How durable is an Aluminum razor ?

I like heavier razors, so aluminum and titanium are not my metals of choice.

The two metals differ. They are both strong, Titanium has a very high natural resistance to corrosion. On the other hand, aluminum is very reactive.
However, aluminum readily reacts with oxygen to form aluminum oxide on its surface. This mineral is known as corundum. While not as hard as diamond, it is harder than any other natural mineral. It is the substance of which ruby and sapphire gemstones are made. Sapphire crystal is often used for watch faces in expensive watches as it is highly scratch resistant. Once the aluminum develops a coating of aluminum oxide, it is both scratch and chemical resistant.

There is an old story that I heard on Car Talk radio. As the story goes, a driver was caught out in a snow storm and realized that there was no snow scraper in the car. There was an aluminum can of soda in the vehicle. After drinking the soda, the driver flattened the can and used it to scrape the snow from the windshield. In the process of scraping, the windshield got scratched. How did that happen? Aluminum is softer than glass. However, once the surface of the can oxidized to form aluminum oxide, that coating is much harder than the glass windshield and could easily scratch glass. Thus there are two morals to this story: never use a soda can to scrape snow from your windshield and don't worry about the durability of your aluminum razor if you treat is with care.

Aluminum does rust but that rust is aluminum oxide which is self healing so it actually preserves the metal from furthur corrosion as it coats and seals the aluminum over time. It will patina to a greyish color almost the same as raw aluminum.

Technically they should last indefinitely under normal shaving conditions. Stainless steel no if the surface gets compromised in any way. Stainless is not no stain and if it isn't produced correctly it will still rust or if it cracks or gets gouged, etc. Look at these new chinese sinks that get rust stains on the stainless steel for example. Once that happens it will start to rot from the exposed spot and then rot inward. It may take years, even a life time before it is no good but once it happens the clock is ticking. Only ways I know to stop that clock is to passivate the metal or coat it in a self healing oxide like aluminum oxide.

Titanium is not bullet proof either. First it will depend how pure it is or what type of alloy. Titanium does corrode under constant tenstile stress though in the of case razors this is not likely except for one possible scenario. If you sterilize your razor in alcohol and leave it there for extended periods of time it can and will cause stress and hydrogen embrittlement due to anhydrous conditions.

Folks want Titanium because it's the current fad, or bling factor, you're somebody if you have it, you're trash if you don't. There is no need for it in a razor, it's like building your house out of diamonds instead of bricks.

I would respectfully disagree with this statement, based on my personal experiences and numerous testimonies of other shavers. I think the Blackland Blackbird is a great example of this. You can find on other forums many individuals who saw titanium as a fad or trend only to be shocked, and in some cases dumbfounded, that the Ti version of the Blackbird was significantly better in terms of shave experience and outcomes. Shane from Blackland runs through his various reasons for this. Personally, I find that Ti provides a goldilocks weight in a razor, with a nice balance between heft and maneuverability. I also find the weight regime provides a small amount of  in built "adjustability" by allowing added pressure application, without irritation, when traversing demanding parts of the beard.

But in some cases I prefer stainless steel. For example in the Carbon CX I wrote up numerous reviews on the Ti and SS versions. I ultimately preferred the SS and I believe that is because of the lightening of the head with the webbed plate design placed it in the weight class I preferred. The Ti version, along with the very light carbon fiber handle made it too light for my taste. I also recently reviewed and compared Atelier DURDAN's La Faulx razor in SS and Ti. Here the difference was less significant but I had a slight preference for the Ti version. Because of that smaller difference, I went with the SS. However, I like that razor so much I am going to purchase a Ti version at some point and keep the SS version as a backup or for travel.

I personally could care less what someone else thinks of my razor metal/material choices, so it would definitely not drive my decision to purchase Ti razors, especially given their premium price point. And I also have used and own aluminum, bakelite, and plastic based razors as well. All I care about is can I get the best shave possible for my beard profile and technique with a given razor.

What he said.

Folks want Titanium because it's the current fad, or bling factor, you're somebody if you have it, you're trash if you don't. There is no need for it in a razor, it's like building your house out of diamonds instead of bricks.

I like heavier razors, so aluminum and titanium are not my metals of choice.

The two metals differ. They are both strong, Titanium has a very high natural resistance to corrosion. On the other hand, aluminum is very reactive.
However, aluminum readily reacts with oxygen to form aluminum oxide on its surface. This mineral is known as corundum. While not as hard as diamond, it is harder than any other natural mineral. It is the substance of which ruby and sapphire gemstones are made. Sapphire crystal is often used for watch faces in expensive watches as it is highly scratch resistant. Once the aluminum develops a coating of aluminum oxide, it is both scratch and chemical resistant.

