How did I wear out my VG-10 Delica so easily?

S

StandOnGuard

Joined
Feb 17, 2006
Messages
32
I just used my Spyderco Delica Wave with VG-10 steel to shave filings off of a magnesium firestarter block. I was amazed at how easily my Delica became dull! Isn't VG-10 supposed to be tougher?
 
Aren't you supposed to use the spine of the blade, not the sharpened edge?
 
Elemental magnesium has a hardness of ~27 HRC (as best as I can figure). I wouldn't be surprised if the firestarter has some alloying elements that made it harder. That's a recipe for instant dullness, my friend. Better stick with the spine.
 
Joe-Dirt said:
Only a fool would use the sharpened edge.
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You can slice into it with the edge as opposed to just scraping it with the spine. The edge gets dull and you sharpen it.

-Cliff
 
When I first got my magnesium firestarter, I used my large S30V RSK on it. To my surprise, it dulled the "supersteel".

I found out later, as it's already been said here, that most people use the spine of the knife for striking. I've read some people even put a small file or piece of scrap metal with their kit just for scraping and striking the magnesium-- to spare their all important edge for other survival tasks.
 
I taped a large box cutter blade to the little mag/flint block. Super sharp edge and I have no problem using it till it couldn't cut butter, and it's always there with the mag/flint.
 
The file on a leatherman (wave or supertool is what I use) is the fastest, most efficient way that I've found so far to make a pile of mag "kindling" in the least amount of time.
 
Oh, that explains it.
When I first got my magnesium firestarter, I used my large S30V RSK on it. To my surprise, it dulled the "supersteel".
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Good, so I'm not the only one. Even better, it's got nothing to do with VG-10 being weak.
Thanks folks.
 
Ok, dont confuse, hardness and strength. IN GENERAL (cause I know someones gonna chime in on this, but I'm trying to keep this simple), hard steels take and hold an edge better, but will shatter/chip/break apart, etc. Softer steels will bend instead of break, roll over at the edge, etc.
 
Who said anything about chipping or rolling?


Anyways, steel is steel. Whether it is S30V or 420J2, the blade will become dull if you use it in extreme cases. Just because S30V is considered a super steel it does not mean you can cut rocks in half with it.


Just like the guy who thought ZDP-189 could cut through soda cans without dulling the edge :rolleyes:
 
Django606 said:
Just because S30V is considered a super steel it does not mean you can cut rocks in half with it.
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But I saw this Samurai movie and... :D

The differences in hardness of steels is apparant when you compare them to each other. Compared to other materials, steel is, well, steel. You just don't do some things with your knife (if you like it).

That said, I've done horrible things to my SAK blade. Sometimes, a knife just has to take one for the team.
 
Exactly. Steel is steel, but some are better suited to abuse, like unhardened S7 makes great prybars
 
Recently someone (I am very sorry that I don't remember which thoughtful member that was) suggested to me to break of a piece off a hacksaw blade and to tape (attach it to the beaded chain that the starter comes with) it to the firestarter....best idea ever!

Actually, it is even worse than cutting elemental magnesium, the surface is coated with an oxid layer which you are bound to scrap on, even if you try to mostly cut into the block. Magnesium oxid (just like aluminum oxid or alumina which is used as an abrasive) is a lot harder than even hardnened steel.
 
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