I've finally beaten S30V!

dkb45

dkb45

Joined
Dec 16, 2012
Messages
4,437
I've always had absymal performance with S30V. Razor edges that dull away from a hard look, working edges that just don't cut very well (roughly slicing paper). Also lots of rolling, but I found out that was from using a stropping compound too soft to do more than wear away the matrix around the carbides. I figured I have one that thing to try before I write off S30V for good. Diamond stropping compound. Apparently that was the missing component.

I got pretty cheap compound off of Amazon, figured no point in trying expensive stuff if it does nothing. Cut some MDF into paddles and loaded them. So far I have 2 paddles, one with 20/40 micron and one with 16/10 micron. I took my Paramilitary 2 finished with DMT red and stropped it on the 40, felt the edge and it seemed pretty decent. Shockingly keen for 40 micron, but just as aggressive as I would expect. Proceeded to 20, and the edge could shave (not super well, but still shave), and kept every bit of aggression. Push cutting receipt paper with ease. Thought this would be good to test.

Took the knife to work, cut up around 10 1x1x1 cardboard boxes, cutting them into small pieces to maximize the number of cuts. 16 cuts per box. End result? Still sharp, still shaving (albeit pretty poorly now), slices receipt paper with ease, and snags but still push cuts.

I've never had this kind of performance with S30V. I didn't think it would ever perform this well for me. Nowhere near my favorite, but if you treat it right it sure as hell performs. Finicky as all get out, but finished right it's so much better than I thought it could be.
 
S30V is funny that way. I went through a similar learning curve with it, in first attempting to grind & refine it with abrasives that (I didn't realize at the time) weren't up to the job. For a long time, it remained one of my least favorite steels and I avoided carrying or using it. When I finally came around to using diamond exclusively on it, it became no-brainer easy to take care of. The biggest revelation came when I tried some 3-micron diamond paste in polishing the edge (on wood) and, all-of-a-sudden, it's shaving edges were rivaling my favorite 1095 blades. And it was EASY getting it there with the all-diamond progression, especially at the finishing end. A forehead-slap moment for me, and suddenly I was asking myself why I hadn't done it sooner.

Good to see it's working for you now. :thumbsup:
 
I have few spydercos with s30v and sharpen them on dmt stones.Never had any problems,also tried norton silicon carbide.I PUT IT ON belt sander first and thinned out the edge when brand new.It still is not the steel I prefer.The sharpest and easiest to get sharp is Helle stainless laminated and it puts to shame all steels i have including s30v from spyderco(do not know rockwell hardness).
 
dkb45 said:
I've always had absymal performance with S30V. Razor edges that dull away from a hard look, working edges that just don't cut very well (roughly slicing paper). Also lots of rolling, but I found out that was from using a stropping compound too soft to do more than wear away the matrix around the carbides. I figured I have one that thing to try before I write off S30V for good. Diamond stropping compound. Apparently that was the missing component.

I got pretty cheap compound off of Amazon, figured no point in trying expensive stuff if it does nothing. Cut some MDF into paddles and loaded them. So far I have 2 paddles, one with 20/40 micron and one with 16/10 micron. I took my Paramilitary 2 finished with DMT red and stropped it on the 40, felt the edge and it seemed pretty decent. Shockingly keen for 40 micron, but just as aggressive as I would expect. Proceeded to 20, and the edge could shave (not super well, but still shave), and kept every bit of aggression. Push cutting receipt paper with ease. Thought this would be good to test.

Took the knife to work, cut up around 10 1x1x1 cardboard boxes, cutting them into small pieces to maximize the number of cuts. 16 cuts per box. End result? Still sharp, still shaving (albeit pretty poorly now), slices receipt paper with ease, and snags but still push cuts.

I've never had this kind of performance with S30V. I didn't think it would ever perform this well for me. Nowhere near my favorite, but if you treat it right it sure as hell performs. Finicky as all get out, but finished right it's so much better than I thought it could be.
Click to expand...

What is the edge angle? What is the micro-bevel angle? "Shockingly keen for 40 micron" doesn't sound very descriptive: "Keen" is more a matter of angle than finish.

No doubt a good well-executed micro-bevel will help S30V's pathetic apex stability.

Gaston
 
About 15 dps, no micro bevel. Shockingly keen for 40 micron is shaving and push cutting paper easily. S30V doesn't have pathetic edge stability, that's one thing I've never had an issue with.
 
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Gaston444 said:
What is the edge angle? What is the micro-bevel angle? "Shockingly keen for 40 micron" doesn't sound very descriptive: "Keen" is more a matter of angle than finish.

No doubt a good well-executed micro-bevel will help S30V's pathetic apex stability.

Gaston
Click to expand...
You do realize the entire point of this thread is that the op's past poor experience with the steel was user error that he has learned how to overcome?
Hint, hint.....
 
dkb45 said:
I've always had absymal performance with S30V. Razor edges that dull away from a hard look, working edges that just don't cut very well (roughly slicing paper). Also lots of rolling, but I found out that was from using a stropping compound too soft to do more than wear away the matrix around the carbides. I figured I have one that thing to try before I write off S30V for good. Diamond stropping compound. Apparently that was the missing component.

I got pretty cheap compound off of Amazon, figured no point in trying expensive stuff if it does nothing. Cut some MDF into paddles and loaded them. So far I have 2 paddles, one with 20/40 micron and one with 16/10 micron. I took my Paramilitary 2 finished with DMT red and stropped it on the 40, felt the edge and it seemed pretty decent. Shockingly keen for 40 micron, but just as aggressive as I would expect. Proceeded to 20, and the edge could shave (not super well, but still shave), and kept every bit of aggression. Push cutting receipt paper with ease. Thought this would be good to test.

Took the knife to work, cut up around 10 1x1x1 cardboard boxes, cutting them into small pieces to maximize the number of cuts. 16 cuts per box. End result? Still sharp, still shaving (albeit pretty poorly now), slices receipt paper with ease, and snags but still push cuts.

I've never had this kind of performance with S30V. I didn't think it would ever perform this well for me. Nowhere near my favorite, but if you treat it right it sure as hell performs. Finicky as all get out, but finished right it's so much better than I thought it could be.
Click to expand...
I
Thank you for your observation. You and others on this forum have been generous in sharing your experience. This morning I smeared 1-micron diamond paste on a hard leather strop already loaded with CrO2, which had previously given me great edges on woodworking blades of O1 and A2 steel but which had not done the same for my D2 knives or for my PM 2 S30V. The Ontario Rat 1 and PM 2 were distinctly sharper after this re-strop. I may treat a piece of MDF with 7-micron paste for a better progression but right now I'm very happy with the edges.
 
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