How It's Made: Razor Blades

Summary

This video script details the manufacturing process of razor blades, from the initial flint-like strips to the final product. It showcases how stainless steel is transformed through heat treatment, grinding, and polishing to achieve sharpness. The process also includes quality checks, application of coatings for durability and glide, and individual packaging in wax paper to prevent corrosion. The script highlights the razor's thinness and the significant time men spend shaving over their lifetime.

Takeaways

• 🔪 Cavemen used sharpened flint for shaving, but modern men can easily buy razor blades.
• 🪒 Many men believe that traditional razor blades give the closest shave compared to other types.
• 📏 Razor blades are made from a thin stainless steel strip, only four one-thousandths of an inch thick.
• 🔩 The blade blanks are soft and pliable, requiring a four-step heat treatment process to harden and strengthen them.
• 🔥 The heat treatment involves heating, quenching in cold water, chilling to minus 58°F, and reheating to avoid brittleness.
• 🎨 The razor blade brand name is printed on the hardened blades and instantly dried using gas flames.
• 🔧 Grinding and polishing machines sharpen the blade's contour and create two sharp cutting edges.
• 🔬 Quality control technicians check blade samples for grinding quality and geometric precision of the cutting edges.
• 🛡️ A chromium-based coating is applied to make the cutting edges harder and more resistant to wear.
• 🧴 Non-stick coating is added to ensure smooth glide over the skin, and the blade is protected with organic oil and wax paper against corrosion.

Q & A

What material are razor blades typically made from?

Razor blades are made from a stainless steel strip.

How thick is the stainless steel strip used for making razor blades?

The strip is a mere four one-thousandths of an inch thick.

What is the first step in the production process of razor blades?

The first step is to stamp out the overall blade shape using a punching machine.

What is the term for the dull-edged blades before they are sharpened?

The dull-edged blades are called 'blanks'.

Describe the four-step heat treatment process for hardening and strengthening the razor blade blanks.

The process includes heating the blanks in a furnace, quenching in cold water, chilling in a deep cooling chamber, and reheating to avoid brittleness.

How are the razor blade brand names applied to the blades?

The brand name is applied using a printer, with gas flames drying the wet ink instantly.

What is the purpose of the grinding and polishing machine in the production process?

The machine sharpens the contour of the blades, produces two super sharp cutting edges, and removes burrs left by the grinding process.

What does the quality control lab check for in the production line samples?

The lab checks for the quality of grinding, geometrics of the cutting edges, and other criteria.

How does the factory ensure that every blade is examined for cutting edge defects?

Technicians assemble blades in packs and shine fluorescent light on the cutting edges to make defects visible.

What coatings are applied to the razor blades to enhance their performance?

A chromium-based coating is applied for hardness and wear resistance, followed by a non-stick coating to help the blades glide smoothly over the skin.

Why are razor blades submerged in organic oil during the production process?

The organic oil provides additional protection against corrosion.

How are the razor blades protected against corrosion during storage?

Each blade is wrapped individually in wax paper, which helps protect against corrosion and is strong enough to withstand the blade's sharp edges.

How many times can a blade typically be used before it needs to be replaced?

A blade typically lasts about six shaves.