Cts-xhp. Not impressed.

bleedingfinger

bleedingfinger

Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
621
First off. My Spyderco techno is my favorite edc. I love the knife design, f&f, most importantly it fits my usability /carrying needs perfectly!
That having been said. I've never owned any "super steel" before. I have owned ALOT of VG-10...alot of AUS8..and most importantly sr101(d2 I believe)
I was pretty excited to step up to Cts-xhp. Well I've used my techno for a month now. Mind you it came paper slicing, finger nail gripping, hair shaving sharp.
After lite/medium use for a month the front third of the blade is very dull and the rest is dulled some what.
I have done very similar usage with cold steels AUS8 over a longer period of time and it stayed sharp ..I'm thinking pocket bushman ($30).
I have brutally abused my swamp rat sr101 blade to a point I was worried I may have rolled or chipped it. It didn't even blink. I'll put it through logs and it will shave after.I use VG10 enduras probably more than anything around the house and have never been anything but happy with how they hold an edge. (20yr + endura user :D)
Why is it like this? I am going to see if I can get the s30v version I heard about. Has anybody had similar experience with this steel? I see cold steel uses it now on knives that cost a third of this one.
Hmmm... I'm going to use the sharp maker and give it another go, but damn that edge went quick!
 
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I never make a decision on steel based on the factory edge. CTS-XHP has held up very well for me (Domino, Techno and Bowie), but I put a new edge on most of my knives right after I receive them.

btw: Batoning through logs doesn't really wear the edge and in general working with most wood is very kind on the edge.
 
Sharpen it up, use it, and see if you still have the same problem. It's well known that at times factory edges are sharpened and get to hot, causing them to lose their temper. When you sharpen/reprofile them you expose the "good" steel underneath, thus greatly improving edge retention.

I'm not saying this is 100% the case, but it's worth a shot. Or you could send it to Spyderco.
 
Thanks Nofair. I had used the techno for making some shavings for kindling and thought maybe this was the culprit,good to know about woods neglible affect.
Obsidian you answered my question, as to what's the difference from the factory edge . (reason for edit lol)
OK this all makes more sense. I didn't know about the factory edge issue and was really confused. I'm sure this is the case, I know heat treat etc is great from spyderco. Off to the sharp maker!
 
Make sure you keep us posted on the results. A Chaparral in CTS-XHP is my first step up from Spyderco's VG10 and so far I'm very happy with it.
Also I am pretty sure SR101 is based on 52100 not D2 and is well known for edge stability.
 
Well, with factory edge even PM2 S30V was worse than PM2 S30V with new edge made by me. BTW check out that video.

[video=youtube;lZg8q8jYxxs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZg8q8jYxxs[/video]
 
I'm carrying an XHP military at the moment and for the past week. I have used this knife a lot and I have the bevel angle at 15 Dps with a micro bevel of around 17 dps done with fine sharpmaker rods. I like it quite well. I do think that XHP does better with a polished edge.

EDC5-20-12.jpg
 
I see the consensus is Cts-xhp is well recieved. That video was great proof.
I wish I was able to do all these different angles and grinds like you guys. I am a noob to sharpening. I only have the standard sharp maker set up. I'm going to cue up sals instructional video and see if I can get this edge back.
If I can I will report back with the new usage results.
 
bleedingfinger said:
I see the consensus is Cts-xhp is well recieved. That video was great proof.
I wish I was able to do all these different angles and grinds like you guys. I am a noob to sharpening. I only have the standard sharp maker set up. I'm going to cue up sals instructional video and see if I can get this edge back.
If I can I will report back with the new usage results.
Click to expand...

That Techno is a fat little blade. Reprofiling is a task. Have fun, learn lots. ;)
 
Diamonds are a guys best friend. Set it at 30 inclusive (you can check with the Sharpmaker) and just maintain it with a quick touch up on 40 inclusive..
 
NoFair said:
Diamonds are a guys best friend. Set it at 30 inclusive (you can check with the Sharpmaker) and just maintain it with a quick touch up on 40 inclusive..
Click to expand...

This. Diamond rods are a must when it comes to getting the most out of the sm.
 
My only XHP is a Spyderco Mule. I've used it in my kitchen on 4 different occasions to cube about 15 pounds total of chili meat. I did all of the cutting against a thin plastic cutting mat. In between uses I did a very little bit of stropping. The knife is still sharp but not as sharp as when it was new.

photo021614ab_zpsdd31c2f2.jpg
 
That's a lot of chili! :eek:

Nevermind, just re-read. Thought you did 15 lbs at once. Was trying to picture the chili pot you used!
 
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My techno has been my edc for about half a year, it sees pretty hard use every now and then. Never had a problem like this just had to touch it up every now and then on a ceramic rod and strop man strop. All in all I have been impressed with the edge holding and ease of sharpening of cts-xhp.
 
CTS-XHP does very well with thin bevels and a highly refined edge. You might try lowering your edge angles a bit. Here's mine:

 
XHP is probably my favorite stainless. It takes an awesome polish, and holds a fine edge well. I agree, sharpen and try again.
 
So I took it to my standard medium sharpmaker stones on 30 degrees. Very easily put a nice edge back on it. I love this knife and I don't have the skill to get it how I want. Super sharp, mirrored edge etc.
I've decided I'm going to find a forum member and send it off for a pro sharpening,polishing. Also will request the angles set for easy touch up on sharpmaker. I can touch it up, but beyond that I start ruining things.
I dream of being a great sharpener lol I think I'm going to try a guided angle system next. I like the diamond aligner for the price.
But yes this steel was very easy to bring back even for me!.. I'm coming around to it lol
 
I suggest keeping a cheaper knife like a Tenacious for hard use/abuse as it will sharpen easily and will provide good practice with the sharpmaker. I wasn't very good to start with either, but I've been getting better slowly but surely. Also, in your original post you allude to XHP being a "Super Steel", but it's actually very close cost and performance wise to S30V. It's on par...not an upgrade, though S30V was considered a "Super Steel" when it first was released. It's a great steel (As is S30V), but not in the same league as S90v/S110V/204P/M390/K390 etc. You could see better performance from S30V or XHP depending on grit finish, edge angle, blade geometry, degree of initial sharpness, materials being cut, etc., but those and a few others are generally considered to be the "Super Steels".
 
Awesome pics and info everyone, thanks! So tomorrow I'm dropping my Techno off at a local sharpening company. I called and the lady who answered said they use water stones and have same-day turn around!
They are a decent size looking place and website appears they do mostly commercial sharpening. She was however familiar with the "spider" knives that often come through. Said mirror finish, specify angles etc on work order and they'll do whatever.
I am going to ask for 15dpi? Then I can touch up easily on the 40 setting of my sharpmaker? I still don't understand why I wouldn't use the 30 since it's the same angle? At any rate I'll post pics tomorrow night see how this comes out. Thanks all!
 
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