Strange patterns in AEB-L after etching

[Jesse Latham]

I've etched a number of AEB-L knives in a normal ferric mix of 4/1. Some batches have the streaks appear some don't. If they do, I just regrind them and don't re etch in most cases. On the santoku I reground, repatterned and re-etched twice with the same result before leaving clean.

 

[ughmas]

Interesting feedback thanks all - as I noted my stock was ordered as AEB-L from NJ steel baron .094 thickness, 48" length 2" width. I would be curious where the OP got his steel from.

it SEEMED to take an"AEBL" heat treat (plate quench/cryo with dry ice slurry) with good results, (although this is just going by using hardness testing files, without any scientific data). I have never worked with X65cr13 or 14C28N, do they have similar heat treat and properties to AEBL?

 

[JoeBusic]

Very similar...

 

[J. Hoffman]

Interesting feedback thanks all - as I noted my stock was ordered as AEB-L from NJ steel baron .094 thickness, 48" length 2" width. I would be curious where the OP got his steel from.

it SEEMED to take an"AEBL" heat treat (plate quench/cryo with dry ice slurry) with good results, (although this is just going by using hardness testing files, without any scientific data). I have never worked with X65cr13 or 14C28N, do they have similar heat treat and properties to AEBL?

NJSB does not sell AEB-L, they only sell X65cr13. AEB-L is an Uddeholm product. 13c26 is a Sandvik product very similar to AEB-L. Properties are similar, but I feel quality of the Uddeholm and Sandvik products are more consistent and have fewer impurities. I think Uddeholm has the patent on AEB-L, but they don't seem to enforce it.

 

[ughmas]

Interesting, it seems very deceptive to specifically label and describe it as AEB-L on their website, very odd to me.

Another question just for my curiosity and edification, why would a steel like X65cr13 be expected to exhibit the "banding" and AEBL not?, if they are very similar in composition? just lower quality control/homogenization for the other manufacturers?

NJSB | AEB-L Hot Rolled .068"/.075" X 2.5" X 24"

A .068"/.075" x 2.5" x 24" piece of AEB-L for sale! This piece of AEB-L finishes at .0625" thick and is Hot Rolled.

newjerseysteelbaron.com

 

[J. Hoffman]

Interesting, it seems very deceptive to specifically label and describe it as AEB-L on their website, very odd to me.

Another question just for my curiosity and edification, why would a steel like X65cr13 be expected to exhibit the "banding" and AEBL not?, if they are very similar in composition? just lower quality control/homogenization for the other manufacturers?

NJSB | AEB-L Hot Rolled .068"/.075" X 2.5" X 24"

A .068"/.075" x 2.5" x 24" piece of AEB-L for sale! This piece of AEB-L finishes at .0625" thick and is Hot Rolled.

newjerseysteelbaron.com

If you go to the heat lot specs for the steel it will tell you the steel type and where it is coming from. I'm guessing it's a combination of the slight composition difference and manufacturing differences.

 

[ughmas]

very cool I did not see those heat lot links, thanks! It clearly shows X65cr13 on there, might be the way to get around the patent for AEBL as you noted

 

[Steve Beckwith]

It may not be what you were looking for in a finish but if that is consistent throughout the blade, I like it. What did you use for the echant?

 

[Thescrawnylumberjack]

Are we sure it’s AEB-L?

I’m assuming stock removal and if so that’s super weird. I’ve done acid stone wash of AEB-L before and I’ve never seen thing like that.

 

[J. Hoffman]

Are we sure it’s AEB-L?

I’m assuming stock removal and if so that’s super weird. I’ve done acid stone wash of AEB-L before and I’ve never seen thing like that.

I think we came to the conclusion it is not AEB-L, but X65cr13

 

[chrisstaniar]

I've seen similar patterns in 440c (but not exactly) and attributed it to Carbide banding. I can't say I've ever seen that in the "AEBL" from NJSB and that's where I source mine.