ylekot
On the lookout for a purse
I wonder if this will make the next newsletter?
I can assure you, No.I wonder if this will make the next newsletter?
Not only same specs but often different allowable tolerances is what determines different price points. A tighter window of allowable tolerances means more blades not acceptable means a need to charge more for basically same blade to cover that cost.I wonder, however, if the different names are all made to the same specifications. Lots of things come from the same factory and off the same machinery but they are not necessarily the same.
I can underwrite your point in full for mass produced items yet the dud rate over all Gillette blades, irrespective of price, is astoundingly low. So I’m not sure if it is a relevant factor in this specific case.Not only same specs but often different allowable tolerances is what determines different price points. A tighter window of allowable tolerances means more blades not acceptable means a need to charge more for basically same blade to cover that cost.
I am alahatala there is another person whom just joined our group as alahatala.Good thing OP didn't give advice to restaurant wait staff or what to do with a dead badger.
You remind me of Stan, a little.I am alahatala there is another person whom just joined our group as alahatala.
will the moderator do something about this
Please pm me
This is for the moderator or others that can stop this confusion.
Wait a minute! I have always been known as alahatala. Everyone has called me that since I was in diapers. My school teachers, my barber, my postman and the snot nosed little kid that lives down the street. I insist that this other alahatala must change his name! I am not kidding! This is serious! Mods please make the other alahatala change his name!I am alahatala there is another person whom just joined our group as alahatala.
will the moderator do something about this
Please pm me
This is for the moderator or others that can stop this confusion.
It's like deja Vu all over again...Wait a minute! I have always been known as alahatala. Everyone has called me that since I was in diapers. My school teachers, my barber, my postman and the snot nosed little kid that lives down the street. I insist that this other alahatala must change his name! I am not kidding! This is serious! Mods please make the other alahatala change his name!
This is the translated from Russian version of what was posted.
Reversible shaving blades
I read a lot of reviews on different shaving blades. Very often I met with the opinion that these blades are good, but these are the misfortunes and you cannot buy them. I will reveal a little the secret of the types of blades and how they differ. There will be no specifics, there is the concept of "commercial secret". I will not show a photo of the equipment either.
So, all blades are divided into three types. Unchrome plated, chrome plated and platinum plated chrome. Accordingly, their price is different, incrementally. All, absolutely all blades are made on the same equipment, from the same steel, with the same technological parameters. The quality requirements for all blades are the same, no exceptions. That is, the "Sputnik" and "Gillette" blades are exactly the same, except for the coating.
View attachment 1341654
It all starts with a raw tape, which is formed by a press into blanks for future blades. But it is "soft" (raw) and you won't even be able to sharpen it
View attachment 1341655
The perforated tape is heat treated. Gets "stiff" and ready to be sharpened.
Then a marking is applied to the tape, the name of the brand of the blades. At this moment, different inscriptions can be applied to one batch of tape, which will determine their further processing.
The entire belt goes to the sharpening machine. Different brands of blades are sharpened on the same equipment with the same parameters. After sharpening, the machine cuts the tape into separate blades.
View attachment 1341656
At this stage, there is a constant quality control. Various microscopes, calibers, etc. are used.
View attachment 1341657
Then the blades are washed from dirt. And here comes the turning point in the fate of our little friends. Some of them are sprayed with a chrome coating, which ensures the longevity of the cutting edge. And more budget products will bypass this procedure.
All of the blades then go on to apply a polymer coating to the edge for a soft shave.
There is quality control at all stages of production. Product tolerances are minimal and are the same for all brands of blades. I can say with pride that the quality is higher than that of our competitors, which is proved by shaving tests
Then the blades are packed and sent to stores.
There is a difference between the blades, but on the first and even the third or fourth shaves it is not realistic to feel it. I think a more psychological factor is at work here.
A bit crumpled and without specifics, but unfortunately I can't do it any other way. If you have any questions, I will try to answer. Don't even ask the numbers, I won't tell you.
No, sorry. The link is to a shaving blog, posting it would violate our TOU
Here's a link to Sandvik razor blade steel with their thickness tolerances stated.@luvmysuper The metals thickness data was my assumption. Having a couple of decades experience in manufacturing (heavy engineering), I didn't believe the blade manufacturers would grind the thickness of the blades unless they had to, and stainless blades didn't appear to have a ground finish. I looked into the international standards for cold rolled sheet at blade thickness, and that was the standard deviation covered in those specs. Essentially plus or minus half of one thousandth of an inch from the nominal size.
They also correlated with @Esox of Mike's findings on blade thickness. Although some coated blades may appear marginally thicker, if they were already towards the upper limit before coating.
