Is plating loss unavoidable?

[K.T.]

If a razor is used everyday, will it inevitably lose it's plating over it's service life?

I've seen some razors that look and work perfectly save for brassing, and I wonder what condition of use would cause the plating to wear out like that? In fact, a majority of razors out there seem to have some degree of plating loss. Is it an inevitable consequence of using the razor?

K.T.

 

[blantyre]

The thickness of the plating is typically a few microns and each time the surface is rubbed or contacted atomic layers are removed. In that sense plating loss is inevitable. However, if you minimize abrasive contact and dry the razor after use the rate of loss will be very slow. I sold all my "gold" razors because they are much harder to maintain and all had plating issues. Nickel, chromium, silver and rhodium (especially Rh) have very good stability if they are properly applied in the first place.

Other than the appearance, I don't like exposing my skin to brass - although probably not an issue, it seems to generates a "metallic" smell which I don't like very much.

 

[K.T.]

That makes sense. The white finishes appear much harder than the yellow ones.

It's interesting to me that some vintage razor have plating loss in some very strange places; places that you wouldn't think would get any contact with anything. Or you'll see some spots of very localized plating loss, like a very small area on the butterfly doors, or spots and patches under the head. I'm assuming it's a combination of rough, hard, or lengthy use, suboptimal maintenance and storage, and weak or thin plating at those areas. What do those areas under the head come in contact with, anyway, that they would be all worn away?

It's also interesting that I don't notice much if any plating loss at the pivot points of butterfly doors, or the other friction points. I guess they only open and close whenever the blade is changed and don't get the daily friction of the head. Still, you'd think the metal-to-metal contact would speed up the plating loss there.

I guess it's another reason to spring for an all-stainless razor like the PILS or Feather Stainless.

K.T.

 

[amishmotorboat]

There are some gillettes with plating loss under the head.
I don't believe this was due to wear, but rather that it was a place that plating was never as good as on the head.

 

[cooncatbob]

Gillette used very thin plating on some of it's razors and sometimes it was improperly applied, the NEWs for one should have had a nickel basecoat under the gold plating.
These were considered inexpensive items not meant to last forever.
Proper electro plating leaves an extremely hard surface, chrome plating is used the wearing surfaces of machine tools and the chambers of military firearms.

 

[Doc4]

the short answer ...

"entropy sucks"

 

[billc508]

Plating loss under the head is mostly due to the fact that the plating solution is transferred in an electrically charged manner and the polarization is less attractive in areas under the head that have irregularities. I have gold plated razors that were re-plated over a year ago and no problems yet with regular use. I also have some vintage ones with the original plating from 60 years ago that are still intact and in regular use. A lot depends on the treatment of the shaver. I take the blade out after every use, rinse off the razor, shake it dry, and wipe it clean with a towel inside and out. I do not leave the blade in the razor, this allows for air to circulate over the surfaces and there is no chemical reaction with the blade to razor in contact. This might seem over cautious to some but all my razors, gold plated and otherwise, remain in pristine shiny condition with no spotting or corrosion.