ELMAX Steel.

I have to say I love my 561. I have had zero problems with it, and love the way it takes a polished edge. It has made me thin out my collection.
 
I have cut everything from sandpaper and cardboard to christmas lights and steel wire with my 560 and it has performed flawlessly.
The factory edge required my usual reprofiling, but that was no problem either.
It seems that a few people can scream "burnt edges" and everyone freaks out...like screaming fire in a crowded theatre.
I also have a ScrapMax 375 and it handles chores just fine, although I haven't used it nearly as much as my 560.
ELMAX gets 2 thumbs up in my book.
 
With all these cutting, spine-whacking and what have you "tests" by individuals you just don't know the status of the knife before such tests. It's like taking a statement out of context and worth as much.
 
Kai Corp. said:
While I understand forum and YT life, that can take an individual situation(s) and run with it, I can say with certainty that there is no "existing issue". If there were, we'd most likely know about it before it left the factory due to our spec testing that we do with every HT batch that we deal with. We have volumes of information on each batch that we keep. This is not to say there won't be isolated issues, but to negatively label and then spread as gospel with a vid or a post is not exactly fair.

If you feel like you have an issue with any steel (from any manufacturer), you should send it in for evaluation. Why wouldn't you, especially on a premium knife? We'll be happy to address the situation and give you the results of the findings.
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That's a large part of my point. People using those individual experiences as evidence of a widespread problem and spreading it as unilateral truth is what has caused all these rumors. At the same time, I always like to avoid entirely dismissing someone's experience. Just like I don't see the batch notes and testing you do, I also don't see the testing done by others in person.

Personally, my opinions and experiences lead me to believe that the Elmax on my ZTs is done very well. But I'm a small sample size. The only people who can determine a problem are the manufacturer and the user who does his part by sending the knife to the manufacturer. Like I said, I believe if there is/ever was an issue, you guys would fix it.
 
HuntBomb said:
I have cut everything from sandpaper and cardboard to christmas lights and steel wire with my 560 and it has performed flawlessly.
The factory edge required my usual reprofiling, but that was no problem either.
It seems that a few people can scream "burnt edges" and everyone freaks out...like screaming fire in a crowded theatre.
I also have a ScrapMax 375 and it handles chores just fine, although I haven't used it nearly as much as my 560.
ELMAX gets 2 thumbs up in my book.
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I've been extremely happy with my 0560 as well so far. What degree edge did you reprofile yours to?
 
Mine wasnt very good, It liked rolling and flattening. I did a regrind to about 0.012 and sharpened out a fair amount of steel, seems to be all good now.
 
Just cut up a bunch of cardboard, factory edge can still slice phonebook paper with ease. ZT 801. Works fine for me.
 
i have a spyderco mule in elmax and it's done fine, granted i haven't really pushed it's limits by any means...just normal vegetation cutting and boxes, etc.

i also got a zt 0561, and i haven't done much to test it as i find the clip has no tension on it....so i fear it will slip out of my pocket, other than gravity and the weight of it holding it in. i've had good luck with zt knives, so i expect it should do well, if i put it to use.

my apologies to kai/zt for even asking this, but i am confused.....

this one or two comments on burned edges on elmax knives? what are we talking about? i thought zt didn't use a belt sander to put an edge on the knife.....now that i think about it, how does zt put edges on their knives and how could that burn the edges? i'm missing where this theory is coming from. also how would the elmax burn but not the other steels used? i am totally lost on this.....

thanks in advance for making what i am missing clear.
 
I really like my 0561 from ZT but the Elmax on mine is awful. I can't keep an edge on the thing. Easy to sharpen but it just sits right now because even the slightest use dulls it almost immediately. Very disappointed.
 
Terry M. said:
I really like my 0561 from ZT but the Elmax on mine is awful. I can't keep an edge on the thing. Easy to sharpen but it just sits right now because even the slightest use dulls it almost immediately. Very disappointed.
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Take KAI up their offer to check it out and send it in!
 
ceptor781 said:
Take KAI up their offer to check it out and send it in!
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That's a good idea. How do I go about doing this? Just send it in under warranty or is there something more specific I should do? Thanks for the idea.
 
They want knives to test if they have issues. They have a QC lab and will even work with the foundry ( who would also want to know) if there are issues. Kershaw/ZT are well known for excellent W&R. They worked pretty hard to get that reputation. If you aren't satisfied then by all means take advantage of it. If it was me I'd let them know what the issues are when you send it in. They are going to want to look at it closely at the lab.

Joe
 
Ankerson said:
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.
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I just had my 0561 checked, and it was at 60rc.
 
Elmax is my favorite stainless steels, holds a sharper edge longer than some other steels and can take a serious beating without blinking a eye. I have never experienced any chipping and if memory serves me correctly I believe it was once claimed to be a steel that didn't chip. Most "chips" are dents incorrectly described as chips in my experience.
 
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