D2 tool steel vs. 1095 Cryo steel

oldbriar

oldbriar

Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
37
Just wondering what the advantages of each steel are. D2 tool steel vs 1095 Cryo.

Thanks in advance.

Oldbriar

Semper Fi.

OOOrah!
 
To expand won what gd1944 said, D2 holds an edge better but harder to sharpen and 1095 is tougher and easier to sharpen.
 
many alloys with liquid nitro quench essentially triple their edge holdind. it would be necessary to compare 1095 with catra or sisal rope cuts with d2 after the
1092 had that quench.however d2 with triple temper would probably out perform 1095 with n.q.
 
D2 is a very tough tool steel that will hold a edge for a very long time but if you try and pry, bend, or hit the blade on the side it could very well break. 1095 is also very tough though it has much less edge retention its also much easier to sharpen, it can also handle side load a little better than D2.
 
D2 holds an edge longer and has some resistance to rust. 1095 is dirt cheap compared to D2 and is tougher and offers proven performance at a lower price. Keep in mind that D2 can be cryogenically treated and will get the same or greater benefits than 1095 does.
 
1095 can take a thinner edge and still be more chip resistant than D2. At 65 rc, edge holding is quite good though I find it just as hard to sharpen as D2 at 60 rc. D2 gets very toothy after some wear, so it is a very aggressive cutter, but I prefer the thinner edge that 1095 can obtain. 1095 also gets super sharp and holds that razor edge longer.

1095 rusts very easily.
 
Apparently, the trick with D2 is the heat treat and that which works well for knives is apparently not necessarily what the mill recommends. Bob Dozier supposedly nailed the heat treat for that steel, whereas in other applications, I have heard D2 described as a steel that "takes a crappy edge and holds it forever" The problem with 1095 is that it can be rather inconsistent in quality. W1 is pretty much the same stuff, but is "tool steel" grade and the QC is supposedly much better. Either of the steels are very shallow hardening, so you had better be set up with some decent quenchant. A carbon steel like W2 or CruForgeV is probably going to hold an edge longer because they both have vanadium added to the mix, which forms little carbides that are VERY wear resistant.
 
jdm61 said:
I have heard D2 described as a steel that "takes a crappy edge and holds it forever"
Click to expand...

This is not true of any competent maker's D2. Go youtube Queen D2 Hair whittling if you want to see a real demonstration of the steel done right.
 
I think that quote has been twisted over time from "D2 takes a good edge and will hold a crappy one forever." There are certainly no shortage of people who can put as good an edge on D2 as any other steel.
 
I like 1095 personally

easy to maintain and takes a screaming edge

how

I have not once in my life really worked over a Dozier D2...I need to fix that now dont I?
 
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