dutch_0311
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- Feb 29, 2008
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What is the difference between A2 and D2 tool steel?
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A2 or D2????
- Thread starter dutch_0311
- Start date
D2 is a harder tool steel than A2 and it is stainless (or semi-stainless). It is very hard (for me) to sharpen. I can get it sharp and it maintains its sharpness longer than A2, but the question is how "sharp" the edge is it will maintain.
A2 is not stainless and will form a patina and even rust, given enough lack of care. It's probably "tougher" than D2, though not as "hard". I can sharpen it to a razor fine edge, something I cannot do with D2, and it will maintain that edge sufficiently to make me happy. It won;t cut through as many different materials as D2 and keep the same edge.
I'm not a scientist or metallurgist, but I will say this through experience: with most steels, I don;t think the average knife user, even if he has lots of knives in different steels, is able to tell much of a difference between one steel and the next. With D2 and a few others, though, the difference is noticeable to even novices. That doesn;t mean it's noticeably better, just noticeably different.
In the end, I prefer A2. In fact, I prefer all steels to D2.
A2 is not stainless and will form a patina and even rust, given enough lack of care. It's probably "tougher" than D2, though not as "hard". I can sharpen it to a razor fine edge, something I cannot do with D2, and it will maintain that edge sufficiently to make me happy. It won;t cut through as many different materials as D2 and keep the same edge.
I'm not a scientist or metallurgist, but I will say this through experience: with most steels, I don;t think the average knife user, even if he has lots of knives in different steels, is able to tell much of a difference between one steel and the next. With D2 and a few others, though, the difference is noticeable to even novices. That doesn;t mean it's noticeably better, just noticeably different.
In the end, I prefer A2. In fact, I prefer all steels to D2.
The Spyderco steel chart: http://www.spyderco.com/edge-u-cation/steelchart.html
For actual use, A2 and D2 are a couple of my favorite blade steels.
It is tough for me to choose between them.
Ultimately I prefer D2 because of it's characteristic of being almost stainless with 11-13% chromium. (Generally, 14% or more chromium qualifies a steel as "stainless".)
For actual use, A2 and D2 are a couple of my favorite blade steels.
It is tough for me to choose between them.
Ultimately I prefer D2 because of it's characteristic of being almost stainless with 11-13% chromium. (Generally, 14% or more chromium qualifies a steel as "stainless".)
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
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It also depends on who is doing the heat treating. Chris Reeve uses A2 all his one pc. knives with great success. Bob Dozier uses D2 like no other. A great stock can be ruined without proper care. Its all about the Master and technique.
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For actual use, A2 and D2 are a couple of my favorite blade steels.
It is tough for me to choose between them.
Ultimately I prefer D2 because of it's characteristic of being almost stainless with 11-13% chromium. (Generally, 14% or more chromium qualifies a steel as "stainless".)
+ 1 on that. My feelings exactly. Two great steels but I like the qualities of SS for care purposes and D2 is close.
It is tough for me to choose between them.
Ultimately I prefer D2 because of it's characteristic of being almost stainless with 11-13% chromium. (Generally, 14% or more chromium qualifies a steel as "stainless".)
+ 1 on that. My feelings exactly. Two great steels but I like the qualities of SS for care purposes and D2 is close.