MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > High-Performance Blades

High-Performance Blades Sharing ideas for getting the most out of our steel.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-19-2004, 01:03 AM
mwinans mwinans is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 73
best performing carbon steel?

What is the best performing carbon steel out there? I know there may be no definative answer to this question but I would be interested in peoples opinion.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-19-2004, 01:46 AM
AwP AwP is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 774
You're right that there is no deffinitive answer. If you narrow down the intended use though, you can start hearing about some more well suited steels for the purpose. Big chopper, small carving blade, etc.


__________________
~Andrew W. "NT Cough'n Monkey" Petkus
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-19-2004, 10:56 AM
mwinans mwinans is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 73
I thought about this after I posted my question. Lets start with the best high carbon steel for hunters/skinners.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-19-2004, 05:37 PM
sdcb27's Avatar
sdcb27 sdcb27 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: montana
Posts: 530
Send a message via AIM to sdcb27 Send a message via Yahoo to sdcb27
Best steel is the steel from the maker who has strict control and understanding of his steel, whatever it maybe.


__________________
Romey
Cowboy inc
Keep a light rein, a foot on each side and a faraway look
http://www.highcountryknives.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-19-2004, 11:04 PM
mwinans mwinans is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 73
Speaking of getting the best performance possable out of a steel has anyone seen the article in Nov.'s issue of Blade magazine (page90)about heat treating O-1? A couple questions what is vermiculite and what is its purpose? And I imagine this process is good for stock removal method as well.?.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-19-2004, 11:49 PM
sdcb27's Avatar
sdcb27 sdcb27 is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: montana
Posts: 530
Send a message via AIM to sdcb27 Send a message via Yahoo to sdcb27
It has been used as insulation and lord knows what else, its used to anneal steel after forging. Can be had at garden supply places , among other places. I have used lime and ashes both and i prefer vermiculite to either of them,seem to get a more through deeper softening of the steel in annealed state.


__________________
Romey
Cowboy inc
Keep a light rein, a foot on each side and a faraway look
http://www.highcountryknives.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-20-2004, 07:25 AM
hammerdownnow's Avatar
hammerdownnow hammerdownnow is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Avon Lake, Ohio
Posts: 4,340
Send a message via Yahoo to hammerdownnow
Quote:
Originally Posted by sdcb27
Best steel is the steel from the maker who has strict control and understanding of his steel, whatever it maybe.


__________________
"Many are chosen, but few are Pict"
"The doer alone, learneth" NT Neo-Devo
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-20-2004, 09:27 AM
rhrocker's Avatar
rhrocker rhrocker is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Uvalde, Texas
Posts: 3,117
Quote:
Originally Posted by sdcb27
Best steel is the steel from the maker who has strict control and understanding of his steel, whatever it maybe.
This one of the best quotations I've seen in a long time!


__________________
Robert Hensarling
Uvalde, Texas




Hensarling Custom Knives

Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-20-2004, 11:21 AM
Jerry Hossom Jerry Hossom is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 411
I agree completely. That's also probably why you see some great master smiths, each using different steels. You usually won't go wrong by going with the steel preferred by your favorite knifemaker.

Vermiculite is that white granular stuff they sell in garden supply stores to add to potting soil. It feels a little like chunks of white foam, but is able to tolerate very high temperatures.


__________________
Jerry Hossom
http://www.hossom.com

New Email Address: jerry@hossom.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-21-2004, 05:10 AM
hammerdownnow's Avatar
hammerdownnow hammerdownnow is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Avon Lake, Ohio
Posts: 4,340
Send a message via Yahoo to hammerdownnow
ehhh, got cha Jerry, I believe the white foam looking stuff is pearlite. Vermiculite is tannish brown and light as a feather. Also I think I have heard it said that it is mined in and around the same location as asbestos. Atho a hamburger is considered a danger to your health today. I would avoid breathing the dust.


__________________
"Many are chosen, but few are Pict"
"The doer alone, learneth" NT Neo-Devo
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-21-2004, 09:09 AM
Jerry Hossom Jerry Hossom is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 411
Getting a gotcha on me is dead easy...

I think vermiculite is available at garden store though. If someone has a better answer please give it. I was just trying to help out, and everyone knows I don't know jack about that oil quenched world!


__________________
Jerry Hossom
http://www.hossom.com

New Email Address: jerry@hossom.com
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-21-2004, 11:59 AM
hammerdownnow's Avatar
hammerdownnow hammerdownnow is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Avon Lake, Ohio
Posts: 4,340
Send a message via Yahoo to hammerdownnow
Jerry, you have helped me and probably far more many other newbies than we could count. A big hearty thank you for all your generosity and commitment to the advancement of the craft. Your fast replies and clear explainations have turned the ol' light bulb on more than a few times. Thanks again, Roc


__________________
"Many are chosen, but few are Pict"
"The doer alone, learneth" NT Neo-Devo
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-21-2004, 05:35 PM
Todd Robbins Todd Robbins is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: southwest Florida
Posts: 16
Jerry's right about where to get vermiculite. It can be found at any garden supply place. It is tan/brown/mixed (mine is, anyway), and it is very light. It will compact into an almost impenetrable layer in the bottom of your annealing container, though. I like it much better than lime, too, but I haven't tried any wood ashes.

Todd
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-21-2004, 07:54 PM
Quenchcrack Quenchcrack is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NW Tennessee
Posts: 167
Best Steel

I can't argue that the real craftsman can make a silk purse from a sow's ear. However, the rest of us can usually get good results from O1 or D2. 5160 is ok but lacks enough carbon to hold an edge like D2 or O1. Differential tempering will give you a very tough blade with superb edge holding.


__________________
Which is worse; ignorance or apathy? Who knows? Who cares?
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-02-2007, 01:15 AM
LEON.PUGH LEON.PUGH is offline
Registered
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: North Highlands Ca
Posts: 6
CPM3V will excede the best features of all those steels but is demanding of precision heat treating.

Leon Pugh
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
blade, choose, forging, knife, stainless, stainless steel, steel, survival


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:31 PM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved