The "Ask Nathan a Question" Thread

Nathan the Machinist said:
Would that work?
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Was asking you, lol. I don't know enough about the temperature resistance of DLC coatings or how they'd potentially be affected by the D3V heat treat process (or any effect the coating might have on the D3V heat treat process?).

My limited knowledge on the subject just made me think, "If the temperatures involved in DLC application after the heat treat, would affect the heat treat of D3V, would it be feasible to apply the DLC coating first and then send it for the D3V heat treat?".
 
I'm not suggesting that anyone mess up their D3V heat treat.
I had the coating applied to some regular 3V. The crucible regular tempering protocol is at 1000F and the coating is done at 500F, so I didn't worry.
 
I know you’ve explained some of the differences before, but could you give us the strengths and weaknesses of the two steel offerings for the DEK? I intend to get one of each in tomorrow’s sale but this info may affect which blade I consider for which finish, assuming there will be the typical satin, stone washed and acid wash choices. When I read your previous post about it (not sure where that was at the moment) I felt like there wasn’t as much difference between the two as I would have thought just knowing one is “stainless” and the other is “semi-stainless.”
 
Burton Knut said:
I know you’ve explained some of the differences before, but could you give us the strengths and weaknesses of the two steel offerings for the DEK? I intend to get one of each in tomorrow’s sale but this info may affect which blade I consider for which finish, assuming there will be the typical satin, stone washed and acid wash choices. When I read your previous post about it (not sure where that was at the moment) I felt like there wasn’t as much difference between the two as I would have thought just knowing one is “stainless” and the other is “semi-stainless.”
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3V has extraordinarily good impact resistance and ductility at relatively high hardness and high abrasive wear resistance due to the high vanadium carbide volume fraction (one of the hardest carbides). The Delta protocol addresses its edge stability issues helping it achieve a durable edge at fine geometries making the steel both tough and strong in a knife edge application making the finished product an extremely useful highly durable cutting tool. Durable in both a large scale (the knife is practically unbreakable) and at a small scale (the edge will tolerate abuse without chipping or rolling). A side effect of the Delta protocol is improved corrosion resistance due to the free chromium making it nearly stainless.

Optimized AEBL is very tough for a stainless and has a fine edge stability almost as good as a simple carbon steel. It is very close to an old school simple steel (tough, easy to sharpen, takes a very keen edge) yet has good corrosion resistance. There are other more complex stainless with better corrosion resistance, but they're icky with that mushy crumbly edge that needs to be obtuse to keep from blunting when pressed into hard work. AEBL is a less expensive material than 3V and being a simple steel the heat treat process is a simple anneal, pre-quench, austenitize, cryo and tempers, which is less involved than the Delta protocol and more affordable. It's a good steel for non-knife-nuts because it is more adorable (edit affordable) and easy to maintain.

AEBL has good corrosion resistance compared to a carbon steel but it's not great compared to some other stainless, but this is necessary to retain its world class edge stability. Its edge retention is pretty good due to the high hardness, but it is not in the same league as Delta 3V because it doesn't have the abrasion resistance. It is easy to sharpen though and rewards a skilled sharpener with a fiendishly sharp edge with very little fuss. D3V can also get extremally sharp due to my fine grain, high hardness, uniform microstructure with minimal RA and other messy structures and 3V's ultra fine carbide, but it takes more time due to the resistance to abrasion.
 
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Nathan is there a fixed number of DEK's that you will take orders for tomorrow or is the pre-order open to all that want one and you will build as many as we order?
I'm not sure that I'll be able to post up at 5:00 EST because of work and boy do I want to get a "Gussied up" DEK.
 
Big DJ said:
Nathan is there a fixed number of DEK's that you will take orders for tomorrow or is the pre-order open to all that want one and you will build as many as we order?
I'm not sure that I'll be able to post up at 5:00 EST because of work and boy do I want to get a "Gussied up" DEK.
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I'll leave it open for a week
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
3V has extraordinarily good impact resistance and ductility at relatively high hardness and high abrasive wear resistance due to the high vanadium carbide volume fraction (one of the hardest carbides). The Delta protocol addresses its edge stability issues helping it achieve a durable edge at fine geometries making the steel both tough and strong in a knife edge application making the finished product an extremely useful highly durable cutting tool. Durable in both a large scale (the knife is practically unbreakable) and at a small scale (the edge will tolerate abuse without chipping or rolling). A side effect of the Delta protocol is improved corrosion resistance due to the free chromium making it nearly stainless.

Optimized AEBL is very tough for a stainless and has a fine edge stability almost as good as a simple carbon steel. It is very close to an old school simple steel (tough, easy to sharpen, takes a very keen edge) yet has good corrosion resistance. There are other more complex stainless with better corrosion resistance, but they're icky with that mushy crumbly edge that needs to be obtuse to keep from blunting when pressed into hard work. AEBL is a less expensive material than 3V and being a simple steel the heat treat process is a simple anneal, pre-quench, austenitize, cryo and tempers, which is less involved than the Delta protocol and more affordable. It's a good steel for non-knife-nuts because it is more adorable (edit affordable) and easy to maintain.

AEBL has good corrosion resistance compared to a carbon steel but it's not great compared to some other stainless, but this is necessary to retain its world class edge stability. Its edge retention is pretty good due to the high hardness, but it is not in the same league as Delta 3V because it doesn't have the abrasion resistance. It is easy to sharpen though and rewards a skilled sharpener with a fiendishly sharp edge with very little fuss. D3V can also get extremally sharp due to my fine grain, high hardness, uniform microstructure with minimal RA and other messy structures and 3V's ultra fine carbide, but it takes more time due to the resistance to abrasion.
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Your grain is very fine Nathan. I hope you dint mind that I didnt call you back right away after that steak dinner I bought you.






That grain tho. So fine.
 
Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist The DEK is a great tomato sandwich maker!
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