Which Steel Has the Best Edge Retention? Part 2

Larrin

Larrin

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In this article, I go in deep with why different carbide types affect edge retention and analysis of the sharpness loss curves generated with CATRA testing. Can CATRA be used to measure cutting ability? Do high wear resistance steels lose their initial sharpness more quickly? Can you match a high wear resistance steel by using a lower edge angle on another steel? How differently does the knife lose its edge during cutting?

https://knifesteelnerds.com/2018/11/26/steel-edge-retention2/
 
Larrin, this is great stuff! I especially appreciate the carbide % data and the equation for cut testing, it gives me a place to start with different steels vs just trial and error testing, or sending innumerable samples in for expensive CATRA cut tests. As you said, the CATRA testing is just one leg of the stool, but I'm eager to see how you build out the other legs. Thank you!
 
Interesting stuff Larrin. Thanks for providing us with all this info! For free even!!
You rock!
 
I’m finding the information on carbide volume quite interesting. I notice with higher carbide steels like z-wear/cru-wear, I get similar useage between sharpening as I do with aeb-l or W2, but the big difference is I strop aeb-l or W2 15 times between sharpenings, but this has little to no effect on z-wear. Once it loses its edge, I have to sharpen again. With the lower carbide steels, the edge comes back easily with a strop, up until the edge is too worn, then I sharpen.
 
Willie71 said:
I’m finding the information on carbide volume quite interesting. I notice with higher carbide steels like z-wear/cru-wear, I get similar useage between sharpening as I do with aeb-l or W2, but the big difference is I strop aeb-l or W2 15 times between sharpenings, but this has little to no effect on z-wear. Once it loses its edge, I have to sharpen again. With the lower carbide steels, the edge comes back easily with a strop, up until the edge is too worn, then I sharpen.
Click to expand...
Yes that is perhaps an underappreciated aspect of user preference with sharpening.
 
I think the comments on the serrated edge were interesting. It reminds me of the adage D2 has, "it holds a not-so-sharp edge for a very long time." Or, to borrow the quote from your article, "Perhaps this is why high wear resistance steels are known for holding a lousy edge for a long time." It does make me wonder if there are more area where that type of edge would be more useful, like breaking down and re-sizing cardboard which is a common task around home and work. But, the ease stropping and sharpening a softer plain edge isn't all bad either.

Certainly D2 isn't the only steel that has that tendency but it does seem to support that the wear resistant steels, where D2 used to be higher on the list before more recent improvements, hold a working edge for what seems like forever. I think I sharpened knives once a year when a working edge was good enough. Now I prefer a smoother cut which wears a lot faster than the slightly worn edge.

This makes me wonder if a high wear resistant steel combined with a serrated edge would cut so-so for a life-time. I feel like this is some of the love for serrated H1 where the edge hardness gets really high but I have to think the carbide volume is pretty low. This kind of makes me wonder what something like M4 or M390 would do with serrations, if they didn't kill the machine while trying to cut them.

Good stuff Larrin.
 
I want to go out on a limb and say that most experiences of being unable to sharpen some super steels is limitted to what they can get on a belt, a stone edging and honing has no problem taking even cpm 10v to so sharp it cuts you from touching it. It isnt enjoyable though.
 
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