Help Are razor blades sharper than box knife blades?

[Cauliflour]

Been using the latter for years cause I'm a girl who doesn't shave so finding an excuse for possessing the former is trickier, but my current blades are getting dull I think and look rusty so I don't wanna get tetanus meaning I gotta buy some new ones, and when looking up on Google for shops near where I'm going shopping for other stuff, I saw a reddit post asking the difference and apparently razors are sharper but considering how it'll be harder for me to explain why I have these (I still live with my parents and they keep a look out for scars), I want to know if they're worth it from someone here as I know there's a load of self harmers.

 

[HangMan123]

Tetanus has nothing to do with rust—that's a common misconception. The bacteria that cause tetanus (clostridium tetani) live in the soil and feces. A surgical needle rolled in dirt is way more likely to give you tetanus than a completely-rusted one that's never seen dirt. The reason its associated with rust is because things that are rusty have normally been outside for a while.
However, I do agree that you shouldn't use it because rust is still unsanitary.

 

[Cauliflour]

Tetanus has nothing to do with rust—that's a common misconception. The bacteria that cause tetanus (clostridium tetani) live in the soil and feces. A surgical needle rolled in dirt is way more likely to give you tetanus than a completely-rusted one that's never seen dirt. The reason its associated with rust is because things that are rusty have normally been outside for a while.
However, I do agree that you shouldn't use it because rust is still unsanitary.

Still doesn't change the fact these blades take more strokes now to get to the blood bit. That or I'm losing the skill/some kind of deep rejection is growing.

 

[darksouls]

the extra thin razor blades caused enormous damage, my arms look awful, please be careful

 

[Cauliflour]

the extra thin razor blades caused enormous damage, my arms look awful, please be careful

oooooooo beans level?

Also a bit unrelated but how do I avoid hitting a nerve? I wanna cover both of my arms in scars but I need my dominant to draw. I heard cutting a lot/deep can make your arms go permanently weak and I have no intention on quitting so I wanna make sure it's futureproof.

 

[HangMan123]

Still doesn't change the fact these blades take more strokes now to get to the blood bit. That or I'm losing the skill/some kind of deep rejection is growing.

It's probably the blade dulling. You could try whetting it with something abrasive.

the extra thin razor blades caused enormous damage, my arms look awful, please be careful

Yeah—the thinner the blade, the more damage it causes. Seems counterintuitive, but the small blade concentrates the force in a smaller area than the thick blade, which distributes the force in a larger area. I hope you're okay.

 

[Cauliflour]

Yeah—the thinner the blade, the more damage it causes. Seems counterintuitive, but the small blade concentrates the force in a smaller area than the thick blade, which distributes the force in a larger area.

But can it go to beans level? All these memes and posts on r/selfharm_memes and r/madeofstyrofoam are giving me fomo, and they all don't even wanna hurt themselves...

 

[darksouls]

oooooooo beans level?

Also a bit unrelated but how do I avoid hitting a nerve? I wanna cover both of my arms in scars but I need my dominant to draw. I heard cutting a lot/deep can make your arms go permanently weak and I have no intention on quitting so I wanna make sure it's futureproof.

nothing is futureproof
cutting is always dangerous

 

[HangMan123]

But can it go to beans level? All these memes and posts on r/selfharm_memes and r/madeofstyrofoam are giving me fomo, and they all don't even wanna hurt themselves...

Sorry—I don't know what "beans level" means because I don't cut. What does it mean, if you don't mind explaining?

 

[ummagumma]

Sorry—I don't know what "beans level" means because I don't cut. What does it mean, if you don't mind explaining?

it means fat level

 

[HangMan123]

it means fat level

Thanks!

 

[thisIsNotEnough]

In my experience, yes. I used about the same amount of pressure with a razor blade that I used to use with a box knife blade and it cut deeper. Was kinda scary honestly and I don't really trust myself to cut with those anymore.

So I wouldn't recommend it, but please be more careful if you do decide to switch to razor blades at some point. And as always, take good care of your wounds so they don't get infected and heal well <3

 

[Cauliflour]

Sorry—I don't know what "beans level" means because I don't cut. What does it mean, if you don't mind explaining?

I can't explain it without being accused of a glorify-er, but the redditors use it as an inside joke cause they can all reach it easy peasy and I can't but it's not like I can ask for advice anywhere. Can't even ask here cause everyone goes "no don't do it you'll fuck youself up" and like I know but I'm also an idiot and I wanna see blood go shooting out with big cuts that sting and big scars that never fade!

And as always, take good care of your wounds so they don't get infected and heal well <3

I know infections are a bitch, I've dealt with it before (childhood injuries, not related to self harm dw) but also I don't want it to heal well cause then the scar will be all light and faded...

