CPM 154cm Vs 154 cm

[dustbust_1]

Im going to purchase some steel from NJ steel baron. I read to use 1084 or 154 cm for a first knife. Im going with 154cm. My question is he also carries CPM 154cm and was wondering the difference and is it worth the $10.00 bump. This will be my first knife. I have access to a temperature controlled kiln to harden the steel.

 

[silver_pilate]

Do you also have access to high temp stainless foil for blade protection (secondary to high temps and long holds) and aluminum plates for quenching? If so, you will be good to go. If not, you may need to consider sending it out.

CPM 154 is created using a proprietary method created by crucible a while back. Rather than just pouring a molten mix and letting it harden up, the molten mix is actually turned into powder and then welded into a solid billet (on a large scale) which is then rolled to final dimensions. It creates a more homogenous distribution of the alloying elements. In the real world, it yields a point or two more hardness using the same heat treatment vs. 154CM, as well as a bit more toughness. As far as content goes, it's pretty much the same steel as 154CM, but just done better.

Many makers, myself included, consider CPM154 to be one of the best general purpose knife steels out there.

--nathan

 

[dustbust_1]

Nice answer. That pretty much sums it up for me thanks. Ya sending it out to get hardened is very tempting considering places like Texas knife charge like $5.00 a knife and you know its done right vs failing a bunch if I don't know exactly what im doing.

 

[Magnaminous_G]

Contact Jim Wharton at Stag & Steel. He works mainly with CPM154

 

[Yushu_withwind]

I think CPM154 get higher toughness than 154cm

 

[sunshadow]

CPM154 has no huge aggregated carbides due to the powder metallurgy process. That allows for an extremely fine sharp edge. The only stainless that has the potential for a finer edge is 13c26 which was developed for making optical surgery scalpels. I got some CPM154 from Aldo and sent it out to Paul Bos for heat treating to RC60. Worth it in every way. RC60 is a bit hard to sharpen if you don't have diamond stones (takes forever even with diamonds)

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