Elmax or D2?

[Ajack60]

The Leek in Sandvik 14C28N will get scary sharp and hold an edge fairly well.
14C28N is a razor steel and with a thin blade like the Leek, it will be quite impressive.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Pretty much every US made Kershaw has a steel that can be used for a pocket razor (the Sandvik models literally use a razor steel).

Perhaps I should say that I don't have Kershaw, my folders are Sanrenmu, Enlan, Spyderco, Coldsteel and an older CRKT in AUS6.
Heard those Sandvik steel is razor material too, but not D2 nor Elmax.

 

[fsatsil]

The main benefit Elmax has over CPM D2 is corrosion resistance so if you're planning to use the knife around salt water then go with Elmax, if not get the composite Leek and save yourself around $25. Another thing to consider is that the composite Leek is a frame lock and the Elmax Leek is a liner lock which doesn't matter much for a small light duty folder but I figured it was worth mentioning.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

The main benefit Elmax has over CPM D2 is corrosion resistance so if you're planning to use the knife around salt water then go with Elmax, if not get the composite Leek and save yourself around $25. Another thing to consider is that the composite Leek is a frame lock and the Elmax Leek is a liner lock which doesn't matter much for a small light duty folder but I figured it was worth mentioning.

I don't believe the Leeks are CPM-D2. When looking at standard D2, Elmax is a better steel.

If they are infact CPM-D2, then I'd say go with that instead.

 

[bodog]

I don't believe the Leeks are CPM-D2. When looking at standard D2, Elmax is a better steel.

If they are infact CPM-D2, then I'd say go with that instead.

Elmax is good but I'd agree with your recommendation.

 

[HST]

In comparison to Elmax, yes it is. I don't care to research whom Bob Dozier is, I could care less. Since you seem to not follow along very well, someone said I should look him up, Bob was never in the OPs question, the OP asked about Elmax to D2. You do some research, so you can inform yourself...I'm good.

Bob Dozier , do some research. And d2 isn't a pile of poop by a long shot, are there better all around steels now a days? yes. Does that mean that d2 is such a poor performing steel that it should be referred to as dodo? hell no.

 

[REVDH]

elmax = cpm d2.

either way though d2 is my personal preference, but I dont like either.

 

[HST]

[emoji848]

elmax = cpm d2.

 

[DeadboxHero]

Elmax is a superior steel in all areas. Not a good comparion

 

[dkb45]

Elmax is a superior steel in all areas. Not a good comparion

It depends. The heat treat is the pivotal factor. Since I don't know the specifics on each knife, I can only go on some first hand experience with both steels in production models. Some Kershaw and ZT Elmax blades run a little soft, like 58 HRC. Some D2 blades from various makers hit 61 HRC. Comparing those for a Leek, I would take the hard D2. At equal hardness Elmax wins, but at 2 points or more higher I would take D2.

 

[DeadboxHero]

Too each there own, but Elmax will sharpen faster, resist wear better, and has corrison resistance.
Elmax makes a better Leek.

 

[shinyedges]

What knives have you sharpened in both steels ?

Too each there own, but Elmax will sharpen faster, resist wear better, and has corrison resistance.
Elmax makes a better Leek.

 

[dkb45]

What knives have you sharpened in both steels ?

I'm wondering the same. I have done reprofiling on both Elmax and D2, and D2 was hardly fast, but Elmax took hours longer for about the same reprofiling. The only other steel that took longer was S30V, which isn't known for being an easy to reprofile steel.

 

[cchu518]

In comparison to Elmax, yes it is. I don't care to research whom Bob Dozier is, I could care less. Since you seem to not follow along very well, someone said I should look him up, Bob was never in the OPs question, the OP asked about Elmax to D2. You do some research, so you can inform yourself...I'm good.

Bob Dozier is a living legend knife designer trained by knife legends. Just saying. Bob likes to use D2 in his knives.

I think that's all that the other forum member was saying as this is a thread about d2 and Elmax and I presumed regular d2 not the CPM version.

 

[shinyedges]

Apparently this guy knows it all (except who Bob dozier is) and everything is remedial to him.

Bob Dozier is a living legend knife designer trained by knife legends. Just saying. Bob likes to use D2 in his knives.

I think that's all that the other forum member was saying as this is a thread about d2 and Elmax and I presumed regular d2 not the CPM version.

 

[kn4wd]

elmax, over d2 anytime. I have elmax in the zt 0770cf and 566cf. I had a pair of d2 hunters and didn't really like the time it took to get the same edge and the elmax holds better.

 

[19-3ben]

Per an image from an old BFC thread, Kershaw DOES use CPM-D2 in the composite.

I've seen other references and seen other pics of the blades that clearly show CPM-D2. However Kershaw's own website only states D2. Strange. I wonder, did they change it at some point?

 

[DeadboxHero]

What knives have you sharpened in both steels ?

I'm wondering the same. I have done reprofiling on both Elmax and D2, and D2 was hardly fast, but Elmax took hours longer for about the same reprofiling. The only other steel that took longer was S30V, which isn't known for being an easy to reprofile steel.

Benchmade Griptialin and morpho for d2

Zt 770 for Elmax

Used a diamond plate 220 grit.

The Elmax sharpened faster, took a better edge and held it longer

 

[shinyedges]

Interesting, I had a benchmade adamas in d2 and a zt 560 in elmax. I have 3 different Japanese water stone grits and a natural stone, elmax took significantly longer to sharpen.

After all elmax IS more wear resistant than d2 so it makes sense to me I guess.Diamonds could probably make short work of either.

There is the problem of I don't know the hardness each blade was ran at or the edge thickness which both have significant impact on sharpening times.

Point being I guess our limited experience isn't really enough to say either steel sharpens faster than the other given all the variables, but typically more wear resistance = longer to sharpen.

Kinda redundant when you think about it, the word wear resistant would imply it would be long to sharpen lol pretty damn odd it could be more wear resistant AND easier to sharpen unless it was ground very thin and there is less metal to remove in sharpenings.

That said, on an edge pro or large good quality stones or diamonds most steels would probably sharpen pretty quick.

Benchmade Griptialin and morpho for d2

Zt 770 for Elmax

Used a diamond plate 220 grit.

The Elmax sharpened faster, took a better edge and held it longer

 

[dkb45]

Benchmade Griptialin and morpho for d2

Zt 770 for Elmax

Used a diamond plate 220 grit.

The Elmax sharpened faster, took a better edge and held it longer

Odd, my experience is the opposite. I have done 2 Benchmade Bone Collectors in D2, a 51, a Bionic, a Kabar, and some no name Chinese folder (worked with enough D2 to tell it was D2, but it did sharpen quickly). For Elmax I have a Fox Wilson Combat, ZT 770, 561, 551, 562, and a Kershaw Speedform 2. All sharpened with my DMT Aligner with the XC plate. D2 went normally between 25-50% faster. S30V on a butt load of folders (can't even remember all of them) went up to twice as long as Elmax (those were much more extreme reprofiling). Kind of odd our experiences with similar tools would be so wildly different.