Some steel questions

Big Dave

Big Dave

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 18, 1998
Messages
551
I've been thinking about steel lately and need some help.

I like my knives hair popping sharp. I work in an office. My only cutting is opening mail and a very rare box. I like it when the blade glides through the paper...if you know what I mean.

I have two knives right now that I can get super sharp on my Sharpmaker. One is a 440C blade and the other is a CPM154.

I can't seem to get ATS-34 scary sharp and I've tried a bunch of different knives. I can get it sharp....sharp enough to shave real easy...but it has more resistance when going through the paper compared to the 440C and CPM154. Maybe this would be called a "toothy" edge?

Isn't ATS34 and CPM154 pretty much the same except for the CPM being a powder? Would CPM154 have a smaller grain structure and this explain the finer edge? If not, what do you think it is?

I'm on Hiroaki Ohta's wait list again and interested in trying the VG-10 steel.
http://ohtaknives.air-nifty.com/photos/friction/offvg10.html
I'm not familiar with this kind of VG-10 damascus. Does it have the same good qualities as the regular VG-10?

Thanks for the help.

Dave
 
Maybe the blade or edge geometry is different. Maybe your ATS-34 blade has a thicker edge. Or maybe the blade overall is just thicker, therefore giving you a thicker edge.
 
Thanks. Are you saying that ATS-34 will get as hair popping / paper gliding sharp as 440C?

Aloha,
DF
 
ATS-34 can get as sharp as anything out there. Just make sure the edge bevel is thin enough, and the blade profile itself is thin.
 
Dave, Yes, the CPM steels will have a finer grain structure than the other steels mentioned . Thus, their supposed to take a finer edge and have better strength . But edge geometery plays a bigger part as well . Which is why your 440C blade cuts right along with your CPM even though it has much larger grain size . I've noticed this on some of my knives as well . DM
 
Assuming the blade was ground correctly for its intended purpose .... it's not the steel, it's all in the heat treat. ;)
 
ATS-34 with the proper heat treatment will take a very fine edge. I have a couple that will tree-top arm hair (catch and cut through the hairs without ever touching the skin). The edge geometry has to be there.

Sorry I can't help with the VG-10 question. I have a bunch of VG-10 blades, but none in Damascus.
 
Too bad, I guess it's me. Maybe it's time for an Edge Pro.

I appreciate the input...although I wish it was not due to my poor sharpening skills.

Aloha,
DF
 
From what I understand, ATS-34 is one of the most finicky steels to heat treat, and it goes downhill fast if the treatment isn't just right. It is possible the ATS-34 blade you are having trouble with is simply a little off.
 
Could be, but it's been quite a few different blades from different makers.

I just needed a good reason to buy and Edge Pro Apex.

Thanks,
Dave
 
ATS34 should get just as sharp as 440c or CPM154, In my experience the grind, angle, and thickness have more to do with how a blade will cut then the steel. You could try thinning out the eege a bit and see if that helps, you wont really be able to re-profile the edge on a sharpmaker youll need either a set of benchstones or a clamp type system like the DMT Aligner or Lansky system. I highly recommend one of the clamp systems if your not experienced with freehand sharpening they pretty much guarantee professional type results.
 
Big Dave said:
I just needed a good reason to buy and Edge Pro Apex.

Thanks,
Dave
Click to expand...
Once you buy the EP, you've stepped off the edge and plunged into the abyss. ;) I got mine years ago, and the very first knife that I sharpened was tree-trimming, hair popping, I can't believe how sharp this knife is, sharp. All I did was watch the video then went to work.

After sharpening all my knives and kitchen knives, I locked away the butter knives, just to be safe...

Life will never be the same after that... :D
 
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