V-toku 2 vs Maxamet what keeps edge longer

MyLegsAreOk

MyLegsAreOk

Joined
Aug 31, 2017
Messages
607
So v-toku 2 is loaded with tungsten but so is max. I don't even know if I should sell my maxamet manix anymore because maxamet may still be the ultimate edge keeper that is easy to sharpen. Anyone have experience with both that can help me keep pride in my max manix?
 
Cant answer your question, as I have the V-Toku2 Endura but nothing in Maxamet. I do look forward to further input.
Very pleased with the edge my V-Toku takes, thats fer sure.
 
MyLegsAreOk said:
So v-toku 2 is loaded with tungsten but so is max. I don't even know if I should sell my maxamet manix anymore because maxamet may still be the ultimate edge keeper that is easy to sharpen. Anyone have experience with both that can help me keep pride in my max manix?
Click to expand...

V-Toku2 doesn't hold an edge as nearly as long as Maxamet in my experience but is easier to sharpen.

To me, V-Toku2 behaves like a run of the mill high carbon steel... Similar to something like 52100. I like it a lot.

Maxamet is a whole different beast, being a high speed tool steel hardened at a extreme level (like 67- 68 hrc). Maxamet also contains about 10x more Tungsten than V-Toku2.

Apples and oranges.
 
Well after if nobody buys it on ebay this first time around and I can't get the spydiechef with the ceramic detent ball in a trade I guess I'll keep it as I thought it was dead and old hat after v-toku 2 sprints came out last year.
 
I own both and Maxamet holds an edge way longer than Vtoku2 does. What Vtoku2 lacks in edge holding, it makes up for in toughness. Maxamet is not a very tough steel as it can chip and even break if you apply any side torque to it. Not that Maxamet takes long to sharpen, but Vtoku sharpens much faster and is easier to put a keener edge on.
 
VToku isn't even in the same solar system in terms of edge holding. Maxamet has been shown by several testers to hold an edge longer than just about anything other than Rex 121.
 
V-toku2 is great, and I respect it like I do zdp-189. But nothing I have used compares to maxamet. I sharpened and mirror polished a manix2 LW in maxamet months ago. All I've done since is wipe it down with goof off. All my knives see dirty cardboard, When I know it's going to be one of "those" days. I pack maxamet.
 
91bravo said:
. What Vtoku2 lacks in edge holding, it makes up for in toughness. Maxamet is not a very tough steel as it can chip and even break if you apply any side torque to it...
Click to expand...

Perfectly said. Maxamet is a long time stay sharp steel. But that stuff is not everyday user friendly tough. I will never buy maxamet steel again. For MY USES Votku2 is more of an everyday steel that is easy to sharpen and can take 100x’s the abuse (everyday use) that maxamet can stand up against.

I know you maxamet guys will get all bent up out of shape. But think of this. If maxamet was so great then you would see more of it. If you cut in straight lines and never want to sharpen a knife then maxamet is fantastic and is awesome.

But for everyday, don’t worry if you cut something hard, or apply some sideways pressure then Vtotku2 will serve you much better.
 
Megawatt308 said:
Perfectly said. Maxamet is a long time stay sharp steel. But that stuff is not everyday user friendly tough. I will never buy maxamet steel again. For MY USES Votku2 is more of an everyday steel that is easy to sharpen and can take 100x’s the abuse (everyday use) that maxamet can stand up against.

I know you maxamet guys will get all bent up out of shape. But think of this. If maxamet was so great then you would see more of it. If you cut in straight lines and never want to sharpen a knife then maxamet is fantastic and is awesome.

But for everyday, don’t worry if you cut something hard, or apply some sideways pressure then Vtotku2 will serve you much better.
Click to expand...
Fair points. All steel aren't the same and Maxamet is probably not the most durable. Guessing another reason you don't see more Maxamet is cost. It's got to be difficult to grind is likely relatively expensive. Same for Rex 121 and a few others we don't see produced much.
 
Megawatt308 said:
Perfectly said. Maxamet is a long time stay sharp steel. But that stuff is not everyday user friendly tough. I will never buy maxamet steel again. For MY USES Votku2 is more of an everyday steel that is easy to sharpen and can take 100x’s the abuse (everyday use) that maxamet can stand up against.

I know you maxamet guys will get all bent up out of shape. But think of this. If maxamet was so great then you would see more of it. If you cut in straight lines and never want to sharpen a knife then maxamet is fantastic and is awesome.

But for everyday, don’t worry if you cut something hard, or apply some sideways pressure then Vtotku2 will serve you much better.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree with the fact so many people saying maxamet can't stand up to abuse. I went clear through cardboard and smack in to metal shelves at about 3/4 my strength and it didn't do anything significant. Sure the edge was gone but it still had a working portion and that would make a divit in s110v. I know this because I've done the same with s110v and it does. The raisin maxamet isn't in a lot of knives is because machining is a pain in that you have to round off EVERYTHING so it doesn't fall to crums. It also is oxidible which is a bummer :/

That being said: hopefully spyderco will get off their bums and FINALLY sprint a PM2 in max so I can buy 20 and never ever worry about not seeing another maxamet knife in my lifetime (which looks like that time is coming up pretty soon).

