A8 steel

[rodriguez7]

where can I find this steel for sale? Anyone know a good source?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Not sure who carries A8. INFI would be a similar performing choice for high toughness.
http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=A8, INFI&hrn=1&gm=0

 

[rodriguez7]

Not sure who carries A8. INFI would be a similar performing choice for high toughness.
http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=A8, INFI&hrn=1&gm=0

That’s why I’m looking into A8. So I can build a chopper with similar toughness! But it’s hard to find! I guess I could look into s7, where can I find that in stock?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I would suggest trying A2 and see how it does. It is a great steel, and pretty darn tough.

If you want a steel that will perform similar to A8 and INFI, try Elmax. I bet it performs better.
http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=A8, INFI, Elmax&hrn=1&gm=0

 

[Kevin McGovern]

M4 was the cool kid in competition choppers last year. This year it's 4V.

 

[rodriguez7]

I would suggest trying A2 and see ow it does. It is a great steel, and pretty darn tough.

If you want a steel that will perform similar to A8 and INFI, try Elmax. I bet it performs better.
http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=A8, INFI, Elmax&hrn=1&gm=0

I have some testing to do on A2, we’ll see how it turns out. Thanks Stacey

 

[rodriguez7]

M4 was the cool kid in competition choppers last year. This year it's 4V.

I’ve always been interested in vanadis 4e, 4v is a copy, so I made one knife in it, and had peters do the heat treat. But I haven’t tested it to hard yet. I may order some more, and try my hand at heat treating it, after I test A2.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

M4 and 4V added to chart
http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=A8, INFI, Elmax,M4, 4V&hrn=1&gm=0

 

[rodriguez7]

I would suggest trying A2 and see how it does. It is a great steel, and pretty darn tough.

If you want a steel that will perform similar to A8 and INFI, try Elmax. I bet it performs better.
http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=A8, INFI, Elmax&hrn=1&gm=0

I’ve read that Elmax is proving to be some tough stuff! I’m guessing it would need a rather involved heat treat to perform that well!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

with 24% carbide formers - 18% Cr, 3% V, 1% Mo - it will be very tough. The edge may not be as fine as A2, but edge life will be excellent. It will still get very sharp.

 

[rodriguez7]

H

with 24% carbide formers - 18% Cr, 3% V, 1% Mo - it will be very tough. The edge may not be as fine as A2, but edge life will be excellent. It will still get very sharp.

. I know you really like and use s35vn, would you choose Elmax over it? Once I get my carbon steel chosen, I need to pick a stainless steel for a hunter series.

 

[skillgannon]

Where are people getting the thicker M4 and 4V or 3V. I have yet to find anything 1/4" or better. Maybe I have seen 1/4 once or twice but am looking for .300ish stock.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

H
. I know you really like and use s35vn, would you choose Elmax over it? Once I get my carbon steel chosen, I need to pick a stainless steel for a hunter series.

Yes, I make cutters more than choppers. I have not found S35VN to be lacking in any of the parameters my knives need.

One thing many newer smiths do is try to compare this steel to that steel. It is sort of like comparing car performance. If all you ever drive is the freeway at 70MPH, it doesn't matter if it is a Honda Civic, a Big truck, or a Ferrari. They will all perform identically for that task. Few knives will be used in circumstances that require all the extras of many steels discussed here. If making a competition chopper, then it matters. If making a camp or kitchen knife, it matters much more how well the HT is done than the steel it is done on.

My advice is to find a steel you like and can get in sizes you want. Learn it inside and out. Refine your HT to exact parameters. For me, that has been CPM-S35VN, and Hitachi steels.