There is an old story that I heard on Car Talk radio. As the story goes, a driver was caught out in a snow storm and realized that there was no snow scraper in the car. There was an aluminum can of soda in the vehicle. After drinking the soda, the driver flattened the can and used it to scrape the snow from the windshield. In the process of scraping,  the windshield got scratched. How did that happen?  Aluminum is softer than glass. However, once the surface of the can oxidized to form aluminum oxide, that coating is much harder than the glass windshield and could easily scratch glass. Thus there are two morals to this story:  never use a soda can to scrape snow from your windshield and don't worry about the durability of your aluminum razor if you treat is with care.

I also prefer and love heavy razors, so when I decided to test the Henson razor I had two options, getting 3 aluminium in mild, medium and aggressive or one in titanium in medium. 

Since the titanium weighs about about the same as a Mühle R89 zinc alloy potmetal razor and I prefer heavy razors, the choice for me was obvious. 

Go with the original in the original material. 
And get all 3 versions. 

I vastly prefer heavy razors, but out of respect for tradition I also own and use some of the lighter weight razors. 

But paying the Titanium price is simply out of my budget as well as out of my interest since I prefer heavy razors. 

Only if the titanium really WoW’s me from a design perspective I might consider it. Otherwise not.

If titanium was cheaper I would buy a couple of razors to test them out. But as it isn’t, I won’t.

Only in very aggressive razors like Mühle R41 I prefer a lighter handle. In fact also in my mid aggressive Rocca. I prefer the standard handle over much heavier handles in my Rocca.

But In 90% of razors I prefer a heavy handle and a heavy razor.

The Henson trio was bought just for fun to experiment a bit.
Nothing else.

And I like the Colours I got them in.

Mild - Tan
Medium - Copper
Aggressive - Dark Grey

It depends on the grade of aluminum. Our military use M16 rifles with aluminum upper and lower receivers. I would think a razor made from such a material would last a very long time. The stuff your Ronco frying pan is made from, not so much.

It depends on the grade of aluminum.  Our military use  M16 rifles with aluminum upper and lower receivers.  I would think a razor made from such a material would last a very long time.  The stuff your Ronco frying pan is made from, not so much.

Good thing I’m also a cookware enthusiast and mostly own Demeyere and Mauviel PLY/Clad and copper pans 

Henson Aluminum razors will "stick" to the face with the foam applied....

Folks want Titanium because it's the current fad, or bling factor, you're somebody if you have it, you're trash if you don't.

Wrong!
Titanium feels great on the face...a little warmer on the skin than SS...softer face-feel, more comfortable.

I received my Henson AL13 Mild in "Rocket Red" June 3rd, 2021. (But just missed out on the DFS discount code.)
So far the only wear I see on it is tiny areas on the corners of the base plate where the red has worn off. I'm not sure what process they use for the colour, but I don't think it's anodizing.

Some Gillette Techs from the '50s, '60s, and '70s had aluminum handles. They still seem fine, except that I don't like handles that are that skinny, short, and light. Plus they look like Argyll socks. The same goes for a Soviet-era ('70s? '80s?) Czech-made "Soluna" aluminum handle that I have.
(Shown here with the Goodwill head that it came with from the flea market.)


I like the Henson handle though, because it's long enough and thick enough at the bottom end for good balance.

Folks want Titanium because it's the current fad, or bling factor, you're somebody if you have it, you're trash if you don't.

Wrong!
Titanium feels great on the face...a little warmer on the skin than SS...softer face-feel, more comfortable.

Titanium in contact with atmospheric oxygen or in contact with oxygen ions ,released while anodizing ,forms Titanium oxides ,namely
anatase.
When heated with a flame source the Ti oxides forming are called rutile.
Both are minerals .Rutile is harder than anatase,but both are considered of medium
hardness ( 6-6.5 vs 5.5-6 Mohs scale respectively ) .
Anatase Ti oxides are forming rapidly in
presence of Oxygen ( atmospheric ,Type 3 anodizing ) .The harder rutile Ti oxides need
high temperature to form.

Thus,since between the skin and the Ti alloy
of the razor ,there is a thin MINERAL film ,
the razor does not feel of "metallic" nature .
--------
( continue if you're not yawning by now )
Why ,how ?
Because metals usually have low thermal
resistance ,higher thermal conductivity and
high thermal capacity.In simple words they
absorb heat  ,transfer heat and store heat.
Thus they feel cold ( they absorb body heat rapidly ) when in contact with the skin ,
while a mineral object ( a pebble for example ) of the same temperature does not .
Ti oxides have very low thermal conductivity,
high thermal resistance and low thermal capacity.

Fewhhh....
Finished ...