RipD said:
Fair points. All steel aren't the same and Maxamet is probably not the most durable. Guessing another reason you don't see more Maxamet is cost. It's got to be difficult to grind is likely relatively expensive. Same for Rex 121 and a few others we don't see produced much.
Click to expand...
Yep yep, what this man said also.
 
MyLegsAreOk said:
I have to disagree with the fact so many people saying maxamet can't stand up to abuse.....
Click to expand...

Not abuse, just plain ole daily use on the first day of ownership. Three chips in the steel with photo proof, not just an opinion on the internet.
fxddx.jpg


200smfa.jpg


For me, CRU-WEAR is much better for a user steel (and a lower price vs Maxamet). I would easily choose to save money on S30V or S35V or even VG10 steel before I would consider another Maxamet knife.

I am not sayin Maxamet does not have a purpose as a knife steel. It is a very good stay sharp steel but what you gain in edge holding capability you give up toughness and durability and it’s a much more expensive steel. I would hate to think what would happen if I dropped the knife tip first on to the concrete by accident.

Just putting the info on my experience out there for others to decide.
 
Did you sharpen it a few times before using it? I'd have to say that all these high carbides need to be taken to stone a 2 or 3 times before we pass verdict. The spyderco edges sure are razor sharp, but as many people already know they are burned.
 
Not a lot of Tungsten in VToku actually, you get about a 1% carbide volume and the only kind of carbides in the steel. Maxamet has a lot more but it's not as big of a deal as far as wear resistance as many think, the real benefit of Tungsten is more in hot/red hot hardness and hardenability.

VToku is a good steel, super easy to sharpen and takes a cool patina, but isn't impressive for wear resistance. HAP40 is a better wear resistant option for Japanese non stainless laminated steels.

For really high wear resistant steel, look to Vanadium and Niobium carbides first. This is why S110V has such extreme wear resistance, it has 3.5% Niobium and 9% vanadium with a huge amount of carbon to bond with and form carbides. Even very small amounts (0.5% even) of V and Nb form carbides.

On a second tier, Chromium and molybdenum are also carbide formers. Only super high carbon/chromium steels like ZDP189 display very high wear resistance. In outright abrasive wear resistance, ZDP is likely on par with Maxamet and S110V as well.
 
John_0917 said:
Not a lot of Tungsten in VToku actually, you get about a 1% carbide volume and the only kind of carbides in the steel. Maxamet has a lot more but it's not as big of a deal as far as wear resistance as many think, the real benefit of Tungsten is more in hot/red hot hardness and hardenability.

VToku is a good steel, super easy to sharpen and takes a cool patina, but isn't impressive for wear resistance. HAP40 is a better wear resistant option for Japanese non stainless laminated steels.

For really high wear resistant steel, look to Vanadium and Niobium carbides first. This is why S110V has such extreme wear resistance, it has 3.5% Niobium and 9% vanadium with a huge amount of carbon to bond with and form carbides. Even very small amounts (0.5% even) of V and Nb form carbides.

On a second tier, Chromium and molybdenum are also carbide formers. Only super high carbon/chromium steels like ZDP189 display very high wear resistance. In outright abrasive wear resistance, ZDP is likely on par with Maxamet and S110V as well.
Click to expand...
Oh I use s110v for my main work knife, I know all about it's specialty and how well it keeps a very fine and then working edge after that dulls. It keeps an ok working edge for ever and ever after loosing the very keen edge. It's also very corrosion/oxidation resistant too as I've had it in a bunch of stuff and it never patinad or black oxi'd specs. (Right now my other work knife is lc200n ramping it up to even more chem resistance)

But for v-toku it was another one where people spoke about it's W amount and good lord it barely has any in it to make a difference out of the norm.
 
As said before, Maxamet is hard, very hard. Unfortunately very hard means the steel can be brittle so it is not as tough and a hard whack of the blade might cause chipping. However if you are using the Maxamet for just cutting up stuff it will probably outlive you before it gets dull.

 
MyLegsAreOk said:
Oh I use s110v for my main work knife, I know all about it's specialty and how well it keeps a very fine and then working edge after that dulls. It keeps an ok working edge for ever and ever after loosing the very keen edge. It's also very corrosion/oxidation resistant too as I've had it in a bunch of stuff and it never patinad or black oxi'd specs. (Right now my other work knife is lc200n ramping it up to even more chem resistance)

But for v-toku it was another one where people spoke about it's W amount and good lord it barely has any in it to make a difference out of the norm.
Click to expand...

The W content is not high in Vtoku but it is the only carbide former there and there is a pretty good amount of carbon so it is all utilized. Overall, you get about 1.2% W carbides in Vtoku along with I believe 4% cementite
 
A maxamet pm2 made battoning thru a 2.5 inch hard wood and nothing happened , that is my experience.
Sorry for the bad quality pics
 

Attachments

  • 20190728_152853.jpg
    20190728_152853.jpg
    48.2 KB · Views: 37
  • 20190728_152808.jpg
    20190728_152808.jpg
    77.4 KB · Views: 35
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top