154cm blade chipping when cutting wire?

[MORIMOTOM]

1. you're cutting metal with metal.
2. the wire is softer, but round and blunt.
3. the edge is far thinner than the wire.
4. any metal is denser and harder than most other cut media.

even wire cutters will eventually dull, and the edge angle is far more obtuse. cut wire typically smashes flat before actually separating as a result of using the wire cutters.

30 degrees inclusive is not too thin for the majority of cutting tasks, and there is no guarantee a 40 degree edge would not have chipped/rolled.

 

[So-Lo]

JC this is an old thread, brought back up by LowTec. :grumpy:


Should of just sat this one out ..

 

[MORIMOTOM]

JC this is an old thread, brought back up by LowTec. :grumpy:

thx, wouldn't have posted if i had noticed.

 

[rangerover_95]

30 degrees inclusive is certinaly not too acute to be tough enough. 154cm is more chip resistant in my experience than s30v so you got a bad heat treat, or, its just inherent of benchmades...which sadly i think is true. benchmades chip more than they should for their price.

I have had nothing but good experience with BM's 154CM, in my 3550, 530, and especially in my 42.

With my 42, I havent used it to actually cut anything hard, but it has seen its fair share of abuse. Inevitably, it has fallen out of my hands while flipping, and had to take the brunt of many falls onto concrete, rocks, gravel, asphalt...... you get the picture.

Surprisingly, the edge has never chipped. Even the tip has landed point first into the aforemention media and has dulled, but is still there and with little deformation.

We all know that bad blades make it through QC, its not like they can test every one (especially with a high volume production line) so if you have qualms with the durability of your blade, call the CS number and they will gladly take care of you.

Yes a knife is the wrong type of tool for the situation, but being knife knuts and not wire cutter nutters, I have a feeling it was the most appropriate tool at the time that you had with you. We should all feel comfortable enough with the toughness of our knives to know that a small task should be possible at any time, and not fear the damage that could occur while using the blade.

If you find yourself needing a tougher blade for cutting harder materials though, definately look into some of the high carbon steels (1095) or some of the tougher tool steels (A2, M2, O1). I have used my mini AFCK with M2 to cut through wire, zipties, and all sorts of damaging materials (even through staples on accident) and it has emerged no worse for wear everytime!

 

[So-Lo]

thx, wouldn't have posted if i had noticed.

Me too, funny thing is ten more people will still post to this thread.

 

[A.L.]

Had no choice? What were you doing? Disarming a bomb?

 

[wnease]

Sometimes, during cutting wire, the wire bends and the stress on the edge becomes more lateral, resulting in a chip. If you had used an anvil (wood, say) and batoned the blade through I doubt a chip would have occurred.

 

[me2]

I've cut wire with my old Random Task, backbeveled and sharpened with a 20/side micro bevel. I put the wire on a log and pushed right through. No chipping, no dulling, and the S60V blade is known for being somewhat unforgiving. If you pulled it through by looping the wire around, lateral force could have easily caused a chip. Use a cutting base or move the edge angle up to 25-30 degrees per side, if this is more than a one time event.

 

[Guyon]

Doctor: Does it hurt when you do that?
Patient: Yes
Doctor: Then don't do that.