So what is Elmax comparative to?

Cassull

Cassull

Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
318
Hey guys, just purchased a 0560, my first Elmax steel knife.

Does anyone have any information on this steel? HRC, corrosion resistance, etc?
 
I just got my first knife in Elmax a while back.
I didn't really use it - It was a ZT 0551.
So I ended up trading it for a User ZT 0560 and a user ZT 0350.
I've used the ZT 0560 pretty hard and consistently.
Wet hands, sweat, everything, not the first sign of rust or corrosion. So I would say it's pretty rust resistant.
And the edge retention is great. I have mine shaving sharp. It's gone through loads of cardboard, tape, paper, foam packaging, and even some wood. It still shaves hair. It's a pretty great steel from what I've experienced so far.
 
I don't have the break down of the metals in Elmax, I have read it on this forum. A quick google search can have it for your quicker than waiting for the steel gurus.
 
Elmax is one of the best all around stainless steels used in the cutlery industry even though it started out as a plastics die steel or something. The steel is extremely clean. I've taken mine ( Speedform 2) up past 8,000 grit with strop on leather with diamond. It takes a great edge and can cut well at high polish, or low ( 220 grit or so). I seem to get higher sharpness levels than S30V initially, and it seems to keep the high levels longer. I have yet to cut until it was completely dull in a head to head but I'd think they aren't too far off.

As Blade Chick stated the corrosion resistance is good to excellent.

Edge stability is great for a highly alloyed, high carbide stainless. A bit better than S30V and M390 IMO.

Toughness levels seem pretty good though that comes from reading posted results and not any testing to destruction of my own knife. Can't afford that stuff and probably couldn't be bothered anyway.

All in all Elmax is one of the best all around stainless steels used in cutlery now, in my opinion at least. You can find steels that have better corrosion resistance ( H-1), more wear resistance ( M390, S90V), and toughness ( Perhaps H-1, 420 used in frames at rc 50-52, and perhaps steels like 12c27(m) though I'm unsure about these) but the all around scores are up there with the best of the best in high wear stainless steels.

Joe
 
Have carried my 0551 for a while now and can't say enough good about Elmax steel. I've never seen a chip and for a stainless its extremely tough. It sharpens easily and can be "steeled" with a ceramic to bring back a razor sharp edge. Edge retention is hard to compare but in my uses I find it much better than S30V.
 
I have found its ability to take a very keen edge easily and its toughness among its greatest strengths along with corrosion resistance. I have only stropped my 0561 once and it push cuts news paper a month later with plenty of tough cutting tasks in between. This is with the original factory edge. Its worlds better than S30V as far as edge stability also IMO. Supremely balanced steel.
 
Elmax is awesome. I have several knives in it and it's my favorite stainless steel along with M390.

It is very, very corrosion resistant. It's stain resistance has to be among the top of the heap for high wear resistance steels.

Also it takes a great edge and keeps shaving sharp for a Long time. Iv EDC'd my 0560 every day for about a month and a half and I've never actually sharpened it. I've stropped it twice on the paper wheels and it will still shave.

Edge stability is great. It Tends to roll and not chip.

For what it's worth I think Elmax and m390 are the best general purpose stainless steels out there.

To me Elmax is like a cross between A2 and M390
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top