ELMAX Steel.

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fmf1854

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Aug 8, 2013
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What is everyone's opinion? I'm considering purchasing a knife with this steel but have never had experience with it.
 
I have limited experience with it, but as far as edge retention goes it's nothing special on the ZT knives I own in it. I'm not sure why, I assume it's because they run it soft something like how CRK runs their S35VN softish for greater strength at the cost of edge retention maybe?

Ankerson's excellent testing thread rates Elmax as having similar edge retention to D2, but that seems generous to me. Then again, he's testing systematically and I'm going off pure half-assed anecdotal speculation from my experience sharpening my 0801 and 0560 more frequently than other knives when used, so I'd trust him on that front. ;)
 
I like it. I first tried it out in a Kershaw Speedform II...thinned out the edge and brought it to a 6k polish, and I was happy with the edge retention for the price. In fact, after using it a while, I i liked it enough that I went ahead and bought a custom knife with Elmax, to try out the steel at higher RC (62-63). I think it's a good value steel... one of these days I'll buy a custom s90v/s110v knife, but for now I'm happy with it.
 
It doesn't blow my socks off like a few other steels but I've been happy with my Kershaw/ZT's in this steel. Seems a step up from S30V. I would like to try some that has a bit higher RC as well.
 
Elmax is a fine steel. Don't listen to the hype or the hate. It's not a super high end premium steel up there with m390 and s90v but it's not a crap steel that's worse than 8cr and aus6.

If you believe a video done by a hater, it holds an edge as well as s30v and is a little easier to resharpen. If you believe anther hater, you can do 50+ cardboard cuts, have it still cut paper and yet be called crap.
 
My experiences with Elmax lead me to conclude it holds an edge about as well as if not slightly better than S30V while being a little tougher and a little easier to sharpen. Your mileage may vary and I can't comment on the recent controversy as I'm just going on what I've experienced.
 
I like Elmax. Some of the YouTube reviews had me skeptical so I did my own testing. I tested my ZT0801 and Lionsteel TiSpine. Elmax just kept going after carving to various wood that I've found laying around, 1/32 aluminum sheets, and cardboard. It still slice magazine paper after all that, I didn't notice any significant chips and rolls. That's for both my ZT and Lionsteel Elmax although my Lionsteel Elmax feels harder than my ZT's. regardless my Elmax seems to go against what other people have experienced. Maybe because my 0801 is one of the first batches (#0056) that's ran harder. It's no M390, but it should take care of most things you'll need. Both of them faired better than my CRK in S30V and S35VN...
 
Hairlesstwinkie said:
I like Elmax. Some of the YouTube reviews had me skeptical so I did my own testing. I tested my ZT0801 and Lionsteel TiSpine. Elmax just kept going after carving to various wood that I've found laying around, 1/32 aluminum sheets, and cardboard. It still slice magazine paper after all that, I didn't notice any significant chips and rolls. That's for both my ZT and Lionsteel Elmax although my Lionsteel Elmax feels harder than my ZT's. regardless my Elmax seems to go against what other people have experienced. Maybe because my 0801 is one of the first batches (#0056) that's ran harder. It's no M390, but it should take care of most things you'll need. Both of them faired better than my CRK in S30V and S35VN...
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You should have done it on camera like JDavis. It would have been awesome to show a video contrary to his.

I have had zero problems with Elmax on my ZT's.
 
ELMAX is an excellent steel overall.

Taken in the 61-62 RC range it affords excellent edge retention or in the 58-60 RC range good toughness with good edge retention.

I am unaware what ZT/Kershaw does with it however.
 
I think the issue wasn't the heat treat it was burned edges specific to ZT Elmax. I have a 0561, but I haven't ran it hard so I can't really say if it is junk or not... I do like the knife so far.

Based off what I have seen, and it's more than jdavis's video, I wouldn't by any ZT Elmax until I see evidence that burnt edges are a thing of the past. I am convinced there was an issue...
 
I have a SYKCO MAXX 375. Honestly, i have not used the piss outta mine. It has seen mostly kitchen duty and a few testing walkabouts (hiking & whittling/slicing whatever comes along - NOT scientific). The steel is obviously very nice but my findings are very different from others. I would say that it's edge retention is on par with s30v but it takes me way more time to sharpen than my other knives which are mostly s30v/s35vn. Personally I rarely give two sh!ts what steel comes with a new knife. I buy from a reputable maker if they have a design I like. Given those two aspects the steel will almost definitely be just fine.
 
xICEMANx said:
You should have done it on camera like JDavis. It would have been awesome to show a video contrary to his.

I have had zero problems with Elmax on my ZT's.
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I wish I had a camera... The rate I'm buying knives, I don't have camera money. As soon as I tell myself I'll save up for a camera, another knife pops up on the exchange at a price that I couldn't refuse...

What I really wish I had was carpet. Carpet is rough on a blade. It was kind of a spur of the moment testing. I may try to completely replicate jdavis's test some day. But for my uses and needs, Elmax is great.
 
I've never understood the controversy with Elmax. I have it on my 0560. That blade is very thick and a poor cutter in standard profile, so I reprofiled mine down to 30 degrees inclusive. The knife cuts much better with the thinner edge profile, and the Elmax steel has held up very well.

Ankerson's testing shows it to be very good in a nicely standardized testing system done by someone who has tested a lot of steels and knives using the same test. Results by someone with that kind of experience mean a lot to me.

ZT seems to run their steels a little soft, but ZT's Elmax has been a nice steel for me. I like it.
 
I was very underwhelmed by my 0561 so I gave it a good regrind to .012" behind the edge and have sharpened it a lot. It actually seems to be getting harder as I sharpen away the edge.
It used to roll and chip very easy and as that was sharpened away it is rarely chipping at all.
I have used it one custom so far and really liked the way it worked. I have another piece of Elmax to make some more from to get a better understanding.
 
It's funny. I've never owned it or used it myself, but I've sharpened several ELMAX knives. From what I can tell from sharpening it, it is very fine-grained, nice stuff. I'd be happy to own an ELMAX knife, and I might buy one eventually.
 
I like it. I have an 0551; bought used with a shaving-sharp polished convex edge (edge looks more acute than stock, but I don't know the angle.). I don't use it much, but I've cut through a couple boxes and chopped though a 1" and a 1.5" olive branch with it. I have not touched it up. It still shaves, and is still shiny.
 
Big Chris said:
I was very underwhelmed by my 0561 so I gave it a good regrind to .012" behind the edge and have sharpened it a lot. It actually seems to be getting harder as I sharpen away the edge.
It used to roll and chip very easy and as that was sharpened away it is rarely chipping at all.
I have used it one custom so far and really liked the way it worked. I have another piece of Elmax to make some more from to get a better understanding.
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Wow, Chris, that's a thin edge for the 0561. My 0560 reprofiled to 30 degrees inclusive, still has edge shoulders 0.043 inches. My Sebenza in stock trim is 0.0175, but the bevel on my 0560 is so wide that I didn't want to go further.

(By the way, the 10V trailing point knife at 0.013 behind the edge that I got from you has pretty much spoiled me for a super slicer. That knife and that steel are awesome.)
 
Twindog, since I did not get to use the Elmax knife I made I wanted to play with the steel and I liked the knife. The edge was just too thick and not enjoyable to use because of such poor geometry. Also, I knew I would not be abusing or stressing to the knife I wanted to make it cut. And yes, 10V is an awesome steel for cutting. I want to make some smaller knives with even thinner edges to really push the performance.
I agree with Magnaminous_G, Elmax has a very nice feel on the stone.
 
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