Maxamet damage: Scratching my head

Would Spyderco look at it and try to determine what happened to it if the OP sent it in to them?
 
I guess I got lucky. I have a Manix2 Maxamet and that blade is darn near "magical."

The only thing that I've ever owned that holds an edge that well is CPM Rex 121.
 
Rusty also posted in the spyderco forum, the blade edge was not cleaned before taking magnified pictures.

IFz0FRn.png



Diemaker said:
Geometry doesn't explain the middle of the second photo or most of the bottom photo.
Click to expand...
 
Ben Dover said:
I guess I got lucky. I have a Manix2 Maxamet and that blade is darn near "magical."
Click to expand...

Hey, Ben.
In the past week I've been experimenting, and residue is a real thing. Residue from whatever you're cutting doesn't always come off with traditional cleaners, a brush, and a cloth. I don't want to go crazy with a scotchbrite, as that might degrade my edge. This "residue" looks really confusing under a 'scope.

Since I last put an edge on this knife a week ago, it's received regular day-to-day usage. Looking at it tonight, it's consistent with what I've seen in the past. The bevel remains VERY flat, the only visible wear being very close to the apex. On lesser steels, I'd expect to see some rounding or deformation at this point. The edge is still very sharp, but no longer breathtakingly so. Under the scope, the only rounding I see is VERY close to the edge. You can also see some minor edge degradation. None of this is visible to the naked eye.

I don't do scientific analysis, only observations from casual use. But at this point I haven't seen a material that will maintain it's shape as well as this.

I've been carrying this knife almost every day for five months, and at this point in time, I haven't come across anything I'd rather have in my pocket.
maxamet-good.jpg
 
I don't know what to say...

My guess would be as others said - lateral pressure and friction from rubber.
Also, edge geometry is a major factor too.
 
I've had pretty good results getting rid of residue on any blade with a small amount of mineral spirits on a piece of scrap leather.
 
I sharpened my native 5 in maxamet at 17 per side today and when I apexed the edge i could chip the edge with my fingernail leaving big chunks out of the edge which i could dull with a microfiber cloth. I started a warranty repair.. my Para3 and pm2 in maxamet do not do this. That's my experience with this.
 
ArenaRed said:
I sharpened my native 5 in maxamet at 17 per side today and when I apexed the edge i could chip the edge with my fingernail leaving big chunks out of the edge which i could dull with a microfiber cloth. I started a warranty repair.. my Para3 and pm2 in maxamet do not do this. That's my experience with this.
Click to expand...
Chip maxamet with fingernail? Dull it with microfiber cloth? Now that's extreme!
 
Yeah I was extremely surprised and was wondering why when I stropped it it would be worst than when I finished with ceramic 1600 on the wicked edge using very light pressure
 
I have a para 3 in maxamet and I beat the ever loving crap out of it, never had an issue... but then again I haven’t reprofiled the edge. I’ve cut plastic pipe with sand in it, wood, all manner of packaging, no chipping whatsoever.
 
Like I stated my Para3 and PM2 do not have this problem. I will resharpen the pm2 tomorrow at 17 degrees per side and check its edge. I will post pictures if they are as bad as my native.
 
Sounds like a bad sharpening job.

Only use Diamond/Cbn for the best results.

ArenaRed said:
I sharpened my native 5 in maxamet at 17 per side today and when I apexed the edge i could chip the edge with my fingernail leaving big chunks out of the edge which i could dull with a microfiber cloth. I started a warranty repair.. my Para3 and pm2 in maxamet do not do this. That's my experience with this.
Click to expand...
 
ArenaRed said:
I sharpened my native 5 in maxamet at 17 per side today and when I apexed the edge i could chip the edge with my fingernail leaving big chunks out of the edge which i could dull with a microfiber cloth. I started a warranty repair.. my Para3 and pm2 in maxamet do not do this. That's my experience with this.
Click to expand...
I had a new s30v blade do this.
Removing a lot of metal through several sharpenings finally got it performing as it should.
But you're right to send it back, a knife shouldn't come like that new.
 
ArenaRed said:
Interesting... could you elaborate how you got to a “bad sharpening job”

wicked edge uses diamond stones.
Click to expand...


Nah, why don't you elaborate. Why do I have to extract all the information about what you did. If you wrote it out more clearly and in more detail,
I wouldn't be left to assume what you did or didn't do.

I have the same knife in Maxamet and I haven't experienced the same behaviors with a properly sharpened edge, however, on a Manix 2 LW Maxamet I did see when using cheap alumina to repair a damaged edge it built up fatigue and the edge wasn't able to get as sharp and was more prone to failure even breaking the edge off during sharpening. The damaged steel had to be removed with proper stones and than the edge was back to normal.

So, I do know from experience that the sharpening is the first thing that needs to be ruled out when we're observing behaviors at the edge.

Just saying "wicked edge" doesn't rule out the sharpening, nor does it mean universally that the diamond stones are being used. Also going too coarse with too much pressure may also cause issues with those coated diamond stones. The diamond grains penetrate deeper into the bevel. The deeper cuts may behave like stress risers in the edge. That is why I enjoy bonded stones for exotic steels like maxamet.

It was my experience with Maxamet that pushed me to find/create better sharpening stones.
 
Exactly my point, you did not have all the information to assume it was a bad sharpening job. I also stated that I have 2 other knives in maxamet that do not have this problem.

anyway , no more feeding the troll.
 
ArenaRed said:
Exactly my point, you did not have all the information to assume it was a bad sharpening job. I also stated that I have 2 other knives in maxamet that do not have this problem.

anyway , no more feeding the troll.
Click to expand...

He is anything but a troll...miscommunication or otherwise. Let's just chalk it up to "failure to communicate".

Shawn is a very valuable member of this community and has helped hundreds of folks with questions and answers regarding everything from sharpening to heat treating to making knives.

Please don't generalize from one instance of communication breakdown.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top