Thread: Need advice for steel for razor making

I have chance to order custom made razor from maker in USA. I can give link on PM if someone interested.
The available steels are 51200 and CPM154 so I need your oppinion about these steels in razor making?
Are those steels apropriate for razor making and what I can expect from one or another one?
Thx in advance.

I don't know about 51200, but CPM154 should be excellent for the job. It has the same composition as the excellent 154CM, but is sintered from powder, which doesn't produce the brittleness it sounds like it might, but confers superior consistency and hardness. I think (but bow to the expertise of anyone who actually uses it) that the best way of putting it is that you can have it treated to a greater hardness before brittleness sets in.

It should give excellent edge retention, and a very useful degree of stainlessness. It won't resist rust anything like as well as the non-cutlery steels used in boat fittings etc., and I think in eating utensils which don't require to be really sharp. But it gives a much improved chance, compared with carbon steels, of getting away with minor negligence, excessive humidity, etc.

I don't know why you keep the makers name secre, but only then should you buy a razor from him if he is not a knife guy and has expertise in razormaking. I have seen a lot of razors made by knife guys that had too thin spines, bad balance, and nearly unstroppable scales, and various tang and tail issues.

Considering the razors steel, it really doesn't matter, if it is heat treated well. If you want a stainless razor than go with the CPM154, if carbon than 52100.

I've made razors out of 1095 and O-1 and they are excellent razor steels. I have no experience with the materials you mention, so no comment.

The advice on a knife maker making a straight is EXCELLENT advice as razors are much harder to make than a knife. Secondly, if that person doesn't use a straight, it would be hard for them to "know" if it's got the right feel and balance.

Originally Posted by jeness

I don't know why you keep the makers name secre

I kep it secre because primary question is about steel and I do not want that thread go in discussion about razor maker.
Any way I am pretty sure that I will go with 52100 steel.

Good luck with it as it appears as you have made your decision. Show us the new blade once you have it in hand...

I believe I am in the process of getting a razor from the same maker. He uses the same two steels you mentioned so I will assume he is the same one. My razor is going to be the CPM 154 only because that was what he was working with at the time. I have no knowledge of metals so I cannot say if it is better or worse for a razor but I do have absolute faith in the maker and am sure tgat either steel will wirk well. I will be sure to post a review when I do get my razor so that others will have a way to judge his skill.