A2 tool steel

T

T. Hendrickson

Joined
Sep 18, 2003
Messages
138
I've been trying to settle on a particular steel for my using knives and I like what I've heard and seen on A2. Can I get some thoughts on this steel?

My understanding is that A2 is fine-grained and very wear resistant. I've heard that it takes a better edge than D2, though it may not hold as long. It's also reasonably priced, and has some corrosion resistance (5% chromium). Here's what I've gathered for treating it:

1300 deg preheat 15 min

1800 for 20-30 min

plate quench

temper 500 deg 2 hrs x2 (RC ~60-61)

correct me if I'm wrong.


I'd like to know more about its qualitative properties, how is it to work with, how does it finish out? Will it take a good mirror? Thanks for the input.
 
I love working with A2.. Its very easy to work with IMHO and very easy to get a nice finish.. Its tough as heck, holds a great edge, and is pretty darn stain resistant to boot.
Hope this helps..
 
How come you no longer pre-heat?

What is a good source for A2 steel? It's not available from Admiral. The only place I can find it is Jantz.
 
I get mine from NWA, see his latest thread in the sale forum. Before that I used http://www.toolanddie.com/, their steel was also good but wasn't from a fellow knife maker and is a bit more expensive.

I quit preheating because someone claimed that it didn't really matter for sections as thin as a knife blade. Tried without preheating and the results are fine so far. Note that my only working hardness measure is a set of calibrated hardness testing files. Most of my testing is use testing in my kitchen.
 
I think with any steel, it's all about the heat treating. A2 (like other tool steels) will take a wickedly sharp edge that will last a long time with normal cutting...and even with some abuse even at Zero grind.

I have used flatground.com for quite awhile now and always great pricing and super fast delivery even by UPS Ground at actual shipping costs and not some crazy inflated price to cover other companies supposedly low cost pricing.
 
I would imagine it's forgeable ! it says above 2000'F or something though ! Though, don't know why you would want to forge A2 !
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
Is A2 forgeable?
I had an acquaintance drop by a three foot rod of 1 1/4".
Or is it just a door prop?
Click to expand...

I love A2 and have been working with it (along with D2) since 2001. About three years ago, I got a deal on some 3/4" round bar from flatground.com and tried forging it. It works great. A2 forges a little slowly (stiff to the hammer) something like 52100. The 1 1/4" may be a little tough on the hammer arm.

You need to do a stress relief after forging then grind and heat treat. I like to harden it between 1750°F and 1775°F for 30 minutes, then plate quench.
 
Cool info guys. I know this is kind of a loaded question, but how would you compare D2 or CPMD2 to A2? Assuming both are properly HT'ed, etc etc. I work strictly by stock-removal and recently bought a Paragon kiln for HT. Most of my knives are 1/8"-3/16" thick, less than 6" blade length, full flat grind to nearly a zero edge with a small microbevel. They're intended for hunting, camping and so forth. I'm interested in comparing:
Edge retention.
"Fineness" of a very thin sharp edge.
"Polishability".
Corrosion resistance.
Resistance to chipping at the edge.
Resistance to breaking if a customer ignores my request not to pry things.
Grindability.

Based on everything I've read, it seems both steels can work well for my kinds of knives. Just interested in opinions from guys who've used both steels. Thanks!
 
Online metal supply has this: A-2 Tool Steel Flat Ground .1875" x 4.25" x 31" - O/S

1 $42.24
this is very cheap! compared with what I have seen anyway; the only problem is its 4" width; is there any way to get that cut into, say 3 equal-width pieces after I get it?
 
T. Hendrickson said:
Online metal supply has this: A-2 Tool Steel Flat Ground .1875" x 4.25" x 31" - O/S

1 $42.24
this is very cheap! compared with what I have seen anyway; the only problem is its 4" width; is there any way to get that cut into, say 3 equal-width pieces after I get it?
Click to expand...

Yeah ! A metal cutting bandsaw and some patience ! :)
 
James_Terrio said:
Cool info guys. I know this is kind of a loaded question, but how would you compare D2 or CPMD2 to A2? I'm interested in comparing:
Thanks!
Click to expand...


Compared with D2 you will find that A2 is much tougher. D2 however has better abrasion resistance which adds up to edge life. A2 will take a finer edge but the old adage of: "D2 takes a lousy edge and holds it forever" has a lot of truth to it.

Both are outstanding steels and have there advantages depending on the intended use of the knife.

Gary
 
Thanks, Gary. That's kind of what I thought, based on reading. I'll just use up my stock of D2 and CPM-D2 and test them to the best of my ability. Next time I order steel I'll get some A2 as well and see how it goes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top