Where to buy VG-10 Steel?

H

HAKViking

Joined
Jan 30, 2007
Messages
37
Hi All!

I am new in this forum and this is my first post! Not really sure if I should post my question here in the "Shop Talk - BladeSmith Questions and Answers" section- since I wouldn't call myself a knife maker. However, I am very interested in knife making and working on my first knife now.

I am already planning my 2nd knife and for that one, I would like to use VG-10 steel. Therefore I would like to check from where can I order a piece about 6- 12" long, 1.5" wide and .14- .16" thick piece of VG-10?

Talking about VG-10, I have seen knives made of laminated steel (Jantz Supply- for example), with VG-10 as the core. Is it possible to buy this type of VG-10 laminated steel for making my own knifes? If yes, where?

Thanks and Regards,

HV
 
VG-10 like the other stainless steels require precise temperature and time control to heat treat .They are not for beginners .If you want stainless blades you can buy already ground and heat treated blades then put a handle on them .Or you could send the blade out to heat treat though I wouldn't know where in Sweden. Helle has laminated blades and Fallkniven has them in VG-10.
 
I will send it for professional heat treatment in USA. So that's not a problem.

I have already made my first blade in 440C, using only a drilling machine and the rest by hand. Judging from the result, I am confident I can do this and do not need to start with a knife kit. I will post pictures later and let you judge if I am right or wrong... ;)

Anyway, back to my question- where can I order some small quantities of VG-10 steel for Stock Removal Knife Making? Laminated VG-10 even better!

Thanks and Regards,

HV
 
Ah, new Grasshopper...make own blade! Anyone have source for "Vampire Gerbil Number 10" steel??? Very proprietary...only Sperderco have source...

Glad grasshopper not looking for rostfrei secret steel...yah mon!

Craig
 
C L Wilkins said:
Ah, new Grasshopper...make own blade! Anyone have source for "Vampire Gerbil Number 10" steel??? Very proprietary...only Sperderco have source...

Glad grasshopper not looking for rostfrei secret steel...yah mon!

Craig
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Wow! So this is how you welcome new people to this site?

I just want to make my own blade instead of going for a knife kit and this is how you treat me? You don’t know me and quickly judge me on 2 small postings. Ridiculous!!!

Just forget my question!!! CYA!!! :mad:

HV
 
Why not try some CPM 154CM? You can get some direct from crucibleservice.com

It's better than VG-10 :D
 
CPM 154CM- hmm, that might be a good idea! How is the corrosion resistance?

I will make a small blade (about 3.5"), so my main criteria’s are the ability to keep an edge and to have great corrosion resistance. Could CPM 3V be suitable? I am basically searching for a steel which is better than S30V in those two areas.

Thanks!

HV

ADDED NOTE: Ahh, I just saw something! CPM 154 is not 154 cm! Got confused first and thought it's very same steel. Thank you flatgrinder!!!
 
From my experience CPM 154CM has very good corrosion resistance. There is no such thing as a perfect steel, but for years ATS-34 / 154CM were considered the best -CPM 154CM is the particle metallurgy version. It's much cleaner, so it's easier to get a mirror finish and it takes a sharper edge IMHO.

If you're looking for corrosion resistance, why not try Talonite? It will never rust, takes a decent edge and doesn't require heat treating.

As for the utlimate stainless for slicing (3.5" blade), S90V comes to mind.

Here's some info:

http://www.seamountknifeworks.com/Update cpm420v steel.htm

(But you have to have it heat treated properly, a lot of heat treaters won't get it in the correct HRC range).

3V makes a good chopper, you can harden it up to HRC 60 and still chop nails in half without chipping, however, it is not stainless.

P.S. People love VG-10, expecially Spyderco fans, but I spoke to a maker in Japan recently and he told me that VG-10 is not as good as ATS-34. Something about the heat treat. Apparantly, it's easier to grind, finish and the finish looks good, but edge holding is not as good as properly heat treated ATS-34. Apparantly, they use VG-10 to make scissors in Japan, whereas ATS-34 is used for fine cutlery. It's better than AUS 8, but it ain't that good. -Just my 2 cents.
 
Flatgrinder , please get the names correct .There is 154CM [like the Japanese ATS-34] and there is CPM 154 Which is the Crucible Particle Metallurgy version.If you are willing to send it to the USA then I would get CPM154.If you do a search on the forum for this steel you'll see some very favorable comments about it !!! CPM 154 is easier to grind than S30V as it doesn't have the high Vanadium content ,holds a super edge too. ...Of course it might save you on shipping costs if you came here ,ground it,had it heat treated and brought it home !!!
 
