. If the machinability rating is higher than 1.00 it is easier to machine than the 160 Brinell benchmark, if it is lower than 1.00 it is harder to machine.

Below is a ranking of some material that has been used in safety razors(easiest to machine at the top) and their “MR” rating:

NOTE: The "Darwin" razor was made of Cobalt in the 1930's. Wicked hard and heavy material! 904L MR rating is not available publicly.

*Numerous grades of this material are available, MR rating depends on the grade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinability

Listed below are the characteristics and general properties of each of these grades of stainless steel. I should note that tap water is a saline solution that has salt(albeit less than the ocean), some households have more salt than others. If you live by the coast you will experience a higher salt content in the atmosphere, if you have a water softener system, more salt is added to your water.

• Grade 303 is also called “Free-machining” stainless steel
• Sulfur is added to the material which makes it a far less expensive grade of stainless to machine than other stainless grades. The sulfur creates voids in the material which allows you to machine the stainless steel quicker, cooler, and without coolant.
• Because of the sulfur, the chips break off smaller and more easily thereby reducing heat on the workpiece and extending tool time.
• Ease of machining makes it much cheaper to machine, however it comes at a significant expense to its corrosion resistance.
• 303 is not recommended for earrings, watches, rings, or for food applications...in some countries, it is banned for these applications.
• 303 is typically used for nuts and bolts...shaving companies who use this material recommend you remove the blade after use, so as to not get rust or tea stains on your shaver. It is more prone to rust and will corrode quicker than other stainless steel grades over time.

Smaller 303 Chips:

• Often referred to as “Food Grade” stainless
• Sulfur is not added to 304 which makes it more expensive to machine than 303.
• It is more resistant to corrosion and pitting than 303 but not as good as other grades.

• Sometimes referred to as “Surgical steel”
• Very similar material characteristics to 304, however, 17-4 is slower to machine.
• One of the characteristics of this material is its hardness, especially when heat treated.
• The corrosion resistance is similar to grade 304, this material is not as corrosive resistant as 316L.

• Referred to as “Marine Grade” (also sometimes “Surgical”).
• Molybdenum is specifically added to this grade of steel to enhance its corrosion resistance, this additive also provides better protection to “pitting” corrosion.
• Commonly used in medical (implants), marine, and military applications where the best corrosion protection is required.
• The addition of Molybdenum also makes this stainless grade harder and therefore takes more time to machine and polish. It is significantly(2x) more expensive to machine than 303(See "MR" rating above to compare).
• The chips from machining are longer(see image below), heat is retained on the workpiece resulting in slower machine times, higher tool wear, and coolant is required to machine this grade.
• Often times grades 316 and 316L are dual certified i.e. the material qualifies as both grades, however, technically the “L” refers to the “Low” Carbon variation.
• 316L will finish to a higher polish with more work than other stainless due to the addition of molybdenum. Polishing and finishing will be discussed further in an upcoming blog, but to touch on the subject, polishing to a high polish has 4 benefits: 1) Further enhances corrosion resistance in the material 2) Easier to keep the surface clean 3) Aesthetics 4) Less friction on the surface(skin).
• Rolex used 316L grade in its watches up until the 1980's.

Longer 316L chips:

Note: Our Cx-316L Double Edged safety razor and our first generation Shaving Brush (with synthetic fibers) use 316L stainless steel. Machined from a solid billet of stainless steel, 316L is denser then 3D printed safety razors or 303 / 304 stainless steel shavers and the reduced porosity make 316L a better anti-bacterial surface then any 3D printed safety razor. Additionally, due to our "pinch" design, our shaving blade is held straight, at the right angle for the right geometry, together with the optimal base plate of your choice, make for an amazing traditional wet shave.

• An exotic stainless steel material that we use. Our material is custom forged in the USA for us and consists of grades 304 and 316
• Both grades have a higher resistance to corrosion than grade 303 (As discussed above).
• You can see the corrosion-resistant qualities of these stainless grades in the image below. We etch(controlled corrosion) our Damascus in warm acid, after machining. The acid attacks grade 304 much quicker than the 316 and reveals the grain in this forged material.

 Note: In this stainless Damascus image above, the valleys are 304 stainless and the peeks are 316. The acid etch corrodes the grades at different speeds...

The true technical secret to making Damascus steel was lost to time in the early 1900s and has never been replicated. Today “Pattern welding” is often referred to as Damascus steel as the techniques of folding, hammering, and forging the steel are similar. Stainless Damascus is different from the carbon Damascus used to craft expensive knives and straight-edge razors, Carbon Damascus is harder steel and will hold a sharp edge better than stainless Damascus but Carbon steel is also inclined to rust much more and requires more care. Our stainless Damascus steel is not as corrosive resistant as Cx-316L but damn….it looks cool!

Other Material Used in Shavers and Machined Safety Razors

Now we will turn our attention to discussing other metals that are used in shavers. Titanium, aluminum, copper, and brass are other examples of common materials used in safety razors. Listed below are the characteristics of each of these materials.

Titanium Safety Razors

We use grade 5 titanium (6Al 4V), most manufacturers do. This Titanium alloy is commonly used in the medical, military, and aerospace industries. Grade 5 is an alloy consisting of 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, .25% iron and .2% oxygen. Titanium alloys are often referred to as “Superalloys.” Pure Titanium is referred to as grade 1 and is not as strong as its titanium alloys. What makes this material awesome for safety razors, besides its intense corrosion resistance(Higher than 316L) is its lightweight and hardness, we consider this a better option than 17-4 stainless. Titanium is almost half the weight of 316L. We currently offer the lightest titanium razor on the market, when paired with carbon fiber. The Titanium we use is USA sourced...

