How rust resistant is ZDP-189?

Buffalohump

Buffalohump

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Sep 7, 2006
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Hiya all,

Just wanted to ask: is ZDP-189 a stainless steel? I frequently use my knives to cut foodstuffs and sometimes neglect to clean them properly.

How careful do I have to be with my CF Stretch?

Thanks!
 
Stainless, yes, but "stain less" is a continuum, not an absolute. ZDP-189 will stain more easily than VG-10 which, in turn will stain more easily than some inexpensive steels which are highly rust resistant but don't hold an edge worth a damn. So yes, you do need to be at least a bit more careful with your CF Stretch than you would need to be with its FRN VG-10 sibling.

Paul
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My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
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Corrosion resistance is not a strong point for ZDP-189 unfortunately. Food acids in particular will wreak havoc on a ZDP-189 blade if not washed off immediately with fresh water. I have also heard that it does not fair well against salt water environments either.

In the summer of 08 I was cutting up some tomatoes with one of my ZDP blades and the next day the corrosion was some of the most unusual I had ever seen on any metal. It's as though some monster out of a Stephen King movie had taken bites out of the edge in particular.

Every blade steel has it's good points and it's weaknesses. As great of a blade steel that ZDP is it's not a very corrosion resistant steel from what I've experienced. Keep the blade clean and you'll be fine.
 
Hmmm..... cool, thanks.

Fortunately I caught it early and was able to polish it out with Flitz but I will be more careful in future.

I must say S30V gets the prize when it comes to hassle free use. I rarely have to worry about my S30V blades.
 
I am very careful about cleaning my blades - especially the higher $ ones. That being said, I had my ZDP-189 CF Stretch 2 get a few spots of rust on the exposed area of the blade (when closed) near the opening hole, on the side that my thumb hits, which by the way is also the side toward my body (tip down). Anyway, it was a few pits that appeared, and there was no getting rid of them at all. They were small, but amazingly deep. I probably sweat acid or something, but that was my experience. I just bought 2 of the VG10 models for EDC. One for me, and one for my son for Christmas. :) I believe these will work much better for my "acid hands". I really like this knife design as you can tell!
 
All I can say is, my experiences with ZDP-189 have been different. My CF ZDP Stretch was one of the first batch made. It was purchased as soon as they became available a little over two years ago and put to work as soon as it arrived. It has been both carried and used in my kitchen quite frequently and has cut all manner of foods including citrus, tomatoes, and pickles. It has also been used to spread mustard on sandwiches and then cut them. I normally rinse the blade off when I'm done and use dish detergent if I've cut something greasy or starchy. After that, it's normally shaken dry and stuck back in my pocket. Yes, the blade has, at times, developed a patchwork of dark grey patina stains, particularly after spreading mustard, but so have several of my VG-10 knives when similarly treated. On the other hand, I have yet to find a speck of rust on it.

Paul
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My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
Obviously I have only anecdotal evidence...

But, I think that some people are more corrosive, or live in more corrosive environments.

My Gen 4 Mule corroded in the box, just from handling.

I used to corrode ATS-55 like I was a Q Fog Test...

Marion
 
I had zero problems with my ZDP Endura. I carried it IWB on sweaty summer days here in CA, and I've never seen any rusting or discoloration.
 
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