Blade Coatings

[Richstag]

Good morning gang,

Firstly I’d like to do a formal introduction to set the stage for my question.

My wife and I with our boy and girl.

A couple years ago we started to face a lot of health challenges for my wife. Long story short we went from doctor to doctor and even paid out of pocket for specialists to find out what was going on. After a long journey my wife was diagnosed with multiple auto immune diseases.

Along the way hundreds of tests were conducted. Environmental factors and diet are the most impactful for her situation.

In the end we go to great measures to eliminate as many environmental toxins as possible and eat as “clean” of foods as we are able to buy and grow. My wife even makes all of our own soaps that are completely natural.

So, one of the factors harming her system was Teflon and plastics. Without going into a chemistry course on how it could possibly be a moot point I would like to see if we can compile a comprehensive list of blade coatings? I’ve been to so many specialists that at this point if it’s toxic at any temperature I would rather avoid it.

Recently Wiskey sent me a variety pack of blades to try out!

Randomly I picked up the made in Germany Bolzano pack. I read about them and noted the coating is titanium. I already liked that better than teflon.

As I spent a few hours researching coatings I noticed it wasn’t always definitively stated and blades seem to shift manufacturers with the wind.

So, for starters does anyone know if there is already a list that shows the blade coatings for each blade?

Oh and btw I’m just recently back to wet shaving and really enjoying joining this community!!

Thank you!

Kevin

 

[lasta]

Hi Kevin, pretty much all DE blades are coated.

Overly simplified but after a blade is ground/sharpened, a thin layer of chrome or chrome+platinum layer is plated. Part to harden the edge and another part to help the PTFE (Teflon equivalent) adhere (reduces friction on the microscopic scale while cutting through a hair strand).

All modern blades have this PTFE layer.

You'd have to go pre 1950s to find anything uncoated.

Better off switching to straight razors IMO.

 

[Richstag]

Thank you for the reply!

So are you saying that even if a blade spec shows titanium, iridium, chromium and etc that they will have a final coating of Teflon?

You know I’m sure one day I will end up with a straight razor and love the process but today is not the day. I used to be very into knife making and I would polish edges that looked flawless under a microscope and they would effortlessly split a fine hair down the middle. I think I could apply all of that to a straight razor but I think that part of me that becomes completely obsessed with perfection would really go for a ride that I don’t think I have the time for at the moment!

Thank you again for the input! If the answer ends up being that every modern day blade receives a final coat of Teflon would you know a source for vintage blades and which ones are top choices?

 

[silverlifter]

See:

DE Razor Blade Coatings

Categorisation of the different blade coatings on brands of DE blades

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[Richstag]

That is an interesting link thank you! So that means instead of polishing the edges to remove the micro scratches it’s faster and cheaper to fill them with Teflon?

I know when I used to polish my knives to the point that you could not see a scratch at 100x I could shave without any sensation whatsoever. Smooth was an understatement.

 

[Dtownvino]

The average cost is 12-15 cents a piece so there are some necessary steps to maintain manufacturing efficiency.

 

[Richstag]

In that regard I understand what you mean and I am usually surprised how inexpensive they are.

It would be cool to find an option that cost more but was polished instead of coated. I love to save money but I would pay some premium for it.

Until that day I suppose I can go back to testing out all the blades I was blessed to receive and not let the coating type affect my selection. I was ready to settle for a lesser shave if it meant less Teflon.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Teflon on a razor blade is not being ingested (hopefully). It is a very thin layer that is baked onto the steel. You'll be rinsing your face after shaving. So, are you sure it is really going to be a problem to use DE blades with a coating?

 

[Richstag]

No I’m not really sure and I’d like to believe it’s no issue whatsoever. If there turns out to be no viable options within the DE world I may have to dig deeper into whether or not it’s a concern.

I was hopeful it was going to be simple to find a blade without a coating.

I guess it’s far fetched to think I could polish my blades on my leather belts in the knife shop. I’d have to find a way to hold them without getting cut. Then clean off the polishing compound with acetone.

Maybe that could be fun with a sturdy KAI blade.

 

[Flanders]

No I’m not really sure and I’d like to believe it’s no issue whatsoever. If there turns out to be no viable options within the DE world I may have to dig deeper into whether or not it’s a concern.

