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Sal did comment on the spyderco forum once I thought. I read it there first.
So There I can understand what the numbers are. This is bit different then this:
And there is no any comment from Sal or Phil about this numbers. Until this will be clear - this numbers is just a legend, rumor, whatever...
Yeah, I see you want the official looking graphs. Here's where that comes from:
http://www.catra.org/pages/products/kniveslevel1/slt.htm
"Computer Hardware/software
The test machine and control software is designed to operate on the industrial quality PC system built in to the equipment. The operating software interlinks with Microsoft Excel and Access to provide data analysis, reporting and database facilities, it has Windows XP capability. The software is optionally available with on screen information and reports in English, German, French, Spanish, and Japanese."
The data is the data, you can make all the reports and graphs you want in Microsoft Office. Here's some examples:
http://www.dynamettechnology.com/Knive Brochure.htm
http://www.finelife.ca/knife/zina_knife_catra_data.htm
http://www.catra.org/pages/products/kniveslevel1/comparisons.htm
I suspect if you want an official test report of CATRA's Blade and Knife sharpness testing to ISO 8442-5 ( ISO 8442.5) you're probably going to have to pay some money to CATRA for all that which I'm sure doesn't come cheap. Generous ISO charges you for even a copy of the 8442-5 standard.
"The test produces two indications:
- ICP (Initial Cutting Performance) representing the cutting ability (sharpness) of the blade as supplied
- TCC (Total Card Cut) which represents the life of the blade by giving a measure of its total cutting ability."
What Phil and Sal were talking about was the Total Card Cut data. It's reasonable for the context of Phil's post. I called it hearsay, you call it rumor and urban legend. If Sal wanted to share what's proprietary R&D with all his competitors, I'm sure he'd post lots more info in a massive .pdf format for us. If Phil hasn't commented more on the issue it's possible Sal asked him to keep it between them for the same reasons.
I agree with you that it would be nice to know more but that's the way the cookie crumbles.![]()
Post 6 and 7 sal confirms
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34649
Confirms what?
Yes, I believe his comment confirms he tested both and the results were similiar
It could be that those numbers are a summary and possibly rounded off in some way. It wouldn't be hard to imagine sample to sample differences in S90V or ZDP-189 that might be more significant than the difference between the two steels when testing say 40 blades of each steel. Possibly the two steels run neck and neck, sometimes one wins, sometimes the other wins, but not by much. In such a situation, and I'm sure there are even more variables to consider, it might be reasonable to simply say both steels hit a certain number of cards consistently in conversation. I think the information given is more significant than you give credit for. The fact your test results are different just suggests different variables in methods.
Shunsui, in your reply to Vasili
I think the information given is more significant than you give credit for. The fact your test results are different just suggests different variables in methods.
Yes I am working with a steel manufacturer now to prepare some samples for CATRA testing. As a result I have learned more about the test procedure. The company that does the testing takes the sample piece, does the finish grind and sharpening themselves to exactly the same criteria for each piece. They will also be provided with the heat treat process and the hardness of each sample to use in the report.
This is different than testing a variety of knives from different manufactures, with different geometry and unknown heat treat and hardness.
It is testing various steels for edge wear resistance only I think. Other qualities like toughness and corrosion resistance ect. are not considered but it seems like with a machine doing the cutting, it is about as pure as you can get and the best we have at this time to evaluate relative edge holding.
By the way my testing of the knives I make have pretty much followed the information Sal gave me on his experience with CATRA. CPM S90V and ZDP 189 work out close to the same in my rope cutting tests. CPM S90V works best at RC 61, is full of very hard carbides and this tends to offset the high hardness advantage (RC66) of ZDP 189. This is my opinion, some could call it hersay or rumor thats ok with me--- but for what ever it is worth.
.. Phil