- Joined
- Sep 19, 2001
- Messages
- 8,968
I have been kicking this idea around for quite some time, and I really want to get this done for no other reason than just to do it. The difficulty is in getting it done. What I want is a blade made of laminate steel, with the core being made from a ridiculously high carbide volume stainless steel currently only available as powder. I know of several makers who forge laminates and damascus, but I don't know who would do this, or how.
The project may be difficult. The powder cannot be hot worked, since this stainless steel (MPL-1/Supracor) is 46% carbide. I am thinking a canister weld with the powder in a layer between two outer plates could work. Since the powder steel is not tough, and it cannot be manipulated by forging, I want to keep the core at around 0.030-40" thick max, and I don't think it can be rolled to that thickness after the weld is set. Maybe it will take using two very thick plates, squishing them with the powder core only to weld, and then grinding/sawing the outer plates down to obtain the final stock thickness. Need a way to prevent distorting the core a lot when it gets pressed. A pocket may need to be milled, or the edges around the core shimmed, to keep the powder in place. Whatever the starting length of the billet will be the final length as well, since it can't be drawn out over multiple heats.
Would this work? Is there a better way? And who would try this? I already sent a request to a steel provider to try rolling this out, and they said they couldn't do it. The powder is meant to be sintered to screw assemblies or mud pumps, with minimal machining and processing. I thought about contacting one of the manufacturers for this equipment, but they obviously wouldn't be in the business of producing flat plate with this stuff at the core.
I have S125V, S90V, 15V, and an order for a Rex 121 knife, so there is no lack of understanding or enthusiasm for getting a blade made from this grade of steel, unnecessary as it may be
I want it because it has the highest carbon content I can find ~3.75% 
At 67 Rc it has 87% the wear resistance of tungsten carbide. But the use and sharpening will be my problem, I just need a piece of steel made first.
The project may be difficult. The powder cannot be hot worked, since this stainless steel (MPL-1/Supracor) is 46% carbide. I am thinking a canister weld with the powder in a layer between two outer plates could work. Since the powder steel is not tough, and it cannot be manipulated by forging, I want to keep the core at around 0.030-40" thick max, and I don't think it can be rolled to that thickness after the weld is set. Maybe it will take using two very thick plates, squishing them with the powder core only to weld, and then grinding/sawing the outer plates down to obtain the final stock thickness. Need a way to prevent distorting the core a lot when it gets pressed. A pocket may need to be milled, or the edges around the core shimmed, to keep the powder in place. Whatever the starting length of the billet will be the final length as well, since it can't be drawn out over multiple heats.
Would this work? Is there a better way? And who would try this? I already sent a request to a steel provider to try rolling this out, and they said they couldn't do it. The powder is meant to be sintered to screw assemblies or mud pumps, with minimal machining and processing. I thought about contacting one of the manufacturers for this equipment, but they obviously wouldn't be in the business of producing flat plate with this stuff at the core.
I have S125V, S90V, 15V, and an order for a Rex 121 knife, so there is no lack of understanding or enthusiasm for getting a blade made from this grade of steel, unnecessary as it may be
I want it because it has the highest carbon content I can find ~3.75% At 67 Rc it has 87% the wear resistance of tungsten carbide. But the use and sharpening will be my problem, I just need a piece of steel made first.