Testing? CPM, or not

Shorttime

Shorttime

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I may not be very good at using BF's search function, or I may be too ADD to sort through the results. Either way, I would like some help with a question.

I believe that Crucible's powdered metal process does what it says it does. But I would like to know if CPM alloys have ever been tested alongside their non-CPM versions in a way that shows what the real differences are.

Is there a thread or an article somewhere?
 
They have. I can't quote the thread, but whenever it's tried, the results are generally in favor of the CPM version for each property except cost. CPM is $$$.
 
Thanks. I know about the extra cost of CPM steels (wow!), which was what made me ask.
 
The extra cost of a CPM/powder version steel compared to a standard version is well worth the benefits, in every category.
 
What I did is to take a 154CM and a CPM154 knife and carry each as an EDC for a while .The difference will be obvious ! Worth it ? For me yes.
 
The two cases that I know of where a steel was made by both processes are D2 and 154CM. CPM154 is considered an improvement over 154CM. CPM D2 was not considered an improvement over standard D2, or at least Crucible didn't find the improvement to be worth the trouble of making it in quantity.
 
Fancier said:
CPM D2 was not considered an improvement over standard D2, or at least Crucible didn't find the improvement to be worth the trouble of making it in quantity.
Click to expand...

That's only half-true at best, and a great example of apples/oranges.

CPM-D2 is indeed demonstrably cleaner, can take a much finer finish, more stain-resistant, tougher, and is easier to temper specifically for less retained austenite, and takes a crisper, finer edge than regular D2. That's a huge improvement... for handheld cutting tools. However...

None of those attributes mean squat to general-purpose industrial die-makers, and that's by far the biggest market for D2 (always has been). Extra cost for no benefit? No thanks.

That's why Crucible stopped making CPM-D2, and they've been very clear about it.

While those characteristics are indeed good for top-quality knives, there were and are already many other alloys that outperform both D2 and CPM-D2 in our applications. CPM-154 beats D2/CPM-D2 like a rented mule in every category when used for knives, and CPM-3V and Elmax reach a whole new level.
 
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You're very welcome, but please stop calling me "Mr." That makes me feel like I'm in court or about to be arrested :D "James" or "JT" is fine with me, friend :)
 
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