Aside from the commonality of blade thickness, material grade, heat treatment, and coatings, there is potential for divergence in the edge geometries.
The opening post suggests that Astra Platinum, Gillette Silver Blue, and Polsilver are all the same blade. Not a prayer! I could easily blind test those and know one from the other. In my primary razor, the Polsilvers tug so badly, they feel like they're trying to rip the hair from my face, the Gillette Silver Blue feels almost serrated, it's that scratchy, and the Astra Platinum is wonderful. Those findings have been consistent across different batches of the same blades.
^I find it difficult to believe that a blade plant cannot make dozens of different types of blades.
There can be variation in input steel specification & metallurgy, differences in heat treatment, tempering duration & temperature, cryogenic/ ice treatment before tempering, differences in angles & numbers of grinds. These alone can generate doxzens of different types of blades. For example, Feather blades famously use two grinds/honing stages, whereas most other blades have three.
In addition, there are also other factors that make major differences in how a blade shaves. Sputtering processes can make major differences in the chrome coatings, based on how thick the coating & duration & type of sputtering. Platinum /platinum nitride, titanium, or similar coatings would make major differences in the final product too.
Teflon is another major variation, depending on how thick the teflon coating is.
I would not expect a low level factory worker to be aware of these differences. He would only see that all the blades go through similar processes, & wouldn't know the details.
The differences are probably known only by the metallurgist or plant overseer, who is probably the person who designs these changes.
There is nothing as pointless as shaving experts having a heated discussion over various razor blades. It by far is the most controversial and subjective topic in the shaving community. I'm not sure why that is. All I know is that it is.
And you know what? I believe all the opinions expressed are correct.
Still on blades, different questions Mike. Do you think there is more, less, or the same blade vibration in a Gem with a PTFE vs Grande with a favourite blade? Does anyone sharpen their PTFE’s? Do you use the same speed in your stroke on both a Gem & Grande?Its a shame @Mischka doesnt log in anymore.
A few of us looked into this a couple years ago and we found that steel stock was held at ISO 9445 standards.
DE Blade Thicknesses - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/de-blade-thicknesses.540416/post-11189380
I'm not sure if that would allow for the variance in blade thicknesses between brands though.
in thick mm thick BLADE
0.00450” 0.114mm Gillette Nacet Stainless
0.00450” 0.114mm Shaverboy Super Stainless
0.00425” 0.108mm Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless (0.089mm*)
0.00425” 0.108mm Lord Platinum
0.00410” 0.104mm Feather
0.00400” 0.102mm Astra Superior Stainless
0.00400” 0.102mm BIC Chrome Platinum
0.00400” 0.102mm Croma Diamant Stainless
0.00400” 0.102mm Derby Extra (pre 2016, current blade 0.089mm*)
0.00400” 0.102mm Gillette Sword
0.00400” 0.102mm Kai*
0.00400” 0.102mm Personna Med Prep
0.00400” 0.102mm Personna Platinum Chrome (Personna Red)
0.00400” 0.102mm Polsilver SI
0.00400” 0.102mm Rapira Platinum Lux
0.00400” 0.102mm Sharp Star
0.00400” 0.102mm Super Max Blue Diamond Titanium
0.00400” 0.102mm Vidyut Super Max Platinum
0.00400” 0.102mm Voskhod
0.00390” 0.099mm Bolzano Superinox
0.00390” 0.099mm Shark Super Chrome
0.00390” 0.099mm Treet Platinum Super Stainless
0.00375” 0.095mm Gillette New Improved Stainless
0.00375” 0.095mm Gillette Platinum
0.00375” 0.095mm Gillette Rubie Platinum Plus
0.00375” 0.095mm Trig Silver Edge
0.00375” 0.095mm Vidyut Super-Max
0.00375” 0.095mm Wizamet Super Iridium Extra Stainless
0.00375” 0.095mm Zorrik Super Platinum
0.00350” 0.089mm Astra Superior Platinum
0.00350” 0.089mm Gillette 7 O’Clock Sharp Edge
0.00350” 0.089mm Gillette 7 O’Clock Super Platinum
0.00350” 0.089mm Gillette Silver Blue
0.00350” 0.089mm Perma Sharp Stainless
0.00350” 0.089mm Sputnik
0.00350” 0.089mm Treet Platinum
0.00350” 0.089mm Wizamet Super Iridium
* Information from “DE Razor Blade Dimensions Table” in the ShaveWiki.
Blade coatings however, I firmly believe make a great difference in how we perceive sharpness and smoothness. Gillette started testing that in 1959.