Silly question...maybe

on_the_edge

on_the_edge

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I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not sure where to ask this, but am looking for answers from folks who IMO will most likely know the correct answers, and hence I post it here. Mods, if it needs to be moved, plz. feel free.

Lets say you have a bunch of knives, each made with a different steel. That is the only difference between them and everything else is exactly the same--weight, blade geometry, edge length, etc. In theory, with a single draw of the knife, if done exactly the same way for each knife, shouldn't all of them cut to an exactly equal depth? Why or why not?

If they don't cut to an equal depth, is there any reason why Knife A might cut to a greater depth in Medium 1 than Knife B, and yet the results are reversed in Medium 2?

Thanks for indulging my curiousity folks. Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated.
 
If all the knives are make from a hardenable knife steel, they will all cut about the same....for the first cut. Then as each one wears a bit ( some more than others) they will cut differently. On the 100th cut the difference will start showing.
Stacy
 
Was any of the blades forged so they could edge pack? :p

I'm with Stacy, if everything is the same but the steel is the same then the only difference would be in edge retention. I can't see how you could make every blade EXACTLY the same.... so there would be minute differences.
 
Will Leavitt said:
Was any of the blades forged so they could edge pack? :p

I'm with Stacy, if everything is the same but the steel is the same then the only difference would be in edge retention. I can't see how you could make every blade EXACTLY the same.... so there would be minute differences.
Click to expand...

I know that different blades equal in all physical respects except the steel is an impossibility really if for no other reason than there would necessarily be slight differences in weight between the different steels. I'm just trying to figure out conceptually what makes one knife a better cutter than the next for that first cut, where edge retention does not matter. It sounds like you folks are saying that it's really all boils down to blade geometry. Is that accurate?
 
Geometry and polish level is what cuts.... how long the geometry lasts is where steel selection, heat treating and tempering comes into play.
 
Geometry, geometry, geometry. Always, but especially on the first cut.

The other thing to consider is the type of cut and the type of edge. A super-fine polished edge works great for push cuts and when cutting certain materials. A rougher toothy edge cuts better in a draw cut when cutting certain materials.

--nathan
 
I may be/probably am wrong about this, but don't different alloys differ in how well/cleanly they sharpen up? I'm talking about 10k+ grit sharpening mediums, where things like carbide volume/size and grain size can come into play at the very edge.
 
Bob let's test your thoughts on grain size versus geometry.

a. Microsuperninjamonkey fine grained steel with a 45 degree total edge sharpening.

b. Piece of mild steel with a 20 degree total edge sharpening.

Which edge are you willing to run across your palm?

In my experience, geometry cuts, steel and the other factors determine how long.
 
on_the_edge said:
I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not sure where to ask this, but am looking for answers from folks who IMO will most likely know the correct answers, and hence I post it here. Mods, if it needs to be moved, plz. feel free.

Lets say you have a bunch of knives, each made with a different steel. That is the only difference between them and everything else is exactly the same--weight, blade geometry, edge length, etc. In theory, with a single draw of the knife, if done exactly the same way for each knife, shouldn't all of them cut to an exactly equal depth? Why or why not?

If they don't cut to an equal depth, is there any reason why Knife A might cut to a greater depth in Medium 1 than Knife B, and yet the results are reversed in Medium 2?

Thanks for indulging my curiousity folks. Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Surface finish can make a difference. So can the precise character of the edge itself -- is it very "toothy" for example.
 
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