MT12 Cruwear Mule: experiences

[xavierdoc]

Following on from yablanowiz's experience in this thread, I thought it would be useful to have a separate thread for people to post their findings.

Here are some pics of my Cruwear Mule experience so far. (NOT scientific- this is purely seat-of-the-pants stuff.)

Macro of the edge at approx 20deg inclusive:

The knife and a piece of wood to play with:

Stripped off the bark:

Edge:

I think 20deg inclusive is a pretty severe test of a blade steel but I usually try a new mule at this angle and then add a 30 deg microbevel. If needed this becomes a 40deg microbevel.

So I put a 40 deg microbevel on:

Edge Macro:

Ready for retesting:

Edge afterwards:

Without a macro lens there is no visible edge damage. Slight damage visible on the macro pic.

I'm not sure what to make of this blade yet. This was a very brief test comparing a 20deg inclusive edge with a 40deg microbevel/20deg backbevel. As such, all it compares is edge stability, since I did not do enough cutting to test edge-holding. Given how soft the steel seems to be with the file comparison (with M390 and Superblue Mules, see other thread) I am a bit concerned about the heat treat.

 

[xavierdoc]

From the other thread (MT12 Mule release date):

As in my post above, I had noticed the MT12 Cruwear Mule seemed a little soft. I did the "file test" comparing it to the Aogami Superblue and M390 mules and there was a marked difference:

M390 Left; Cruwear Middle; Aogami Superblue Right.

I took a video of the test and it is uploading (slowly...)

I'll be interested to see what Sal finds as mine seems v soft. Wish I hadn't done the scales now. I'll post some usage pics for comparison, too. Anyone got access to a calibrated Rockwell machine?

I still think the Mule program is a credit to Spyderco, BTW. I hope this constitutes useful feedback and doesn't put Sal off releasing more interesting steels for us to try.

 

[xavierdoc]

Here's a vid of the file test (I'm no videographer, as you will see.)

[video=youtube;uR-i3qcLtVU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR-i3qcLtVU[/video]

There was a palpable and audible difference in the way the file bit the metal (see the still pic for scratches left.)

 

[dsmegst]

Thanks so much for doing some critical tests. I think you saved a lot of people time and money with your findings.

 

[xavierdoc]

Thanks so much for doing some critical tests. I think you saved a lot of people time and money with your findings.

I think yablanowicz first alerted Spyderco to the problem but thanks anyway!

My final experiences with this release of the MT12 Cruwear Mule:

Cooking:

Cutting:

Stripping:

I hope this Mule has enjoyed its brief holiday in England. Tomorrow it goes home with its brother. Hopefully they'll be back for a longer stay soon...

 

[JNewell]

Sal Glesser has posted on these at Spyderco Forums - the HT was defective and they are recalling those that have been sold. A stand-up company and management. :thumbup: ^3 Edit - whoops, here too.

 

[Rurouni]

Any update on how the retreated metal performs?

 

[yablanowitz]

I've been using mine at work, and and I'm quite pleased with it. Sharpening takes far more effort than the first one, which is a good thing. Edge retention is excellent, with no unexpected chipping or rolling. Looks like they got it right this time.

 

[JNewell]

It wouldn't hurt to remind folks what "work" involves in your use. Few of us use knives as hard as you do during the day. When you say you're "pleased" with how it's doing "at work," that really means something... :thumbup:

I've been using mine at work, and and I'm quite pleased with it. Sharpening takes far more effort than the first one, which is a good thing. Edge retention is excellent, with no unexpected chipping or rolling. Looks like they got it right this time.

 

[yablanowitz]

I suppose I could have mentioned I was using it to deburr the edge of a burnoff scraper while peeling vinyl tile off a concrete floor.