S90V yes or no

G

glorfindel

Joined
Apr 6, 2003
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Does anybody have any experience with S90V, I mean edge holding, corrosion resistance and other physical capabilities, comparing to S30V steel?

S90V is rather rare thing to get, in limited editions sometimes can be noticed. I know that it has got 9% of Vanadium, but is it so hard to resharpen? Is wear resistance so good to outperforms 440V?
 
Stain resistence is good, wear resistence is excellent, it takes a very thin, keen edge and is a bear to resharpen if you let it get too dull. That is my only complaint about this steel; you don't have to resharpen very often, but the less you do the harder it is.
 
S90V has much better wear resistance that S30V, but isn't nearly as tough. So, whether or not S90V is a good choice for you really depends on the application: if you're going to be cutting relatively soft, abrasive materials like cardboard, S90V is a winner; on the other hand, if there are staples in that cardboard, you're going to wish that you'd gone with the S30V.
 
For me, S90V is a no. I just don't like the kind of edge you get on it. Maybe I'm spoiled by good old high carbon tool steel, but nobody I know has ever been able to get S90V as wickedly sharp as something like W2 or O1. And, God help you if the S90V blade has an edge that is not super thin, as you are going to be working with your diamond stone for a good long while.
 
I have two blades in S90V and have not had too much of a problem resharpening them. I do use use diamond stones and to me it is actually no harder to sharpen than S30V is at 60RC. Something I do though is use a double bevel on it. I start with around a 17 degree bevel and then put a final 20 degree narrow final edge on them and this way it doesn't take as long to touch up the edge. Just don't let it get too dull before resharpening. S60V can also be rough if you let it get too dull before resharpening.
 
Danbo :

God help you if the S90V blade has an edge that is not super thin, as you are going to be working with your diamond stone for a good long while.
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If you have an S90V knife with a thick edge you have bigger problems than sharpening becuase you have a knife designed with the exact opposite geometry which is optimal for the steel. That is like complaining that L6 is a poor knife steel because it rust really quickly on salt water fillet blades (which it will). S90V will likewise come off poorly on heavy tactical knives with thick and obtuse edges.

-Cliff
 
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