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D2 vs S30V? which resharpens easier, etc.
- Thread starter Ken44
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2005
- Messages
- 29
Both have a listed as quenched RC hardness of 62-64. S30 has more moly, more chrome, more vanadium. They both have about 1.5% carbon. So with a proper heat treat the wear resistance of S30 would be higher, therefore harder to sharpen. S30 is also more stain resistant. D-2 will definately rust if not cared for. It is just short of what is commonly termed "stainless".
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2003
- Messages
- 4,270
If you live around the ocean or in a humid climate D2 will rust without care. It is much more rust resistant than plain Carbon steels. Here in the desert, I have never had one rust.
D2 is marginally easier to sharpen than S30V. In my experience, it is very difficult to get either steel harder than HRC 61. D2 peaks in impact toughness at 60 and neither one would be much fun to sharpen at a much harder point than that. Both steels benefit from using very fine abrasives to put on a polished edge. I use a slack belt up to 30 micron and then a spiral stitched linen buffing wheel with 5 micron diamond paste to get rid of the wire edge. In between machine sharpening, I use a extra-fine diamond hone, then a surgical black Arkansas stone and fimally a strop with CrO rouge.
I like to get the S30V to 60 also, for my purposes. Jerry Hossum and others that make big fighters and choppers tend to get theirs to about 58, plus or minus.
D2 is marginally easier to sharpen than S30V. In my experience, it is very difficult to get either steel harder than HRC 61. D2 peaks in impact toughness at 60 and neither one would be much fun to sharpen at a much harder point than that. Both steels benefit from using very fine abrasives to put on a polished edge. I use a slack belt up to 30 micron and then a spiral stitched linen buffing wheel with 5 micron diamond paste to get rid of the wire edge. In between machine sharpening, I use a extra-fine diamond hone, then a surgical black Arkansas stone and fimally a strop with CrO rouge.
I like to get the S30V to 60 also, for my purposes. Jerry Hossum and others that make big fighters and choppers tend to get theirs to about 58, plus or minus.