S30V & chipping

RetiredGuns

RetiredGuns

Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
2,402
I'm sure this topic is been discussed several times, but wanted to hear some fresh talk. I have a new Sage 1 that I have carried as my EDC for a few weeks now and today while cutting some wax string I noticed a chip about half way down the blade. To the best of my recollection I have not cut anything that should have caused this. The hardest thing cut was probably a zip tie. Before I received the Sage I carried my Para D2 and put it though a much harder workout with no blade deformations whatsoever. I have read other threads about chipping so I am not necessarily surprised, just a little curious about the steel. Before the S30V I carried mostly 1095, 154CM CPMD2, VG10, AUS8, 440C so this is what I comparing it to. I also didn't notice a giant difference in edge retention so I'm just trying to gauge my future purchases. I'm a Spyderco nut through and through so this is not a slam at all.
 
Zip ties will definitely do it to hard s30v. It happened to my Native too. s30v is a great edge holding and wear resistant stainless steel, but it is not designed for use in hard-working blades. Others will explain more about the composition compared to other steels, i'm sure.
 
Yes zip ties will damage an S30V blade, I have a Sage 1 and was cutting zip ties and when finished I noticed some small chips or nicks on the edge.
 
I had similar problems with my Para early on, but after sharpening a couple times (and the addition of a fatter micro bevel) it's gone away completely. I've also got a CRK Umnumzaan that I hasn't chipped on me at all, but it's also not HT'd to the same hardness as the Para.
 
with all due respect from a relatively new guy and probably a bit of inexperience if a
knife chips from cutting a plastic zip tie... you can have the knife, I would be very
disappointed in the steel/grind.
 
Tightened zip ties are actually very tough and hard to cut. I see them a lot where I work (a bicycle shop) and I always grab the wire cutters to cut them because of my incident with the native.
 
ive cut all sorts of things with s30v blades, and not had problems.

however, ive also chipped both s30v and s90v without cutting anything particularly dense or hard. both chips just "showed up".

sometimes blades get damaged. i assume i hit something with them unknowingly while cutting otherwise benign material.
 
Sharpen it out a bit and move on.

Zip ties damage the edge? Never had that happen to me, even the crazy thick zip ties. Make sure it's a clean cut though, if you get a 30* edge in and start torquing it all over the place it might chip out a bit, but nothing major.
 
I’ve used a number of S30v knives quite heavily and while I have had some “micro” chipping it wasn’t anything that I wouldn’t sharpen out rather easily.
 
I'll just sharpen it out no big deal. Here are a few pics of the chip right in the middle of the blade.

chip1.jpg


chip2.jpg


chip3.jpg
 
Those aren't bad. Sometimes when sharpening the very edge will change a little bit. Sharpen and move on. :)
 
You're using the UF rods there? It's amazing the edge those rods put on. I had a ZDP-189 Caly 3 that I used those on. Wicked edge. Absolutely wicked. I was scared of the thing.
 
I have a kabar cutless machete that I just straight up abuse around the house beating on all sorts of branches and stumps. I get some pretty big nicks in it and I can get all them out with my sharpmaker. Sometimes I start out by hand on an arkansas stone and then end on the sharpmaker. I am really surprised that some of them come out.
 
i was cutting some bamboo with my millie right out of the box and had several spots on the edge that seemed rolled or slightly chipped. They were not there before im sure, and the bamboo was the first thing i cut besides my arm hair. No biggie. i just reprofiled a slightly thicker micro bevel and seems good as new.
 
I went through all 4 sets of stones. I used the 30 degree side because it looked like that from the factory and man-O-man is this thing sharp! I don't normally cut zip ties at work, but when I can't find any sidecutters I will use my knife. This is one of the reasons I don't want a super-duper expensive collectible because I use 'em.
 
There is definitely something to this>> because I've been hearing about chipping problems with S30V for at least 3 years now. I've heard it from way too many decent and reputable guys here on BF and other forums as well.

I've personally always liked the older predecessor that Crucible marketed before S30V hit the scene so to speak. I've always thought 440V ( S60V) to be a superior blade steel for many reasons. I currently carry a Spyderco SE Native with 440V and I've been very pleased with it.

Also as far as edge holding I've always found that 440V is superior in that area as well. And VG-10 is even better yet for edge holding for that type of knife.

Don't get me wrong because I have a ton of respect for Crucible ( the manufacturer of S30V and other blade steels) but I truly think that S30V has better uses than for blade steel.

We've not heard this about M-4, 440V or even Crucible's version of D-2. But I've heard it about S30V so many times that I'm convinced the steel has some problems. Not saying it's junk by any means but I am saying it's not one of my choices.
 
I have never had a zip tie chip a blade and would say that is not normal. But I have had S30V chip and I think on a new knife it is fairly common. I think it is because when the knife is sharpened at the factory they sometimes get a little overheated on the edge which can change the hardness and make it a little brittle. However, after a few sharpenings this more brittle steel is removed. Once it has been sharpened a few times in my experience any chipping will go away, unless it is abused.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I have never had a zip tie chip a blade and would say that is not normal. But I have had S30V chip and I think on a new knife it is fairly common. I think it is because when the knife is sharpened at the factory they sometimes get a little overheated on the edge which can change the hardness and make it a little brittle. However, after a few sharpenings this more brittle steel is removed. Once it has been sharpened a few times in my experience any chipping will go away, unless it is abused.
Click to expand...

+1, plus what I said.

Sometimes when setting the edge at the factory it can get a little brittle at the very edge of the knife, this can cause some micro chips in the edge. Couple of sharpening sessions and it's gone. Forever. Doesn't happen again. :)

I love S30V. It's tough, holds a great edge, very stainless, and to top it off available in a variety of blades because it's a popular steel.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I have never had a zip tie chip a blade and would say that is not normal. But I have had S30V chip and I think on a new knife it is fairly common. I think it is because when the knife is sharpened at the factory they sometimes get a little overheated on the edge which can change the hardness and make it a little brittle. However, after a few sharpenings this more brittle steel is removed. Once it has been sharpened a few times in my experience any chipping will go away, unless it is abused.
Click to expand...


Yes my Sage was brand new when it chipped, I did sharpen it since and have had no problems with it chipping after that.
 
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