"Finish: Please note, these razors are tools, not jewels.
We use a vibratory tumbling finish process which maintains the highest possible tolerances for the razors.
This means the razors will not be mirror finished and will not be mark-free.
The razors may have some milling marks or finishing marks.
The razors can always be jewelry polished by the client later
but our goal is to sell the razor at the best possible tolerances and lowest possible price."
A modern 316L stainless steel DE razor can be manufactured on a three-axis ( x,y,z ) CNC mill .
A four-axis (x,y,z + A rotational ) CNC mill will save plenty of production time per work piece ,as also is able to manufacture more intricate designed parts .
A five -axis ( x,y,z + A+B rotationals ) CNC mill saves even more production time per work piece and is able to manufacture even more intricate designed parts.
Stock Material : estimation of cost
Let us ( roughly by eyeballing ) assume that in order to manufacture a 100 grams DE razor ,the mass of first material needed is about 150 grams .
** Although ,in reality there are multiple pieces machined on the same stock plate,
and the mass of removed metal is increased **
Quote:From the stock plate ,there isn't too much material to be removed (as long as the plate has the appropriate dimensions ) for making the razor's
base plate .About 15 grams at max.
The cap is the part that more than half of the stock plate material is removed ( to form the screw post and blade tabs ).
Roughly ,about 30 grams .
The handle is usually the part that has the less material removed .Let us assume is about 5 grams .
The price of AISI/SAE 316L ( aka A4 or 1.4404 ) in USA is roughly 4.8-5.5 USD per kg ,
while in China is 4.4-5.3 USD per kg .
So ,the cost of the stock material (round & plate or bar ) for manufacturing a modern DE 316L stainless steel razor of 100 grams total mass is roughly 0.825 USD in the US,
while in China is 0.795 USD .
Not a big difference there .
Generally speaking ,you need almost a whole dollar of 316L stainless steel stock to manufacture a DE razor from it .
Can you imagine that ?
A whole freakin' dollar !
Machining prices in China vs the EU/US
Programming of the CNC mill is included in the prices above.
Estimation of machining cost
Let us assume that each razor (head) needs roughly one (1) hour to be machined out of the stock plate(s) ,on a 3-axis CNC mill *.
Quote:*Just a rough estimation based solely on my own experience ,as a machinist
Let us also use the "middle ground" of the price ranges given on the table above .
Quote:Since 316L is not the easiest material for the cutting tools ,
but at the same time it is not the hardest .There are far more gentle
( to the carbide cutting tools ) materials like bronze,brass,303 stainless,aluminium,etc.
As also there are far more brutal ones ,like Ti6Al4V ( Ti grade 5 ) ,904L stainless,
Cobalt & Tungsten steel alloys,Inconel alloys,etc.
So,In EU/USA it would roughly cost ; 1 hour x $38 ( range $30-$46 ) = 38 USD to machine a modern DE razor ,in the US/EU.
While in China it would only cost roughly $8.5 .
Now ,here is the BIG difference ,right ?
Quote:There are more than a few reasons for that ...
But,they all sum up to "You get what you paid for ".
Enough said.-
You think the rest ...
So,the cost to machine a modern De Razor (with "machined" finish ) out of stock 316L ss in the EU/USA would be roughly $40 (+/- $10 ) per piece ,
while in China is roughly 9-10 USD .
Of course there other things that we left out and will add to the final product cost :
- Finish/ Surface Treatment : Sandblasted,Anodized,Brushed,Cerakoated,Nitrilled,Mirror polished ,etc.
- Quality Checking /Guarantee ( if any )
- Packaging ( if any )
- Marketing / Advertising ( if any )
- Logistics
As for the final retail price of the finished product :
it has to include some PROFIT of course ,eh ?
All these apply for shaving tools .
As for the shaving jewels ...
A shaving jewel can be considered as a piece of art.
Putting a fair price to such,is rather a form of art by its own .