# How hard is it to sharpen sapphire? (Straight-edge shaving razor) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697 "2017-03-21T16:38:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/1 "2017-03-21T16:38:06Z")
I’m thinking about buying [this](http://www.zafirro.com/zafirro-iridium.php). (I’m not planning to, but someone may.) They’ll pay for sharpening for the next 20 years, and I’m interested in what all that involves, as well as a typical operating regime for the blade and the rate it will dull. I’ve spent a fair amount of time on knife boards with steel/carbon breakdowns, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/2 "2017-03-21T16:47:49Z")
Sounds like the blades are sapphire. That means they can be sharpened with a diamond hone. Pretty easy, if you have the right fixture. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/3 "2017-03-21T16:53:33Z")
The handle is iridium. The blades are sapphire. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/4 "2017-03-21T17:02:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The handle is iridium. The blades are sapphire. Ah. I’ll ask a mod if he would change it. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/5 "2017-03-21T17:15:30Z")
**Moderator Note** Title changed: iridium -\> sapphire ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/6 "2017-03-21T18:51:25Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > Title changed: iridium -\> sapphire Thereby making **beowulff** and I look like…morons. Thanks heaps. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/7 "2017-03-21T18:53:43Z")
Wow. And I thought the Gillette refills were expensive. Did you notice that it’s a 100K razor and it doesn’t even say if it’s a single, double, or triple edge? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/8 "2017-03-21T18:57:53Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Wow. And I thought the Gillette refills were expensive. > > Did you notice that it’s a 100K razor and it doesn’t even say if it’s a single, double, or triple edge? No lube strip, either. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/9 "2017-03-22T14:03:32Z")
Not to mention that a company which is relying on Kickstarter to fund its production run is unlikely to be around to honor its promise of 20 years of free blades and servicing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/10 "2017-03-22T14:06:37Z")
BTW **e\_c\_g** , that isn’t a straight-edge razor, either. You are 0 for 2. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/11 "2017-03-22T14:13:02Z")
That’s on OP. Just like the original “moron” bait-and-switch. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/12 "2017-03-22T14:24:14Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not to mention that a company which is relying on Kickstarter to fund its production run is unlikely to be around to honor its promise of 20 years of free blades and servicing. Just looked at the [Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zafirro/zafirro-sapphire-blade-razor) page. > [@](#): > > $431,484 pledged of $1,000,000 goal > > 3,404 > backers > > 0 seconds to go > > **Funding Unsuccessful** > This project’s funding goal was not reached on August 10. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/13 "2017-03-22T18:47:55Z")
I thought smart business people gave away the razor and charged for the blades. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/14 "2017-03-22T20:34:31Z")
I find it interesting that they waxed poetic about the handle and the screws and didn’t have much to tell us about the blades. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/15 "2017-03-22T21:42:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not to mention that a company which is relying on Kickstarter to fund its production run is unlikely to be around to honor its promise of 20 years of free blades and servicing. And for $100K that should include at least 100 years of blades and servicing. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/16 "2017-03-22T21:44:00Z")
I think I’d go for the $200 Z2 and spend $39 every six months on a new blade cartridge. [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zafirro/zafirro-sapphire-blade-razor](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zafirro/zafirro-sapphire-blade-razor) ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/17 "2017-03-22T22:08:21Z")
For 1/10th the price, I could get a decent old-school metal Lathe. I’d have to make a metal holding clamp to secure the handle (possibly lined with a soft material to limit scratching the work). Once I get a bit hard enough to work with sapphire (I’m thinking carbon), its just a simple matter bringing the blade material slowly to zero on the X axis and then sliding the work along the Z axis to ensure an even edge. Tell Ya What I’m Gonna Do: You buy me that Lathe, have it set up in my basement, and I’ll sharpen every one of your blades for free anytime you want. Deal? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/18 "2017-03-22T22:54:16Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > For 1/10th the price, I could get a decent old-school metal Lathe. I’d have to make a metal holding clamp to secure the handle (possibly lined with a soft material to limit scratching the work). > Once I get a bit hard enough to work with sapphire (I’m thinking carbon), its just a simple matter bringing the blade material slowly to zero on the X axis and then sliding the work along the Z axis to ensure an even edge. > Tell Ya What I’m Gonna Do: You buy me that Lathe, have it set up in my basement, and I’ll sharpen every one of your blades for free anytime you want. Deal? 😃 I lathe isn’t the right tool - a Mill is. And, the only form of Carbon hard enough to work Sapphire is Diamond. But, the way Sapphire is typically sharpened is on a diamond [wheel](http://fionasmile.en.ec21.com/Vitrified_Diamond_Polishing_Wheels_KO--5576574.html), or with a slurry of diamond dust on a flat metal disc. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/19 "2017-03-22T23:43:56Z")
Also according to them the blade is only 80 atoms wide or about 1/5000 the width of a human hair. That lathe (mill… whatever) had better come with an electron microscope. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697/20 "2017-03-22T23:50:07Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > with a slurry of diamond dust That’s how the upper crust enjoy their daiquiris. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-is-it-to-sharpen-sapphire-straight-edge-shaving-razor/782697.md?page=2)