Thread: can this be a razor?

This was given to to me by a friend in the steel industry. My question is can I make this into a razor. It is 5/16 X 1 1/8 X 8 inchs.
Comp is HSLA
Carbon- .08%
Manganese-1.0%
Silicon- .025%
Niobium-.02%
Sulfur-.025%
Phosphorus-.02%
Chromium- .015%
Nickel-.10%
Copper-.30%
Molybdenum-.03%
Tin-.01%
yeild strenght 55,000 psi
tensile strenght 72,000psi
elongation 28% aproximate

What do the experts think,
Thanks for your help in advance.
Tim

i think yes
but i hav eot look up a bit on some things
edit .08 carbon will not cut it

Years ago I got this "Razor Blank" from Takeda durring one of my orders. It is an AS blank that has been annealed and sent to me...

My razor is hiding in there somewhere

Originally Posted by oldblades

This was given to to me by a friend in the steel industry. My question is can I make this into a razor. It is 5/16 X 1 1/8 X 8 inchs.
Comp is HSLA
Carbon- .08% ---------- .80
Manganese-1.0% --------- 10.
Silicon- .025% --------- .25
Niobium-.02% -------- .20
Sulfur-.025% ------- .25
Phosphorus-.02% ------- .20
Chromium- .015% ------- .15
Nickel-.10% -------- 1.0
Copper-.30% -------- 3.0
Molybdenum-.03% -------- .30
Tin-.01% --------- .10
yeild strenght 55,000 psi
tensile strenght 72,000psi
elongation 28% aproximate
What do the experts think,
Thanks for your help in advance.
Tim

Im no expert but
With that composition it is not steel at all just a soft iron

I have added my suggestion for probable composition if it actually is steel
Could it be that easy?
And would this look like possible edged steel?

I'm nowhere near an expert... Nor an amateur but if I remember correctly the carbon in most straight razors is significantly higher. 1.5-1.8% I believe carbon playes a huge role in the stiffness of steel so I'd say no... With the low carbon percentage the steel would probably be too soft to hold the fine edge required for a straight.... Hopefully I'm wrong.

Dont the 85 in 1085 mean .85% carbon?
I seem to recall reading that here somwhere
So im more curious of how all the other ingredients influence it

Try here:

All About Knife Steel, Alloys, & Steel Strength

or here:

Knife Steel FAQ

for a description of common alloys, and some discussion of the effects of alloying elements.

Charles

Originally Posted by janivar123

Dont the 85 in 1085 mean .85% carbon?
I seem to recall reading that here somwhere
So im more curious of how all the other ingredients influence it

Yes. 1085 is .85% carbon and 1095 .95%

For the purposes of razors you probably need a minimum 0.7% preferably 0.8% or higher carbon to get a decent hardness to hold a serviceable edge. If you get the higher carbon alloys, specialist heat treat may be required.

Found out more information. This is a micro grain, high strenght low alloy steel, HSLA.
I don't know all the details, but it is made to be stronger then high carbon steel but 25 to 30% lighter and higher corrosion resistance.
Since it was free I can not go wrong to try. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Thanks for all the input.
Tim