Thoughts on using Rocksteads with ZDP 189 in the Electrical trade.

Those tasks put a lot of side load on the blade. I'd suggest using a beater knife instead of a Rockstead for that.
Some decades ago I worked as an electrician. 440A and carbon steel worked well for me. I used to keep my Klein 3-blade knife with the hawkbill blade opened in my pouch ready to go.
 
Thanks for the input. Usually I would be using s30v and s90v, they seem to do well, but need a sharpening after cable stripping. So I'm hoping that someone who has used a Rockstead for such tasks will give some input as well. Have a great evening.
 
I really want to use my Rocksteads at work. But I don't want to chip the blade too badly if ZDP 189 won't hold up , to tasks such as stripping copper wire/cable

I presume you have already gone through this very intensive thread?

 
I should stay out of this because I don't own a Rockstead. I'm barely comfortable carrying and using a knife that tops $150 USD, and Rocksteads are waaaaay above that.

Copper hardness is measured on the Rockwell B scale. Which is to say, it's not threat whatsoever to the blade of a knife. The jacketing is a polymer, which is plenty tough for what it is, but again, offers no danger of chipping your blade. The most worrying thing would be dropping the knife on a concrete floor.

So the reason I'm sticking my oar in, is that it seems like overkill to use a thousand dollar knife. If you don't mind, can you tell us more about your thought process, or what you're hoping to gain over other cutting tool choices?
 
Don't mind at all. I have purchased a few, and I would really like to choose one to use at work, to see how well it holds up to hard use. But I don't know much about blade steels and such. I just don't want to do something that will surely damage the blade, if it could be avoided. Thanks for responding.
 
Rocksteads are safe queens. I would not use a high polish blade painstakingly sharpened by hand in Japan as a beater knife for electrical work. How mad would you be if you chipped the edge on a wire, or caught a live wire while cutting and blew a small hole in the edge? Also, it would need to fly back to Japan for any sharpening or warranty work.

I’d look more toward Spydercos Chinese manufactured line of products.
 
There's only one way to find out, use it. It looks like the blade geometry on the Rockstead will hold up to lateral stress. ZDP189 is typically run at a higher hardness which will make it more prone to chipping. Don't have a clue what hardness Rockstead runs on their blades. No doubt, it will get scratched up. The only learning curve I'd suspect is that using an extremely sharp knife will have to be used differently and will take some time to adjust your cutting habits. If you're good, you won't nick the copper/aluminum at all, so there's nothing to worry about there.
Let us know how it performs, what's the use having a knife that brings a smile to your face if you won't use it like you want to.
I use my CRK's and Shirogorov's regularly.

M4NdrJX.jpg
 
There's only one way to find out, use it. It looks like the blade geometry on the Rockstead will hold up to lateral stress. ZDP189 is typically run at a higher hardness which will make it more prone to chipping. Don't have a clue what hardness Rockstead runs on their blades. No doubt, it will get scratched up. The only learning curve I'd suspect is that using an extremely sharp knife will have to be used differently and will take some time to adjust your cutting habits. If you're good, you won't nick the copper/aluminum at all, so there's nothing to worry about there.
Let us know how it performs, what's the use having a knife that brings a smile to your face if you won't use it like you want to.
I use my CRK's and Shirogorov's regularly.

M4NdrJX.jpg
Exactly ! I'm trying to decide between Higo 2 ti, or the Shin for a hard user. Thanks.
 
I just dropped my hizen on the ground yesterday and got a nice chip in the edge and the tip blunted.
I don't think it would handle electrical tasks well at all. It's just too brittle.
Sorry. Will you send it in ? I have heard some say that the hardness makes them brittle.
 
Sorry. Will you send it in ? I have heard some say that the hardness makes them brittle.
Haven't decided what to do about it yet. Ill take some pics tomorrow so you can check it out.

If you have a CRK that would be a great knife for electrical work. dcdavis shows everyday the various cutting tasks he handles as a electrician and the inkosi looks like it holds up very well.
 
Yes, I'd like to see . And I hope that you send it so we know the results of their repair work. I do have other knives that do well at work. , and I don't want to do anything that will definitely damage a knife.
 
No experience with Rocksteads but I believe Spyderco Stretch 2s in ZDP-189 can be had for about $150. I don’t have one of those either but I’d buy one and try it before committing to using a Rockstead for electrical work just to try the steel. Plus, you’d get to buy another knife.
 
I like the way you think !!!
Good to hear! I hate to chime in on threads about knives I don’t own or have experience with but I’ve been interested in ZDP-189 for a while. I think Spyderco has another model or two available in that steel so you might want to take a look at what’s out there. I normally carry smaller knives though so I haven’t found one yet that interested me other than the Dragonfly 2s spyderco made a few years ago.
 
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