ZDP-189- how good?

Lycosa

Lycosa

Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Messages
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How well is ZDP-189 doing on the cutting grid? Any Spyderco users to give a report?
 
I have a custom with ZDP-189, and it is one amazingly sharp knife!! I happen to like ZDP-189 very much.
My first intro. was a Burgundy Caly., Jr, and IT was one heck of a cutter too!! My $.02.
 
I have it in an Endura and Caly and I like it well enough. Can be a bit of a pain to sharpen so just make sure you get it and keep it sharp.
 
DIAMONDS! I just got a couple diamond stones, and they make a HUGE difference in sharpening/maintaining ZDP.
 
I have to use Lansky diamond hones on it and it's the rustiest stainless Spyderco I've ever owned, but it will cut miles of cardboard and ask for more. Six months of ownership and one sharpening and a light touch up has been all it required as an EDC.

I wish they'd put H-1 into the Gen 4 chassis however. The H-1 work hardens on the edge, which is a really interesting effect.
 
Im a fan of ZDP-189, it does seem to take a bit more time/effort to sharpen up but i can always get nice and crisp edge and it keeps that way for a good while !!!
 
I recently got a Spyderco Caly 3 in ZDP-189 and it takes an insanely sharp edge and keeps it well.
 
I just got a William Henry back from their shop. It has a really smooth, highly polished edge- is that the best edge for this steel? If I wanted a bit more tooth what would you recommend? I don't have any experience with a steel this hard (or a knife this expensive!) and definitely don't want to mess it up!

Thanks for any help, Mike
 
Mike---You better ask WH knives about that edge. You want that edge as smooth as possible---that's what MAKES it bite.
 
I've found zdp works great with a thin and polished edge, though it works even better with a tiny bit of tooth to it :)
 
I think edge geometry is key with ZDP-189. Spyderco and William Henry have it down pat. The early Kershaw Leeks did not. I also think that ZDP needs to be clad in a thick blade, otherwise IT IS BRITTLE! Diamonds are useful, but you can get a good edge with a sharpmakers conventional sticks if you REALLY lean on it, with alot of pressure. This is especially true with the Kershaw knives that use ZDP.

As already mentioned it's an excellent cutter with a thin polished edge. I'm still a 154-CM or ATS-34 fan myself. VG-10 is a good EDC steel, but can also be a bit brittle.
 
I've been considering the CF Caly 3. Has anyone here done any sort of testing to compare the edge retention to S30V? From what I've read it's a significant difference. Either way I hope to get a chance to try out this steel in the future.
 
Vivi said:
I've been considering the CF Caly 3. Has anyone here done any sort of testing to compare the edge retention to S30V? From what I've read it's a significant difference. Either way I hope to get a chance to try out this steel in the future.
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From my testing, there is no comparison. ZDP blows S30V out of the water, much better edge retention. I don't have hard data, but am doing cutting tests as we speak, and will hopefully give you some numbers in a couple of weeks. But it won't be even close.

Keep in mind that the ZDP is also much harder, around 64 or so HRC. That in and of itself makes a huge difference in strength and resistance to the edge folding over.
 
Actually, Sal just said a few days ago that they are aiming for 65 Rc on the ZDP blades and one person showed one Rced to 65.8 Rc (he should the calibration too, so it should be a very accurate measurement).
 
yoda4561 said:
though it works even better with a tiny bit of tooth to it :)
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I agree completely. I finished the edges on my two Kershaws with ZDP, and while they cut well and still held an incredible edge, they seems to work better with a little toothiness (Is that a word?).
 
SPXTrader said:
I agree completely. I finished the edges on my two Kershaws with ZDP, and while they cut well and still held an incredible edge, they seems to work better with a little toothiness (Is that a word?).
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It is here :thumbup:
 
I had a Mini Cyclone ZDP for a while and all I can say is that baby stayed razor sharp. All the time. Scary!
 
Yeah Tyrkon...thanks again for the great deal on your MC Ti/ZDP! It's still just as sharp as when I got it from you!

SPX
 
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