Grain check, thoughts?

[Maineiac1]

this is my first attempt at S35VN, I broke a scrap piece right after plate quench as this is how it looks. My thoughts is it looks great?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Not the clearest photo, but it looks good. One advantage of the CPM steels is the fine grain. I don't think there is much you can do to mess it up.

 

[Ken H>]

About the best way to check grain is to break a file and look at that grain.

 

[A.McPherson]

Gonna have to disagree with that Ken...

Best way I know of is to break, polish etch, then micrograph it. Actual grains are too small to see with the naked eye, generally speaking...

 

[Natlek]

I agree , but for us who have not micrograph and use only eye this is enough to see in steel .....

 

[Ken H>]

You're right of course, "best" way to to have a lab in your shop so the grain can be really checked.... BUT - with the eye being the comparison tool, I still think comparing to a file is a very good way to check grain size.

 

[Maineiac1]

Thanks, the grain to the eye looks like extremely flat/satin with no bumps I guess I would say. I'm going to say I am very happy with it. Now to make a knife and test the edge thanks for the inputs!