I'm working on a blade of stainless. Got it from a deceased knifemaker, without a label. Heat treats just like CM154. I did it along side of three known CM154 blades and all four RC tested exactly the same out of the quench, out of the cryo, and out of the final temper. Now I'm down to finishing and I'm finding what seems to be some pitting in the steel. Anyone have experience with pitting in CM154 or Ats-34? Any remedy besides "keep polishing?"
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CM154/ ATS- 34 with pits?
- Thread starter Jason Fry
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2002
- Messages
- 2,088
What you're seeing could be pitting,as each of those steels has
exibited that problem at some time during the past 30-40 years.
It could also be what is called "orange peel", which is caused by
over buffing.
How fine do you finish prior to buffing..?
Do you use white compound on a clean buff..?
What buffung wheel diameter are you using..?...at what speed..?
exibited that problem at some time during the past 30-40 years.
It could also be what is called "orange peel", which is caused by
over buffing.
How fine do you finish prior to buffing..?
Do you use white compound on a clean buff..?
What buffung wheel diameter are you using..?...at what speed..?
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2009
- Messages
- 7,310
When I was at the Plaza Cutlery Show this "Pitting" issue was discussed several times among different makers. It is becoming a very frustrating find in the metal when you have so much time in a blade.
One maker while we were talking about this walks up and pulls out a small skinner from a sheath and shows us his 154 cm knife and was really pissed about the pitting that kept showing as he was working on the knives.
One maker while we were talking about this walks up and pulls out a small skinner from a sheath and shows us his 154 cm knife and was really pissed about the pitting that kept showing as he was working on the knives.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2005
- Messages
- 321
I often use ATS-34 for Sgian Dubhs, and have found myself cursing at (more than) several stinkin' knives after buffing. I thought it could have been 2 things happening- maybe some sort of debris was stuck in the buffing wheel, gouging up then washing over the steel, causing that "orange peel" look, or that I got a few bad batches of ATS-34. Funny, it sounds like it wasn't either- great to know!!! I have since given up on mirror polished Sgian Dubhs for the less than perfect mirror (or I have been able to talk every customer out of it since 