is CPM-D2 worth the expense?

I love D2. I am not making crow bars or straight razors. I have been doing a 30 min soak at 1850 then, right after a plate quench, I go for 2 hours in acetone and dry ice, then 2 tempers at 425 for 2 hours each. They shave hair and keep on cutting when other stuff is dull. I too have hammered them through a 16 penny nail with little edge damage. I think Butch has made some CPM D2 into a straight razor or was going to. I am very happy with regular D2
 
how did i get pulled in to this :)

i have not finished my "test " razor that will have swap able blades

once i do i can tell you i plan on making just about every steel i have on hand in 1/8 thickness into a test blank
might have to try the same thing in a knife shape too for testing edges
 
Thanks for all the input gents. I had no idea you could use dry ice and acetone to cryo, I'll look into that more when I set up my own HT equipment.

I guess so far I'm pretty convinced that regular D2 should be fine, provided the HT'er doesn't blow it. But it only seems fair to order up a small piece of CPM to test :)

Speaking of HT'ers, do you fellas recommend any services? Or should I just go with Texas Knifemaking Supply?

Thanks again to some of the most respected minds on the site. I appreciate y'alls patience!

butcher block, your tag line says, "If you're not going to do it right, don't do it." My dad said that to me one time after I missed a couple spots mowing the lawn. Without thinking I said back, "Fine, do it yourself then!" Guess who came to, flat on his ass in the grass a minute later? :o)
 
James_Terrio said:
Speaking of HT'ers, do you fellas recommend any services? Or should I just go with Texas Knifemaking Supply?

Thanks again to some of the most respected minds on the site. I appreciate y'alls patience!
Click to expand...

Paul Bos is a well known and respected name in the business. His cryo setup gradually reduces the temperature rather than a sudden dunk into LN, which I think may be important with LN. I suggest you request cryo before a snap temper, which is not standard in that order. There is a slight chance of a crack this way, but there is a real difference in edge stability.

www.buckknives.com/resources/pdf/Paul_Bos_Brochure.pdf
 
LN gives you about -300 F and dry ice about -100. Some suspend the blade above the LN rather than in it to reduce risk of cracking.
 
mete said:
LN gives you about -300 F and dry ice about -100. Some suspend the blade above the LN rather than in it to reduce risk of cracking.
Click to expand...

However many (most) steels only benefit from -100, the rest is gravy. The main
advantage of LN is that it will keep longer in a dewar and thus be more economical
and convenient if you use it frequently.
 
I've used both regular D2 and CPM D2. The finish is much better with the CPM D2. You don't see the structure of the grain. I think the performance is similar. I HT up to 1850F for 30 min then plate quench. Snap temper at 300F for 30 min. Then LN overnight. 2 tempers @ 500F for 2 hours each. Both versions grind the same before and after HT. The CPM is a bit more expensive.
-John
 
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