How Long Do Slice Safety Blades Last?

Diagram illustrating the Mohs relative hardness scale shows that steel measures 4.5, while Slice ceramics are much harder, at 8.2.
The Mohs scale is a standard method for comparing the hardness of various materials.

Slice® safety blades are made of 100 percent zirconium oxide, a high-quality advanced ceramic. On the Mohs scale of hardness, zirconium oxide is harder than steel by several factors. Because of this material, Slice’s extremely hard safety blades retain their edge much longer than metal, which dulls relatively quickly.

How much longer will our blades retain their edge? According to an independent third-party test performed by the Cutlery and Allied Trades Association (CATRA) in December 2014, Slice safety blades last on average 11.2 times longer than steel blades.

Line graph shows the results of third party testing. Slice blades start out less sharp than steel but last much longer in the safe cutting zone between overly sharp and dangerously dull.
This independent study by the Cutlery and Allied Trades Association demonstrates that Slice blades have a safer initial sharpness, and last much longer than relatively soft steel.

The longevity of the Slice blade edge means that in the time you would have replaced 11 dangerous metal blades, you replace one finger-friendly® Slice safety blade. Many of Slice's blades are double-edged, as well, which gives them twice the longevity. Slice safety blades' ability to retain effective sharpness gives them a much better value than traditional metal blades.

What About Other Ceramic Blades?

Note that not all ceramic blades feature the same material composition; they’re not all made of 100 percent zirconium oxide. This will impact how they perform. Even more important, however, is that no other manufacturer features Slice’s proprietary finger-friendly blade design.

Traditional ceramic blades are as sharp as metal blades, which start off dangerously sharp. That is, while other ceramic blades may have some of the favorable properties of Slice blades, they don’t have our safety grind. That means other ceramics continue to pose a high risk of injury. Their thinner, sharper design also makes them more prone to catastrophic chipping that ruins the blade edge. Slice blades can suffer microscopic chips, but this does not affect their cutting ability.

Safety Gives the Best Return on Investment

There are several factors that make Slice blades safer than traditional blades. Our innovations help reduce lacerations and repetitive strain, which is great for individuals and for companies. Fewer people get hurt, and you save potential costs incurred by workplace injuries. Safety and longevity together ensure that Slice blades are a better value.