Blade material for humid areas

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
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I love taking care of and sharpening my knives. Anyways I carry a knife I made out of 01 and love the thing. So I went to a BBQ cook off used it, and got it wet. By the end of the day I had rust forming. This humid south Texas weather does'nt help either. I am thinking of making knives out of ATS 34 or cmp 154 for the local customers. Does anybody else feel this way? I take care of my knives and I still got a little rust. Your average Joe is more likely to get a high carbon blade and forget to wipe it dry even if you tell them to. I haven't had any requests by any local guys for a knife for splitting bricks and hammering through mild steel yet. I think ats34 and cpm154 should be good steel that would out perform wal-mart knives if HTed right. What say you?
 
Pancho, I think you nailed that one rite on.
It's the same here in south Miss. But I will stick to 01 for my personal knife.
Jerry
 
I used to live in McAllen & my job had me working the river at night, this was in the late 1960's and again in the late 1970's till 1981. Used to just carry whatever could could go 24 hours & could still open. The theory of "Mas barato es mejor". Then the knife would be used fishing salt water down at Port Isabel, cutting bait, cleaning, etc.

Your idea of stainless is excellent & will get you a lot of customors. Ruff Cobb
 
Poncho , short story . I had a group of ATS-34 blades in a box in storage for 4 yrs. 2 of those yrs where under a trap outside . It only rains 130" a yr here . Well the polished blades had no rust , ones finished to a 220 grit had some but not deep , a pass on the belt again took care of them .
 
I will probably be using more ATS34 for now since I am still wet behind the ears. But I have heard good things about cpm154 and have not had an opportunity to try it out yet.
 
panch0 said:
I will probably be using more ATS34 for now since I am still wet behind the ears. But I have heard good things about cpm154 and have not had an opportunity to try it out yet.
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There's nothing wrong with good ol' 440C either.
 
I hear what you're saying about meeting the market where it's at. But, it sure makes you appreciate folks from the old days prior to SS, doesn't it? I'm glad there were people blazing trails gratefully carrying their blades of "lesser" steel and getting the job done. I guess I'm funny, but there is something about SS that just does not float my boat. It's kind of like SS is to steal what tofu it to protein...or something...
 
Phil I feel the same way, and like skilldust says my edc will be O1 or maybe A2.
 
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Phil I agree! i wonder if it is because of all the pakistan and chinese junk that is made out of stainless.

jake
 
had a long post but i'll shorten it...... just keep with the carbon steel.... and make a quality product... just tell the customer to wipe it after use.... all it takes is 2 swipes on the pant leg.. and back in the case.. ;)
 
Greg Obach said:
...all it takes is 2 swipes on the pant leg.. and back in the case.. ;)
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Well...I'm not sure it's that easy, at least not here in the tropics. Steel rusts REAL easy here. Even thoroughly dried stuff. It picks up moisture from the air, practically no matter what you do. Frankly, I don't care, but a LOT of folks do.
 
I gotcha bros.. .. hmm.. how bout inbetween.. something like A2 would be not bad... enough Cr to not rust as easily... but keep some toughness and edge.... i had a camp knife i made of it and it didn't do too bad... held up nicely... was abit of a pain to forge but it worked out ok.... needs a good soak in the heat treat oven... but not bad..

i can imagine the tropic's can be tricky to keep a shine on that knife... up here there just the bitter bitter cold... :thumbdn:
 
I carry a Case cv slipjoint and it just gets tiny rust spots from just carrying it with out wiping with oil. I have two A2 blades in the works also, and am anxious to see how they hold up to the humidity.
 
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