INFI and Heat Treatment

Hondo.3

Hondo.3

Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
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I understand that INFI is a proprietary material, the composition of which is secret. I'm also under the impression that Jerry's heat treatment process is more involved than most. I'd like to know which is more important to the overall performance of Busse knives.

To put it another way, what would be better, a premium carbon steel blade heat treated by Jerry, or an INFI blade heat treated by someone like Paul Bos?
 
Judging from the performance of the Swamp Rat line, I have to give the nod to Jerry's heat treat being the key. :thumbup:

I understand that the heat treat process is a bit different on the Rats, but it's still the same philosophy behind the process. :D
 
Hondo.3 said:
I understand that INFI is a proprietary material, the composition of which is secret. I'm also under the impression that Jerry's heat treatment process is more involved than most. I'd like to know which is more important to the overall performance of Busse knives.

To put it another way, what would be better, a premium carbon steel blade heat treated by Jerry, or an INFI blade heat treated by someone like Paul Bos?
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Well, both the steel and the HT are important. They are not mutually exclusive. However, if you were to ask your question as follows: Would you rather have an untreated INFI blade out in the elements or a 52100 blade HT by Busse. Which would you take. I would take the HT blade anyday, INFI or not. However, given equal HT, INFI wins every time.
 
i dont think that paul bos would do what jerry does with infi.

nor do i think that paul bos would do what jerry does with 52100.

jerry concentrates on making it so that the knife will not chip out, but get it as hard as you can in the process, allowing for maximum strength with as much edge holding as you can get with said strength.

with such a dedicated direction to take your heat treating in, he's been able to do wonderful things with high carbon steels, and i think he's getting every last drop out of infi (in the strength+hardness direction).


so in short - i would rather have a carbon steel heat treated by jerry then an infi blade heat treated by paul bos, if only because jerry has had a lot of experience with a2, d2 and 52100, where as bos has no experience with infi, and secondly because jerry goes for all the attributes i want in a heat treat.
 
Methinks INFI is the sum of the steel and the heat treatment. That is, it's not INFI until it's heat treated.

Cheers,
BJB :D
 
No one has mentioned the DEEP cryo treatment these knives get. Remember Isaacson's D2 testing.... WOW! :eek: It increases the strength and flexibility of the steel by a whole lot!
 
Walking Man said:
No one has mentioned the DEEP cryo treatment these knives get. Remember Isaacson's D2 testing.... WOW! :eek: It increases the strength and flexibility of the steel by a whole lot!
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True, and the entire HT process including the cryo takes an ungodly number of hours to have it done right. Busse knows all about shocking steel during HT and how if you rush things you get microscopic cracks in the steel. These are all stress risers and when you see brittle failures quite often this is the reason.

other quality knife makers also mention how long their HT takes, so this is not unusual. Ask a quality knife maker what his HT is all about. He either knows it well or sends it out to have it done by a specialist.

What BJB said is also correct, INFI isn't just the steel it is the combo of steel and HT.

in the end, you get what you pay for:thumbup:
 
BillyJoeBob said:
Methinks INFI is the sum of the steel and the heat treatment. That is, it's not INFI until it's heat treated.

Cheers,
BJB :D
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Methinks you're right. The composition of INFI was known almost from the getgo. As soon as an analysis was done.

The thing is, no one else has duplicated it, performance wise.
Also, look what Jerry has been able to wring out of D2 and 52100, 2 steels that are widely used. The only thing left is the heat treat which is more closely guarded than the composition of INFI.

I think after much trial and error, Jerry finally hit the HT lotto and we all benefit from his efforts.

The Rats really show this, with production 52100 outclassing customs using the same steel.

Rob
 
BillyJoeBob said:
Methinks INFI is the sum of the steel and the heat treatment. That is, it's not INFI until it's heat treated.

Cheers,
BJB :D
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so what you're saying is, one infi in the hand is worth two in a bush? :confused:

buy the way, i acually did light my balls on fire just to show jerry and jennifer i could do it. one spark and poof, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!

i think jennifer was a lil shocked as she hasn't been around guys torching there balls before.... vicki was pissed as i did it in the kitchen :thumbup: :cool:
 
Well, Hell! Would Vicki rather you have done it in the bedroom where the linens might have caught on fire? Outside may have been better, but the kitchen is a fine place.

Such a thing is not often witnessed.

Jerry Lee Lewis even did a song about it.

Goodness Gracious .......GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!!!

Rob
 
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