Easiest To Use?

S

SkarpKniv

Joined
Sep 21, 2003
Messages
217
1. what is easiest to grind RWL-34, ATS-34, D2, Elmax powder steel
or 12C27.
2. which is easiest to heat treat yourself without having load of equipment
3. which holds best edge?
4. Which would you say does all of the above well?

thanks for any replies
 
They all have there good points.I have not seen much differnt in grinding Ats 34 and I have not worked with RWL 34
As far as edge holding goes I will say with the ones you list
I would go with D2,it is a tool steel
were the other listed art stainless
As far as finish goes I would say that the RWL 34 will take the best finish of the bunch,just because of the grain structure in it
RWL at 60 to 61 RC holds a good edge and the D2 at 60 to 61 Rc
takes and holds a wicked edge.D2 is one I work with alot,it is a little harder to get a good finish on it but like I said there are good and bad in every steel.
 
To work, and heat treat yourself, without good equipment, I would have to say that none of the steels listed would be a good choice.

You would be better off with plain carbon steels. Whatever your equivalents of American O1, 1095, 1080, 5160 is.
You could get some of those from an automotive spring shop.

Stainless steels require a very accurate heat treat, at high temperature. failure to do this properly results in substandard knives, and one of the major reasons stainless got such a bad, and undeserved reputation to begin with. :mad:
 
D2 should always be ground with care. I would put it at number last even though I have not yet had experience with all you listed. The reason is D2 is subject to stress easily from machining. I base this one readings that I have confidence in. I have worked a little with D2 and have been happy with the results.

RL
 
SkarpKniv,

Can I suggest you call a local heattreating place. If you are new to the process, leave the heattreating to someone else for you're first few knives. They will be able to let you know what steels they are comfortable with.

Personally I want to try some RWL-34 - I've heard many good things about it.

Steve

BTW Sando is actually a Norwegian derived name. Not sure what it means, but it traces back to an area the family came from.
 
I would If I knew anyone that heat treated here. Guess I better start asking around. I could ask my in law where Sando is, I moved here about year and half ago from cali so only know about a few places around me.
 
thanks a bunch mike!by the way , can you use a forge to heat up the steel? I saw a forge called the NC-Baby, or is that just for forging blades?
 
I'm not familiar with that one, but any forge that can get your blade to aprox 1450-1550 degrees F is OK to harden carbon steels. You can do the final tempering(after hardening) in your home oven.

You might want to read up on this type of thing, it is very important to the quality of your finished product.

Just punch in heat treat, and/or temper/tempering into the search function and that should keep you busy for quite some time.:)
 
oh I have, just somethings were a lil unclear. Have quite a bit of text copied down to my computer:)
 
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