D2 Steel

U

unky_gumbi

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Aug 28, 2009
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I was just wondering how hard D2 is to work with. I just found out that a place a few blocks from me sells it and I like the finished product, in the way of my BM710, but is it a pain to work with? I am starting my first knife in 5160 soon, just currious about D2.

Also what do makers do with their scraps? I will be using the stock removal method to make my first fewknives so I know there will be scraps. Do you save it up and forge (not sure if that is the right term) it together or do you just send it off to be recycled?
 
In annealed condition D2 is not so hard to shape, but when it is hard, it is HARD... If you work with that, I suggest sand to 400, even 600 prior to HT. As it is usually heat treated in an air tight envelope it wont have scale or something to ruin your sanding. Just sand, polish or grind to what ever finish you desire and sharpen... If you leave the edge too thick or didn't remove rough grinding or filing scratches you'll be working like crazy to thin the edge or remove the scratches. The latest blades I made were sanded to 800 grit before HT. I just repeated 800 after HT and finished at 1000. Took me an hour or so for a 9" chefs knife to finish after HT. This really saves huge time...

Emre

as for scraps, they are mostly tiny bits and weird shapes.. If something long enough to make a necker I save it, other than that they pile up at the floor of my shop until they are swept off one day ...
 
D2 is wonderful, it holds a good edge and is easy to work with annealed, but when hard forget about it. It is even better with cryo.
 
On one hand, D2 isn't too bad to work with, but on the other hand, I can't think of any non-exotic steel that is harder to work with.

It can be a bit of a pill to finish.
It is harder on tooling than most other steels
The heat treat requires a looong soak at high temp, and to get the most of it is probably going to require sub zero as a part of the quench
 
I love it. As stated it isn't bad until it is hardened.Then it shows its abrasion resistance. As stated above if you have scratches after its hard your going to need lots of sandpaper and effort, But, because it needs to be hardened with a high temp in an ss foil envelope (or inert atmosphere) you can get it very close to finished before hardening.

To harden D2 right your need a controlled oven that can hold 1850f for 30 minutes. I also believe it should be cyroed. It will hold an edge.
 
Thanks for all the info, think I will be sticking with the 5160 for a bit then till I get my technic near perfect. I still may check out thier pricing though.
 
Depends on the size of the knife and kind of grind, IMHO.


On a small knife with a hollow grind - I can hardly tell the difference between D2, 3V, S30V and A2.

And I only grind to 60 grit before heat-treat. After heat-treat, I brush up lines at 60 grit and 120 grit (regardless of steel used) and then finish to 400 grit.


That said, the last time I did a kitchen knife in 3V (similar to D2 in its difficulty to work once hardened) I thought I was going to go nutz getting a full flat grind across a 2" wide blade (since I had to leave a good bit of shoulder to keep the blade flat during heat-treat).


On a scandi-grind (no microbevel, zero-edge) I can't tell the difference between D2, 3V, CPM154, S30V, O1, 1095, A2 and 5160. I've done them all and they are all the same to me when doing that grind, regardless of blade length.




Furthermore, you need to adjust your "end product mentality" when working with D2. If you want D2 to look like 5160 when you're finished - you'll definitely go nutz trying to polish it out.

If you can be happy with a 400 grit satin finish, D2 will not be a problem.

Use fresh ceramic belts (3M 977)...definitely stay away from A/O belts with D2. I've never used Zirc. belts with D2 - maybe someone here has and would know better?


Just my 0.02
YMMV


Dan
 
Daniel Koster said:
Depends on the size of the knife and kind of grind, IMHO.


Use fresh ceramic belts (3M 977)...definitely stay away from A/O belts with D2. I've never used Zirc. belts with D2 - maybe someone here has and would know better?


Just my 0.02
YMMV


Dan
Click to expand...

Dan, it dulls the zirc. belts with a touch when hard :D .
Emre
 
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