Damasteel (in Sweden) has an even better powder metal version of 154 CM-RWL 34which has some added Vanadium. I think it is produced for them by Uddeholm.
 
mete said:
Flatgrinder , please get the names correct .There is 154CM [like the Japanese ATS-34] and there is CPM 154 Which is the Crucible Particle Metallurgy version.If you are willing to send it to the USA then I would get CPM154.If you do a search on the forum for this steel you'll see some very favorable comments about it !!! CPM 154 is easier to grind than S30V as it doesn't have the high Vanadium content ,holds a super edge too. ...Of course it might save you on shipping costs if you came here ,ground it,had it heat treated and brought it home !!!
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You're right! I just looked at the sticker on the piece of steel I have outside and yep it says CPM 154. Lesson learned. Thanks for setting me straight on the name! :thumbup:
 
One of the biggest problems with the steel in the CPM 154, 154 CM , ATS-34, S60V is that they're all difficult to heat treat. Ive heard that vg-10 if exactly heat treated properly is better than the others listed by a little bit, but that on the average the others are just as comparable. I've never worked with any of these steels so this is second (3rd?) hand info. I like my carbon steels.

-Justin

words of wisdom for the day:

It's best to be silent and thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
 
Hi flatgrinder, mete, Steve Hayden and Justin.Mercier!

Thank you for all your info!!! Now I feel much more welcome than I felt after this CL Wilkins guy’s message! Anyway, if I sounded too overconfident in my first messages- I am very sorry!!! That was not my intention!!! But I am that kind of person which likes to take on a challenge, without making it too easy for me! And I have experience in making stuff in steel, wood, leather, Kydex etc. It’s just that I am a beginner in making a blade. I have posted some of my HAK carry solutions over at the http://badlands.badlandsforums.com under the HideAway Knife forum.

Anyway, the info you all gave is very interesting and helpful! I have very good experience with VG-10 blades, that’s why I first asked for it. But looking at your replies, I think I will give CPM 154 a try! S90V sounds also interesting! And Damasteels’ RWL 34 looks like it could be something! Thank you all- you have helped me to narrow down my search for a suitable steel to 3 choices now.

I like Talonite, but in this case when I don’t have any machinery other than a drilling machine- so I think I can forget Talonite.

Then regarding heat treatment, my plan is to send it to Paul Bos. Then I will actually travel to USA later this year and might even start working there for a while, since my company has several offices there.

Ok, now back to my first knife which I am making in 440C. I will post the result when it’s ready some time in March/April. Lots of business traveling going on now, so I have to spread out my hobby over time.

Thanks and Regards,

HV
 
You can get it through any decent commercial steel dealer, the only problem you might experience is that they don't like to sell small quantities. A 3m bar is probably the smallest they will sell. VG-10 is originally a spring steel. People think it's one of the hardest steels, but D-2, 154-CM or even 425-M are typically harder. D-2 comes pretty close to VG-10, it just has almost no manganese and a slightly higher carbon content. With any steel it's primarily a question how the steel is treated, you can ruin any steel if you don't know what you are doing, so don't over ephasize the steel. I know a fellow who uses old Chevy blade springs and his knives are pretty good.
 
Hello, I don't know of a source for VG-10 here in the states. Wish there was, I would like to give some a try. As has already been stated CPM 154 is a good one to try. It has replaces 154 CM for most of my work on this class of steel. I'm sure you would like the performance. If you want to try this one out send me an e mail and I will get you a pc to work with. Just pay the postage both ways.I also would be happy to heat treat one knife blade for you to get you started. I reccommend Paul Bos for all your future work.. PHIL
 
Another vote for CPM-154, I would stay away from S90V until you're ready for some serious time in finishing. S90V also has a little less toughness than CPm-154 and S30V, and is more difficult to sharpen. It does, of course, have more edge retention than just about anything but 10V.
 
HAKViking said:
Hi flatgrinder, mete, Steve Hayden and Justin.Mercier!

Thank you for all your info!!! Now I feel much more welcome than I felt after this CL Wilkins guy’s message!
HV
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Sorry about that! I was making a joke that others here would get and I intended to follow up with another comment but something else came up and was not able to get back right away. Please accept my apologies. It was not intended to be mean spirited.

Craig
 
Hi C L Wilkins! No problems! Apology accepted! :)

Larrin- yes, CPM-154 sounds like the way to go! Thanks!!!

Regards,

HV
 
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