Perpetuating misinformation helps no one. Just my 2 cents.
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Why is carbon steel easier to sharpen?
- Thread starter salehonasi
- Start date
Perpetuating misinformation helps no one. Just my 2 cents.
....especially when heightened with confusion. My nickel's worth.
BluntCut MetalWorks
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2012
- Messages
- 3,462
I am projecting what in my head using a visualize analogy - hopefully it's useful to explain conceptual or leastly 
entertaining...
raw materials: rubber, hard plastic(P) + very hard metal(M) cubes with 3mm length/side.
target object1 (B1): 10mm long x 3.4mm thick square stick just rubber (R)
B2: R with 1 P cube on the center of stick
B3: R with 1 M cube on the center of stick
cutter1: Knife - can cut rubber stick 30mm/s, P 2mm/s, M 0/s
cutter2: Laser - can cut rubber stick 1000mm/s, P 40mm/s, M 3mm/s
objective: Cut each B1-B3 into 2 detached even size triangle shape sticks in 1 second/ea. So the cutter will cuts fast when cutting rubber, slow down for non-rubber but skip to make sure reach the end of the rubber bar w/i 1 second.
Result:
B1 - K & L = success
B2 - K = failed because 2 cut sticks still attach together, partial join at the P cube.
L = success
B3 - K = failed
L = barely failed since it cut most of the M cube but a tiny dangling metal uncut, which shielded the rubber from laser. So there still rubber connecting the 2 triangle shape sticks together.
*** now substitute ***
Rubber = steel matrix
Hard plastic cube = Iron carbide (cementite) or Chromium carbide.
Metal cube = Vanadium carbide
Knife = Chromium Oxide (Alumina in many waterstones, etc..)
Laser = Diamond/CBN
*** Conclusion ***
Major component of sharpening ease depends on carbide type&size + abrasive type/sharpness + sharpening. Most simples low-to-high carbon knives have smaller & softer carbide than stainless & high hard alloy knives. Some low alloy and or low rc and or lot of retained-austenite stainless steels can clog/glaze sharpening media, which lead to burnishing affect (instead of abrading), thus attributed to perception of harder to sharpen.
entertaining...raw materials: rubber, hard plastic(P) + very hard metal(M) cubes with 3mm length/side.
target object1 (B1): 10mm long x 3.4mm thick square stick just rubber (R)
B2: R with 1 P cube on the center of stick
B3: R with 1 M cube on the center of stick
cutter1: Knife - can cut rubber stick 30mm/s, P 2mm/s, M 0/s
cutter2: Laser - can cut rubber stick 1000mm/s, P 40mm/s, M 3mm/s
objective: Cut each B1-B3 into 2 detached even size triangle shape sticks in 1 second/ea. So the cutter will cuts fast when cutting rubber, slow down for non-rubber but skip to make sure reach the end of the rubber bar w/i 1 second.
Result:
B1 - K & L = success
B2 - K = failed because 2 cut sticks still attach together, partial join at the P cube.
L = success
B3 - K = failed
L = barely failed since it cut most of the M cube but a tiny dangling metal uncut, which shielded the rubber from laser. So there still rubber connecting the 2 triangle shape sticks together.
*** now substitute ***
Rubber = steel matrix
Hard plastic cube = Iron carbide (cementite) or Chromium carbide.
Metal cube = Vanadium carbide
Knife = Chromium Oxide (Alumina in many waterstones, etc..)
Laser = Diamond/CBN
*** Conclusion ***
Major component of sharpening ease depends on carbide type&size + abrasive type/sharpness + sharpening. Most simples low-to-high carbon knives have smaller & softer carbide than stainless & high hard alloy knives. Some low alloy and or low rc and or lot of retained-austenite stainless steels can clog/glaze sharpening media, which lead to burnishing affect (instead of abrading), thus attributed to perception of harder to sharpen.