Thread: Difference between Henckel's Friodur and Soligen INOX - If any at all

Is there any difference (in terms of steel) when comparing the Heckel's Friodur (that are also INOX blades) and Solingen simply INOX blades. Obviously, both are cryo frozen but apart from this does the Friodur mean anything or is it just a brand name by Henckel's? Look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

I think it would take a metallurgist's analysis to answer that question. Or you would have to be a fly on the wall in the factories where the stuff is processed. I have honed, stropped and shaved with a Friodur and various other stainless (Inox) Solingen made razors and so far all are good. I haven't found one or another being head and shoulders above the rest but YMMV.

thanks, just getting some thoughts from someone who has honed, stropped and shaved with many is great feedback. cheers.

+1 on Jimmy. Too many variables to be definitive but the various INOX blades I have all shave well and hold an edge.

I have seen mentioned in threads that Fridours are made from 440 steel.Inox means stainless but then there is steels that I know used in knife making that are designated as Inox, but are not 440.

I agree with Jimmy as well. I've shaved with and honed several INOX blades and they have all been pretty comparable... Nice too IME

Inox=Stainless. That is all. Inox is short for "inoxidable". Iron/steel tends to "stain" in two ways, black and red. These are the two oxidations of iron I believe, iron (II) oxide (black stains) and iron (III) oxide (red stains, rust). My chem is a little rusty so feel free to comment (I know there is also iron (II,III) oxide but thats getting really goofy).

Friodur refers to the cryotreatment but I think is a trademark not a chemical process. Cryotreatment apparently compresses the steel structure and provides some benefits bringing stainless steel closer to carbon steel. My metallurgy is beginner level as I'm a MechE, not a MatSci, so feel free to comment.

Finally I think all stainless razors are cryotreated- I haven't seen one yet that hasn't said somethign to the effect of "deep frozen" or "ice tempered" or "tief gekuhlt" (deep cooled, literally)

Originally Posted by khaos

Inox=Stainless. That is all. Inox is short for "inoxidable". Iron/steel tends to "stain" in two ways, black and red. These are the two oxidations of iron I believe, iron (II) oxide (black stains) and iron (III) oxide (red stains, rust). My chem is a little rusty so feel free to comment (I know there is also iron (II,III) oxide but thats getting really goofy).

Friodur refers to the cryotreatment but I think is a trademark not a chemical process. Cryotreatment apparently compresses the steel structure and provides some benefits bringing stainless steel closer to carbon steel. My metallurgy is beginner level as I'm a MechE, not a MatSci, so feel free to comment.

Finally I think all stainless razors are cryotreated- I haven't seen one yet that hasn't said somethign to the effect of "deep frozen" or "ice tempered" or "tief gekuhlt" (deep cooled, literally)

there are different kinds of stainless in use , there is 19c23, there is what the Japanese call Ginsanko, there is VG-10, Molybdenum, Vanadium etc, the question is what steel is used in the Inox designated blades, and even is it just one kind or it varies by manufacturer? Knife makers with some exceptions always list the steel so people know how the edge will behave, I have not seen info on the type of stainless used. If that info is available and anyone knows the source please share it.

Originally Posted by mainaman

there are different kinds of stainless in use , there is 19c23, there is what the Japanese call Ginsanko, there is VG-10, Molybdenum, Vanadium etc, the question is what steel is used in the Inox designated blades, and even is it just one kind or it varies by manufacturer? Knife makers with some exceptions always list the steel so people know how the edge will behave, I have not seen info on the type of stainless used. If that info is available and anyone knows the source please share it.

I realise there are many stainles allows. I was getting at that 440 is inox. And that inox is not a steel type but rather a characteristic.

I read somewhere that it is sometimes shared with the consumer but not usually. Think of it this way. How many shavers are going to re-heat treat their razor? Or build bridges out of it? Probably none. Therefore its chemistry doesn't really matter, so long as it shaves.

Blade makers on the other hand, need to know the chemistry so they know how to work with it. But more often than not they start with stock and make a blade, they aren't starting with a vintage blade...

Finally I think its cool that Hart advertises O1 steel and Butch uses 54021 and its cool to know that but does it really make any difference to the end user? Dovo claims its Ebony's are silver steel and this is slightly ambiguous and many people just say its an advertising thing.

I could smelt a steel slightly different, pick a number and call it that purely as a gimmick if I wanted to. I feel like this is a really finnicky moot point unless you are actually making a razor.

this is very interesting, i realize now that there is a difference and that i was wrong stating inox is cryo frozen plus much much more, thanks!