workability of high end steels

[fishface5]

I like to modify production folding knives, mostly in terms of handle materials and ergonomics. But I am thinking of extending myself to making replacement blades in steels with top-notch edge retention. I would send the blade out for professional heat treat, but I am wondering if you bladesmiths have found a noticeable difference in the ease of grinding/shaping the higher-end slicer steels like M390 vs Elmax vs S90v, etc? Thanks for any info

 

[petah]

With hand files?

 

[james terrio]

Naturally, you'll be working with annealed steel. In which case, you can certainly tell the difference in grindability of say, 1084 vs. Elmax, but it's not so great that it should discourage you from using the high-alloy steels.

Take full advantage of how clean your blades will be coming back from a pro HT'er. Unless they are very thin/small (higher likelihood of warping), finish them to at least 90% before HT to save work later. You will definitely notice that the high-end steels are more difficult to work with when fully heat-treated.

 

[fumbler]

Take full advantage of how clean your blades will be coming back from a pro HT'er. Unless they are very thin/small (higher likelihood of warping), finish them to at least 90% before HT to save work later. You will definitely notice that the high-end steels are more difficult to work with when fully heat-treated.

That's for sure. I made the mistake of grinding my first few CPM 3V blades to 100 grit and leaving a thick edge. It took forever to get the finish right after ht. With high end air hardening steels you can basically grind them to finish size and finish.

 

[james terrio]

With high end air hardening steels you can basically grind them to finish size and finish.

True! Plus, if your HT guy uses furnaces that are purged of oxygen, you can do the same with oil-hardening steels. The vast majority of the scale and decarb people associate with HT'ing carbon steels happens while they're heating up and soaking at austenizing temps and exposed to oxygen, not during the quench or temper.

 

[Frank Niro]

I have found both Elmax and M390
great steels to work with both before and or after heat treating is done. I do have some good grinders. Frank

 

[tiguy7]

My S-90-V MADD MAXX ate up 6-72" belts when polishing the blade, but I can't believe how well it retains its edge. It has 24% carbides by volume.

 

[fishface5]

hmm thanks for the info - from what I'm reading M390 has had some warpage issues during HT, so maybe I should try some Elmax (and save myself $$ on the belts it would take to work S90v)