In HATE with VG10 and Elmax

I have little experience with VG-10. But from what I recall it was similar to 154CM (which I like) but just a tad softer. I plan on picking up a couple Spydercos with VG-10 pretty soon.

I have no experience with Elmax. I've read numerous mixed reviews but I like to try things out for myself and then decide.
S30V is my favorite blade steel. Spyderco's S30V in particular is outstanding. I know it inside and out and I love it. I'm also interested in becoming more familiar with some of the super steels like M390 , S90V and S110V.
 
I get my zt elmax blades literally to a level of frightening sharpness. My vg10 spydies or ZT knives have never let me down either regardless of steel. ..
 
Wolverine666 said:
I have little experience with VG-10. But from what I recall it was similar to 154CM (which I like) but just a tad softer. I plan on picking up a couple Spydercos with VG-10 pretty soon.
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VG-10 performs well enough that the Swedish Air Force has chosen to rely on it. I think you'll like it. :)
 
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Nothing wrong with either steel, but nothing wrong with disliking them either. Most love S30V, but I've had consistently bad luck with the stuff. Most of my knives in it either have mediocre edge retention or collect more chips than Frito Lay. Sell the ones you dislike and pick up stuff that performs better for you.
 
SurvivorDan said:
I have several Bark River knives and I can't recall ever seeing an offering in VG 10, but I could be wrong. Seems like A2 or CPM 3V could be considered as their "main steels".
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I don't think that the OP was trying to say BRK made knives in VG-10, but his text was a bit confusing.

Bark River does not make any blades in the Japaneses VG-10, though they are experimenting with Bohler's Elmax.


Back to the OP.

I don't care what graphs or numbers you post.

VG10 and Elmax are the worst steels (in my opinion and experience)
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.

The OP clearly states that he does not care about metallurgical analysis or statistical comparisons.

Stating that these are in his "opinion and experience" the "worst steels" clearly says more about his opinion and experience then it does about these knife steels in general.

Obviously VG-10 and Elmax are highly respected steels, and are used with great success by many knifemakers and knife users. There are no worst steels, all steels have their place when used properly.


That said, the OP is allowed to have his own opinions based on his personal experience.




Big Mike
 
That's not my experience at all. May I suggest that operator error may be a factor?

RamZar said:
Personally, hate is just wasted energy!
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Indeed.

By all means, choose knives based on your own preferences! But claiming that VG-10 and Elmax are "the worst steels" is frankly just plain silly ;)

And before anyone accuses me of being a steel snob :D, I use and very much enjoy 1080, 1084, O1, 52100, AEB-L, CPM-3V, and CPM-154 as well... I'm not strictly biased in favor of high-alloy/high carbide steels :)
 
I haven't tried Elmax yet, I heard there were some troubles with too hot sharpening on Elmax steel (ZT), but I really can't make a statement on that.

Vg-10 doesn't belong to my favorite steels either, for EDC I prefer Aus-8 of CS or higher value steels like RWL34 or CPM154 or even 440C Bohler N690; Because they sharpen all very well and hold a decent edge for a long time if sharpened right way.

Oliver
 
Lol,this thread reminds me of an old joke I heard many years ago about different types of lumber. :D
 
ukknifer said:
I don't care what graphs or numbers you post.
VG10 and Elmax are the worst steels (in my opinion and experience)
VG10= Hyped as superior to steels like aus8 and 154cm. I wish that spyderco (my favorite knife company + bark river) would quite using it as their main staple steel.
Elmax= does not sharpen well and does not keep initial sharpness well and I just hate it. Wish kershaw would stop using it.
I hope those two steels disparate in some junkyard or melt in some giant forge and never come back.

Why not use wonderful steels like D2, M2, BG-42, s30v, s35v, cpm154, (even aus8 is better than vg10)
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Based upon what? internet mumbo jumbo, rumor, non quantified opinion, internet "experts"?
 
To OP, I have no prior experience of the two steels you mentioned. Perhaps you can get rid of the Spyderco & Kershaw in those steels by sending them to me? ;):D

That way you don't have to hate them, and I get to try them, mutual benefit. :thumbup:
 
It seems the initial edge put on a knife at the factory ruins the tempering in the first small portion of the blade due to using a machine to get the edge which creates a lot of heat , once sharpened Agee times by hand and get past that bad edge It should perform much better. There's a video of this with a spyderco puukko that has a scandi grind . If also noticed it on my pm2.
 
While you're certainly entitled to your opinion, I'm quite sure almost everybody else would disagree with you about these two steels. Both take and hold a great edge.
 
skyhorse said:
Lol,this thread reminds me of an old joke I heard many years ago about different types of lumber. :D
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well now i want to hear the joke, lol.

As for the discussion at hand, yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you don't like the steel, don't use it. There are far too many choices out there to use a steel that is the "worst" in your opinion. I, however, would like to state that, in my opinion, these two steels are fantastic and I have had nothing but good experiences with both. Also, I would never choose AUS8 over VG-10. But hey, that's just one man's additional opinion.
 
bld522 said:
VG-10 performs well enough that the Swedish Air Force has chosen to rely on it. I think you'll like it. :)
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Are they metallurgists? Why would the air force of a small country issuing a particular knife have any relevance to performance of a particular steel? Not to be rude It's just that a lot of people repeat this and I really don't see how it's relevant to anything.

Properly heat treated vg-10 is very nice. it can form a stubborn burr. use light pressure.
 
In my opinion based on my own experience VG10 is a fantastic steel that can be made extremely sharp with little effort.
 
RamZar said:
Nothing wrong with Elmax & VG-10 but personally I prefer M390 & S30V as respective substitutes.

Freedom of choice and opinion!

Personally, hate is just wasted energy!
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Interesting that you lined up m390 over elmax, and s30v over vg10. Those aren't really same class comparisons.

s30v and elmax would be a better direct comparison because they are in the same class and I doubt most people would ever tell a difference between the two. Though in a blind test, I'd expect most people to pick s30v over elmax.

M390 is so far above all the other steels listed, not sure how it applies.
 
Fanglekai said:
Are they metallurgists? Why would the air force of a small country issuing a particular knife have any relevance to performance of a particular steel? Not to be rude It's just that a lot of people repeat this and I really don't see how it's relevant to anything.
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Gee, I don't know. Is it ridiculous to assume that the Swedish Air Force has some metallurgists working for it? And how many other military establishments can you name that specify a knife alloy for use by a branch of their service? And is it possible that they tested VG-10 thoroughly before selecting it or do you think it's more likely that they just pulled it out of a hat? :confused:
 
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I dont see a reason to hate these steels, vg10 is tough, holds a good edge, resists corrosion very well and is very easy to sharpen in multiple knives and I will continue to use and purchase vg10 blades. I can understand you may hate elmax if it was overheated or improperly heat treated but when its done right its really awesome. Do you have some specific reason(s) why you hate them?
 
UdTfs.gif
 
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