Spyderco's ZDP-189 Rockwell level

S

spyderco lover

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I'm just curious, I recently purchased a ZDP endura and had to reprofile the thing. One bevel was a perfect 15 degrees but the other was about 20 and so I slapped it on the edge pro to even them out. Took 75 minutes to finally bring it down to 30 degrees inclusive. What I'm wondering is what do they normally HT their ZDP to? I've heard it can be pushed to 65 and beyond so any input would be great!
 
I heard they are around 64-65 rc now . The earlier models were higher, but people complained they were a little chippy so they brought the hardness down for added toughness. As a "cutting" steel I would like to see it around 67 rc.
 
gine said:
I heard they are around 64-65 rc now . The earlier models were higher, but people complained they were a little chippy so they brought the hardness down for added toughness. As a "cutting" steel I would like to see it around 67 rc.
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Good to know, I know that the zdp dragonfly I had never chipped but it sure felt harder to sharpen than this endura did which was still no picnic. It's exhausting to reprofile, just like the CPM-154 on my CF blur
 
gine said:
I heard they are around 64-65 rc now . The earlier models were higher, but people complained they were a little chippy so they brought the hardness down for added toughness. As a "cutting" steel I would like to see it around 67 rc.
Click to expand...

The original release of the ZDP-189 Mule was up around 67 - and they were extremely brittle. I snapped mine in two when I was pinning the scales on it - it didn't take much pressure, and "PING", it broke right across the tang. Spyderco re-released the Mules with a lower RC (around 64-65, if I recall) and they perform admirably. I believe the current releases of production knives are around 64, but I'm sure they vary a little.

TedP
 
I'm a fan of ZDP. If you use it for cutting (not prying), it is superb and really holds an edge.
 
I love Zdp-189 as well, hate sharpening it. I believe 64-65 Rc is correct IIRC Jankerson had his tested, Imagine the other company that runs it to 67+ :eek: I bet it cuts like crazy, but This guy^ Ain't even gonna try to sharpen that.
 
spyderco lover said:
Good to know, I know that the zdp dragonfly I had never chipped but it sure felt harder to sharpen than this endura did which was still no picnic. It's exhausting to reprofile, just like the CPM-154 on my CF blur
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I sharpened up some cpm 154 on a strider and it was a piece of cake, maybe kershaw runs theres harder than Strider. My little dragonfly just keeps cutting and cutting and cutting, where as my endura dulled on me, so your statement about the dragonfly being ran harder could very well be true.
 
I use my zdp-189 endura daily and touch up the blade for a minute using a strop and diamond paste. This keeps it hair popping sharp.
 
phillipsted said:
The original release of the ZDP-189 Mule was up around 67 - and they were extremely brittle. I snapped mine in two when I was pinning the scales on it - it didn't take much pressure, and "PING", it broke right across the tang. Spyderco re-released the Mules with a lower RC (around 64-65, if I recall) and they perform admirably. I believe the current releases of production knives are around 64, but I'm sure they vary a little.

TedP
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Are you sure about those numbers? It seems like the mule was 65 and they lowered it a point or 2. I believe 67 is max hardness with no temper. Going to have to try and find it now.
 
Allen R. said:
I sharpened up some cpm 154 on a strider and it was a piece of cake, maybe kershaw runs theres harder than Strider. My little dragonfly just keeps cutting and cutting and cutting, where as my endura dulled on me, so your statement about the dragonfly being ran harder could very well be true.
Click to expand...

I recently got my first ZDP-189 blade, a manbug, and almost immidentially rolled it cutting some of those extra-large HVAC zip ties (the kind cops use for flexi-cuffs). I haven't done anything about it yet but I'm not looking forward to it. I'm actually debating sending it to W&R first cause the factory bevel is the most uneven I've seen on any of my spyderco's
, if it was VG-10 I'd jut reprofile it myself, but idk about the ZDP.
 
phillipsted said:
The original release of the ZDP-189 Mule was up around 67 - and they were extremely brittle. I snapped mine in two when I was pinning the scales on it - it didn't take much pressure, and "PING", it broke right across the tang. Spyderco re-released the Mules with a lower RC (around 64-65, if I recall) and they perform admirably. I believe the current releases of production knives are around 64, but I'm sure they vary a little.

TedP
Click to expand...

FlaMtnBkr said:
Are you sure about those numbers? It seems like the mule was 65 and they lowered it a point or 2. I believe 67 is max hardness with no temper. Going to have to try and find it now.
Click to expand...

Ted's post on the Mules is right. The initial run of the Gayle Bradley (from Taiwan) was 64-65 Rc - we don't have any data AFAIK on later lots.
 
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