I was hopeful it was going to be simple to find a blade without a coating.

I guess it’s far fetched to think I could polish my blades on my leather belts in the knife shop. I’d have to find a way to hold them without getting cut. Then clean off the polishing compound with acetone.

Maybe that could be fun with a sturdy KAI blade.

If you really want to, you can remove the coating with alcohol. Theoretically, you could work up something disposable that you could dip the blade in and throw the whole thing out periodically. I haven't personally verified that this will work and the resultant shave quality might not be great. The PTFE coating is called sintered and the majority supposedly flakes off on the first use leaving only a couple atoms thick of the coating on the blade. The thing is, if we think this through, you are shaving with your face wet and coated with soap so whatever flakes off is getting trapped in the soap and removed on the next stroke. That should just go down the drain; yeah not great maybe, but for the user the contact time and disposal should make the coating neutral. This is one of those areas where you throw your hands up in the air and declare that we can't go back to shaving with knapped flint because there just isn't a realistic solution!

 

[jaro 101969]

there is a 3d printable de blade holder that Might work for holding the blade so you could "strop" off the coating... all you would need to do is download the file and then print it or have someone print it for you....

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

Some of the Treet Carbon Steel blades may be uncoated. Perhaps the Black Beauties as they are blue blades?!?

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

There are also uncoated Gem blades and (maybe) uncoated Tiger carbon blades from Czech.

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

To be honest, since this is a medical question, asking a medical supply company such as Ted Pella might be more appropriate than us knuckleheads. There are several blades listed as uncoated on here. You can confirm with them. If you know which direction you lean, we can help you choose a suitable razor.

Blades

Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel and Microtome Blades

www.tedpella.com

and here:

Single Edge Razor Blades ⋆ Morganville Scientific

Individually wrapped stainless steel single edge razor blades for use in the lab. 100/pack. Use to slice out DNA bands from an agarose gel, for example.

morganvillesci.com

 

[MisfitWy23]

I've always suspected the Graham-Field double edge blades are uncoated, made for some lab/medical purpose, and that's why they gave the most miserable shave of any blade I've ever tried, but I don't know how you would verify that. From the markings and such they look like the old Personna "barber" or store blades, so I suspect they're made by Personna (or AccuTec or whatever they are now), but to me, even the cheap old Personna blades are good comfortable blades, but the Graham-Fields sure aren't.

 

[Alex Jr]

Try Treet black beauty. Maybe you won’t like the blade, but it’s an option.

 

[Richstag]

Good morning and thank you very much for the ideas to look into. Also thank you for the idea to hold the blade for polishing and possibly rubbing alcohol. It could be worth a shot with both.

I think the next time we are with the team of doctors I’m going to ask them about this. That’s a great idea.

They have had solutions for most all of the other environmental toxins as they call them.

We ended up being shown how any plastic would end up in our system and cause troubles. It didn’t matter if it was cold or hot. Somehow it would make it into our systems and cause trouble.

I’m going to email the manufacturers of the suspected options above and see what they say!

Thank you all!

 

[Richstag]

I just looked at the link for the carbon blades. I’m going to look into the feather because so far my favorite blade is the hi stainless feather.

Thank you guys this is all info I have not been able to find in my searches.

 

[Frito Ray]

Better off switching to straight razors IMO.

That, or a clipper.

If you really want to, you can remove the coating with alcohol.

I tried that a few years ago to see if I could turn Astra SP into some Astra Stainless, didn’t work out. Might work with something stronger, but the chemicals needed might be worst than the chemicals to be removed…who knows?

Since you are not the one affected, perhaps just using extra caution like cleaning the sink after shaving and keeping your shaving gear in a room she doesn’t frequent would be enough.

 

[Richstag]

She’s not worried about her exposure since it’s not in contact with her but that is thoughtful.

In all seriousness when she cleaned up our lifestyle most of my little irritations disappeared.

The less toxins we put in contact with our bodies the better.

With that said I’ll be using these until I find another option and assuming the coating is rinsing down the sink. I liked the idea of titanium coated because they say titanium cannot absorb through human skin and has no known toxicity.

Anyhow thanks again to everyone trying to help with ideas and options!