 

[YourLocalSadGirly]

Yes, razor blades are sharper. Be careful as it's very easy to cut deeper than you intend to because of how sharp they are. And as others have said make sure to properly take care of your wounds to avoid infection. I wish you the best <3.

 

[Cauliflour]

I can see why most cutters hate their scars, trauma reminders and general pain in the asses for summer days, but I'm funny in the sense that I actively want to give myself more like some kind of fucked up tattoo but I can't help it, cutting scars are so attractive! It's gotten to the point where I compare my arms to other peoples' arms on places like r/madeofstyrofoam and focus on specific kinds of scars and think about how that would look on my arms. I just wish I didn't have the natural reflexes to keep jerking my arm away when things start to sting too much. I've been doing this for years now, why haven't I learned how to get past dribble level?

 

[gunmetalblue11]

If you plan to cut deep, I would advise you do some research into the 3 main nerves in the arm: Median, Ulnar and Radial. And their location. As well as obviously avoiding all arteries.
As someone who has severely damaged two of those in my arm and lives with horrendous nerve pain and losing mobility in the fingers of my left hand. It isn't worth it, truly.

 

[Cauliflour]

As well as obviously avoiding all arteries.

The arteries are for a special day!

Good information though. I wanna make the terrible injuries be within the presence of a cute girl I'm dating, but I've never had a girlfriend and probably won't for a long time so don't wanna go too quickly y'know? Stabbing's more fun when someone else is doing it to you. please do not take that out of context.

 

[pokerrkitty]

Just from personal experience- razor blades barely took any pressure from me to get very deep, heavily bleeding cuts. Please be safe if you use them, it's very easy to accidentally strike nerves and mess yourself up very bad.

 

[Cauliflour]

All of this cutting talk is getting me giddy. Shame I've gotta wait until Wednesday when I have a chance to go shopping...

Just from personal experience- razor blades barely took any pressure from me to get very deep, heavily bleeding cuts. Please be safe if you use them, it's very easy to accidentally strike nerves and mess yourself up very bad.

Oh hey a new member! Why would you make your first post about dealing with my bullshit though?

 

[pokerrkitty]

All of this cutting talk is getting me giddy. Shame I've gotta wait until Wednesday when I have a chance to go shopping...

Oh hey a new member! Why would you make your first post about dealing with my bullshit though?

Honestly, cause I cut yesterday and it's been on my mind. Thank for the welcome!

 

[Cauliflour]

I couldn't find any razors when I went shopping yesterday but I found this utility knife in the DIY section and it works similarly to the box knives but I like how I can properly hold it without the blade digging into my finger (also it just feels cool holding a knife). Has about the same sharpness as the box knives which is nice as I like familiarity and I think razors, because of how sharp they are, would be more comforting closer to when I want to die cause then I won't be bothered as much if I fuck up a nerve.

I did google where the arm nerves are (I've got skinny arms so they're probably quite close) and some test thing to see if your arms still work, which I seemed to have passed. My arms feel tingly sometimes but I'm sure it's nothing.

I drew the knife I have to the right here:

 

[Blueberry Panic]

I always go for double sided razors, they're way thinner and can cut significantly deeper

 

[OzymandiAsh]

Yeah—the thinner the blade, the more damage it causes. Seems counterintuitive, but the small blade concentrates the force in a smaller area than the thick blade, which distributes the force in a larger area. I hope you're okay.

Doesn't that mean my kitchen knife works better than a surgical scalpel?

 

[HangMan123]

Doesn't that mean my kitchen knife works better than a surgical scalpel?

No—surgical scalpels are better because the blade is thinner and smaller, if that's what you mean?

 

[littlecutecorpse]

don't got much to add to this thread since everyone's given some pretty good advice already but i really should've looked at this sooner. i got some thin razors after my older, bulkier blades dulled out and the first time i actually cut myself out of anger, i accidentally went deeper than i would've liked. didn't realize till hours later..... ;_;

 

[OnMyLast Legs]

"Beans" always makes me cringe. The SH subculture is so sad.

 

[OzymandiAsh]

No—surgical scalpels are better because the blade is thinner and smaller, if that's what you mean?

Yeah but you just said thinner blades cause more destruction and trauma?

 

[HangMan123]

Yeah but you just said thinner blades cause more destruction and trauma?

Thinness and size are both factors.
Scalpels are both thinner and smaller than knives, so they need less force to cut stuff.

 

[Cauliflour]

"Beans" always makes me cringe. The SH subculture is so sad.

You're describing a factor of various mental health issues as a "subculture"? I dunno mate, that seems pretty cringe...

In all seriousness though, it's a fairly common thing for people who are suffering together to make inside jokes as a way to "lighten the mood". I suppose you wouldn't get it as you don't seem like you know much on self harming if you consider it a "subculture".