Metal Quiz

[jimbowie7]

Sort the following (from easiest to hardest), in terms of:

1. Machinability (from annealed state)
2. Sharpness
3. Edge Holding

O-1
D-2
440C
ATS-34
CPM S30V

-Assuming that they have all been optimally heat treated. The knife will be a skinner and is approx. 10" overall with a 4.75" blade, 5/32" thick. I'm about to venture into stainless steels, and have only O-1 as a benchmark to go by.

Thanks!

 

[jhiggins]

I'd have to dig out the Machinery's Handbook to get real factual about it. I can tell you from experience that aggressive machining will harden all the stainless steels on your list. I use very sharp drills and lots of coolant when machining stainless stuff. I like the spray-mist coolant rigs. Somewhat messy, but the steel stays cool and the spray apparatus are easily packed-up and set to the side.

Oh and btw, I like HSS drill bits and end mills. They are sharper out of the box than coated endmills. Using those and a good coolant, the correct feed and speeds, and you'll have good results machining SS stuff.

 

[Steve Hayden]

D2 is my favorite steel. It is considerably harder to work than O1, but the results are worth it in my book.

I also use S30V and it is noticably harder to work than D2, but once again, it is worth the effort if you can make it pay.

I haven't used the other stainless steels since I started using S30V for what are, to me, obvious reasons.

For a non-stainless, easier to work steel, I much prefer A2 to O1.

O1 is the only one on the list that I would consider heat treating without a furnace, though, which might be a consideration.