So who is loving AEB-L?

I've been purchasing this AEB-L from Chuck for a few years and made about a dozen pairing knives for family gifts and the feedback was that it was easy to care for. I made a couple of Gyotos and they were amazing
slicers....My testing goes with Chuck's statement about Cryogenic Quench it is a MUST to get the best performance with thin edge slicers. I have quit using CPM154 due to the ease of working AEB-L. It will take a mirror
shine but for my folding knives I have stuck with a satin finish which is easy to maintain with this steel.
 
ISKski said:
Chuck, you mention you wouldn't use AEB-L as a first choice when building a blade to cut abrasive materials - how do you think it would work as a hunting knife against deer/hog hide?
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I have never hunted hogs, but friends who do hunt hogs tell me the hide is extremely abrasive because of the dirt and sand on the skin.

When cutting abrasive materials I prefer A11. This is a carbon steel that rusts quickly and has mediocre toughness. I have a camp knife made by Michael Rader made from Bohler A11 (K294). The knife has better edge holding than any knife I own. I think a skinning blade with this level of edge holding would be excellent for cutting hog hide.

Chuck
 
ISKski said:
I have an 8'' AEB-L Wa Gyuto at ~61Rc done by Peters HT - I love this steel and it seriously may be my favorite. (sad - because I'm mostly into forged blades)

at ~61Rc it is very easy to sharpen - A few licks on the ceramic rod can bring it back to shaving sharp.

very corrosion resistant - it has been left on the cutting board over night without a wash (carbon blades don't get that special treatment) and there isn't a single spot.

it has excellent edge holding...

In my book, I prefer steel that is easy to sharpen rather than steel that holds an edge longer.

Chuck, you mention you wouldn't use AEB-L as a first choice when building a blade to cut abrasive materials - how do you think it would work as a hunting knife against deer / hog hide?
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I agree with Chuck. A11, or if you prefer stainless, Chuck sells 20CV which is the same as M390. I've made some knives from it and it is insane with regard to abrasion resistance.
 
I shared these pics on Sheaths and Such but this might be a good place too. The customer was a little vague on how the knife and sheath got under the lawnmower. This is my Compadre model. About 6" oal, AEB-L at 61 RC, ht by Peters.

QTqgBCA.jpg


The knife blade had deflected out just shy of 1/8th" from the lawnmower blade impact. A little judicious tapping on the anvil and regrinding of the secondary bevel and the knife was back to about 98-99 percent. Built a new sheath, No judicious tapping was gonna fix that puppy. This pic was after the fixing of the knife blade.

QByDUK3.jpg


Anyhow thats kind of an interesting toughness test that AEB-L passed quite well I think.
 
I like it too. Ive carried it a lot in B&T style knives..It holds up very well in skinning squirrels and cleaning fish..I harden it to about 61rc. Hit a lot of bone, cut a lot of fish heads off and no chipping..I also like that I can wade fish with it submerged all day and not worry about it..
 
I wanted to add that I have seen a large chopper made from AEB-L on a youtube video once. The maker was from somewhere in eastern Europe..That blade was at least 3/16" thick..
 
I just picked up 5 more bars from Alpha Knife supply before you guys make a run on it...lol
 
This thread makes me feel even more confident about the 4 pieces of AEB L I just got from AKS on Thursday. Get to gettin this week on it.

Jay
 
double post sorry
 
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Nice handle work!

logem said:
62 Rc sounds great for a chef slicer. How about using this steel as a hunting knife which needs a very sharp blade edge retention, but some toughness due to prying joints apart?
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If I am not mistaken, here is a maker who uses AEB-L at around 63 HRC and does some impressive cutting with it with no edge failure (although I can't watch video right now on work computer so I may be wrong, posting this link from memory). When I get done w/ my current 1095 then I think this is the next steel I want to try for high grindability and high edge stability.

[video=youtube;SjDuH8p_zZw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjDuH8p_zZw[/video]
 
I saw an old thread from around 2010 IIRC that linked to the American B-U website. The site seemed to indicated that the company made AEB-L stock up to 4mm or .157/ 5/32, but I have never seen any for sale thicker than .125-.130.
 
I find AEB-L has a tendency to warp during HT. After plate quench I get the blade out of the foil before it sets, check for straightness and correct. It can warp again on sub-zero and then be adjusted during temper cycles. PITA. I agree it has to be in upper range of hardness to perform, due to lower wear resistance. I can get 64 rc after freeze and about 61-62 rc 350 f temper.
 
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After I finish the 4 knives I have started with 1084, I plan on getting some and making a couple good meat processing knives for the kitchen. I was looking at the prices from Alpha knife works, and I found it curios that some of the thinner stock was more expensive then the thicker stock which is usually not the case, or is it just my nob inexperience showing up here. lol
 
Are you stress relieving it before hardening?
waterstoneblades said:
I find AEB-L has a tendency to warp during HT. After plate quench I get the blade out of the foil before it sets, check for straightness and correct. It can warp again on sub-zero and then be adjusted during temper cycles. PITA. I agree it has to be in upper range of hardness to perform, due to lower wear resistance. I can get 64 rc after freeze and about 61-62 rc 350 f temper.
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All the AEB-L is the same price per pound. The thin 13C26 is more per pound because Sandvik charges more.

Chuck
 
razor-edge-knives said:
Nice handle work!



If I am not mistaken, here is a maker who uses AEB-L at around 63 HRC and does some impressive cutting with it with no edge failure (although I can't watch video right now on work computer so I may be wrong, posting this link from memory). When I get done w/ my current 1095 then I think this is the next steel I want to try for high grindability and high edge stability.

[video=youtube;SjDuH8p_zZw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjDuH8p_zZw[/video]
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Good video, but I believe he said the knife was CTS-XHP @63 rc.
 
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