Understanding the Double-Edge Razor Blade
It’s no wonder that double-edge blades are so popular, and the debate about “which brand is the best” demonstrates their relevance.
A double-edge razor blade offers two sharp edges and is typically crafted from high-quality stainless steel. Its individual wrapping ensures convenient storage. Blades in this category share a standard size, ensuring compatibility with most handles on the market.
Standard Dimensions
- Length: Approximately 43 mm (1.7 inches)
- Width: Approximately 22 mm (0.87 inches)
- Thickness: Varies by brand, but generally between 0.004 inches and 0.007 inches.
Its applications are surprisingly diverse:
- Barbershops and Beauty: The sharp double-edge blade with non-stick coating excels in close and smooth shaves, making it a favorite in these industries.
- Bakeries: Bakers use them for the traditional French technique of scoring baguettes to aid in the rising process.
The Manufacturing of a Double-Edge Razor Blade
Let’s delve into the step-by-step process of how these thin and sharp blades are produced.
1. Material: It Starts with Steel
The blade’s resistance to moisture is crucial, leading to the use of a specialized anti-corrosion stainless steel alloy. This material arrives as a thin and malleable sheet with unsharpened edges, stretching hundreds of feet long.
SANDVIK stainless steel strip
2. Pressing: Shaping the Blade
A high-speed punching machine stamps out the basic shape of the blade at incredible speeds (800-1200 strokes/minute!). These initial blades, or “preforms,” still have dull edges.
3. Thermal Process: Hardening and Tempering
A three-step heat treatment is key:
- Heating: Preforms are heated to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 seconds.
- Cooling: Rapid cooling in cold water restructures the metal to harden it.
- Tempering: Reheating for about 20 seconds reduces brittleness.
4. Printing: Marking the Blade
Now the hardened preforms are ready to display their brand name through a printing process.
The printing process
5. Grinding and Polishing: Achieving Sharpness
The blades enter a specialized machine with three grinding stations, meticulously shaping the contour and creating the characteristic sharp edges. A polishing station smooths out any remaining imperfections. Until now, the blades have been connected, but a knife neatly separates them at this stage.
the cutting process of the double-edge blade
6. Inspection: Ensuring Quality
Strict quality control involves sampling blades for geometric accuracy and cutting edge perfection. Technicians assemble blade packages (up to 800 at a time!) and use fluorescent light to expose the smallest defects.
7. Coating: Enhanced Performance
The pristine blades enter a vacuum chamber for a chrome-based coating, increasing edge hardness and resistance. A non-stick coating follows, applied through spray nozzles to minimize friction during shaving and prevent skin irritation.
8. Sintering: Permanently Bonding the Coating
The protective coating undergoes “sintering,” where it’s baked at approximately 660 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. This ensures it permanently bonds to the blade surface.
9. Quality Control: Testing Blade Strength
Technicians test a sample of blades to ensure they meet strength specifications. A machine measures the force needed to cut a thick wet paper to a specific depth.
10. Organic Oil Soaking: Corrosion Protection
The blades are immersed in organic oil for about half an hour as additional protection against corrosion, a major factor in blade deterioration.
11. Packaging: Ready for Use
Automated equipment individually wraps each blade in wax paper for protection during storage. The blades are then placed in containers such as plastic bags, boxes, or cartons for final packaging.
About Xirui Manufacturing and Our Factory
Xirui Manufacturing, formerly known as Xirui Blade Manufacturing, established in 2005, brings nearly 18 years of experience in OEM, ODM, and OBM.
- Our factory covers over 60,000 square meters and employs more than 300 skilled workers.
- Our current monthly capacity stands at an impressive 200 million blades and 8 million eyebrow razors.
- We hold certifications in ISO 9001:2015, BSCI, and recognition as a high-tech enterprise.
Feel free to contact us for your blade manufacturing needs!
We differentiate ourselves through the sharpness of our blades and the use of high-quality coatings. Our experienced R&D team and precise laboratory equipment ensure the highest professional standards. Our business motto,
“Exceeding our customers’ expectations in service, quality, and value”,
guides us throughout each collaboration.