Aluminum(Aluminium) Safety Razors

This metal is a very inexpensive material, super easy to machine, and very light however in a wet environment it will corrode quicker than all stainless-steel grades, this material is particularly prone to "pitting corrosion". Often a coating is applied to the surface but this will wear off either by use or crack when the DE razor is inevitably dropped. The aluminum will corrode at the crack and where the raw metal is exposed, from there it will spread. The material is not as hard as stainless and can bend if dropped. We do not use Aluminum because of its softness, corrosiveness, and "bend-ability". Instead, we believe Titanium is a better option for a lightweight heirloom razor.

Brass Safety Razors

Brass is more expensive to machine than aluminum and is a visually beautiful material. Brass is slightly easier to machine than Stainless 303. Its corrosion resistance is very good and was often used in marine applications prior to the invention of 316L stainless steel. This material is softer than stainless and is also prone to bending if dropped. Brass will develop a “patina” and change surface color over time. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper...the vintage gillette razors were brass with a coating.

Copper Safety Razors

This has an ancient history and is a visually beautiful metal, it polishes nice and makes for a gorgeous razor. Like brass, it can bend if dropped and is generally softer than brass(depending on the grade). Copper is quicker to machine, although it can be tricky as it tends to be sticky or gummy. We machine this metal with no coolant as the workpiece can be kept cool at high speeds. Copper also has other unique qualities including strong heat displacement and it is well known for its antibacterial qualities, which makes for a unique metal to use in wet shaving.

Mokume Gane Safety Razors

Mokume-gane loosely translates to “wood grain metal” because of the wood grain pattern that is created during the forging process. This material was originally developed in Japan to decorate the Katana swords, used by the Samurai. This material is similar to Damascus steel in that it has layers of forged material. We have our material custom forged in the USA, we use both copper and brass. Like brass and copper mentioned above, this material will develop its own unique patina that will evolve over time. This material is very expensive to forge, more expensive than stainless Damascus.

Chrome Plated Safety Razors(Not Machined)

Chrome-plated razors (Single blade razors or Double-edged razors) are usually made in Pakistan, India, and China where environmental controls are lower, in the US chrome plating is heavily regulated by the EPA. These razors are very inexpensive and shiny. The razors are typically Zamak poured into a mold and then chrome plated. These razors will not last, will break, and are toxic to the environment or to the people who make them. Generally, these razors will fail at the weaker threads or the chrome will crack when the razor is inevitably dropped. This crack will expose the material under the chrome and will corrode and bubble inwards over time. Vintage models were often chrome plated brass which lasted longer but modern versions are chrome plated Zamak. Very affordable but will not last as an heirloom. You can spot these pieces by the rounded corners and edges, a tight machined edge is not possible to cast and then be chrome-plated...usually they die and break at the male threads when tightened.

Below photo: Machined Titanium design with tight machined edges for maximum blade "pinch" that can deliver the ultimate razor build -

Questions to Ask The Manufacturer When Shopping For a Machined Safety Razor:

What grade of stainless do you use?

Often this information is not clear, vague, or hidden. - Carbon Shaving uses 316L.

Where is the material sourced?

Carbon Shaving Co. sources its 316L from the UK, Germany or USA. Our Titanium is USA sourced only. All our Damascus and Mokume-Gane is forged in the USA

Are all parts of your razor machined?

Often a manufacturer will state “machined” but they machine the handle and provide an inexpensive chrome-plated shaving head. All Carbon Shaving Co’s parts are machined.

Where are your razors made?

Oftentimes a manufacturer will import their product from China, India or Pakistan and put their logo on it. Carbon Shaving designs, machines, and finishes all our razors in Minnesota USA.

The above article references "Society of Automotive Engineering(SAE) grades of stainless steel e.g. 303, 304, 316L and 17-4 but many grade standards exist including ASTM, UNS, BS, etc...all relatively easy to verify if a manufacturer will share specifics. While these standards are different they are specific, so the same metal might be called by different grades(Google is your best friend). Ask for specifics...

Anything to add? Do you have a thought? We would love to here from you, comment below r reach out, we love to chat machining!

Misc. At CarbonShavingCo notes: Wet shaving is a bit of an art form. It is personal to your skin type, which dictates the type of soap and shaving brush you will be using. Opting between a straight razor or safety razor (disposable razors won't be the best of experiences at all). The use of some hot water to open up your pores and soften the facial hair is a good thing. When it comes to skin conditions, such as sensitive skin, razor bumps, and at times hair growth in multiple directions extra care and consideration must be taken and avoid razor burn caused by dry shaving, lack of lubrication, wrong direction, ingrown hairs, etc. At CarbonShavingCo, the construction of our razors aims to be bacteria-free as much as possible to help avoid allergic reactions by being polished with easy to clean surface, the design maximizes the flow of debris, the pinch design reduces gaps for the collection of debris and germs, we aim to help people with sensitive skin and prevent razor burn and ingrown hairs. We believe that wet shaving is the best approach with a good shaving soap as opposed to using men's disposable razors. This also applies to safety razors for women. Keeping your gear clean is so important if you are sensitive. Join the community of wet shavers today to learn more so you can enjoy your personal spa experience.