ZDP-189 or ELMAX?

B

Bighaze51

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Dec 26, 2012
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I'm looking at getting a ZT with elmax. But I'm curious, what would choose? I really like the zdp for its edge retention. How would the elmax steel compare?
 
I know this may not be a popular opinion here, but I like Elmax. My ZT 0566 is holding it's edge very well despite lots of use at work. The corrosion resistance is something I won't be able to properly observe for a long time, but that should be very predictably awesome, based on chemistry.
 
I have yet to see anyone super thrilled by ELMAX. It may be fantastic but who would know? I know ZDP kicks butt and I like it and have had real world use with it. I have not had much use at all with ELMAX.
 
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The only problem with ELMAX is there really isn't enough of it out there yet and it's only been used in certain types of knives, harder use and thick grinds for the most part.
 
Ankerson said:
The only problem with ELMAX is there really isn't enough of it out there yet and it's only been used in certain types of knives, harder use and thick grinds for the most part.
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Exactly. I'd love to have two identical knives like a Delica or Endura with ELMAX on one and ZDP-189 in the other to compare.
 
Kershaw Blur Elmax
Kershaw Blur ZDP composite

I don't have them, but I know they exist. Someone might have a user in ZDP and would compare to the new elmax one. I predict that ZDP might have better wear resistance than Elmax, but Elmax would have better stability based on toughness. This is just based on limited experience and reading. I do hear good reports on ZDP at low angles due to high hardness. I love the edge I can get on my ZDP spydercos at the 30 degree setting on my sharpmaker.
 
I'd take Elmax over ZDP 189 if toughness (not strength) was more important to me than wear resistance. Both are excellent steels, which one is better for you depends on how you use your knife, the blade geometry and the heat treat. If I were only going to open envelopes and cut string or cardboard, I'd take ZDP 189 with a thin blade profile.
 
Twindog said:
I'd take Elmax over ZDP 189 if toughness (not strength) was more important to me than wear resistance. Both are excellent steels, which one is better for you depends on how you use your knife, the blade geometry and the heat treat. If I were only going to open envelopes and cut string or cardboard, I'd take ZDP 189 with a thin blade profile.
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couldnt agree more its all about the use and geometry
 
I have put my ZT 560 Elmax through hell and back and the blade has been amazing. I'm really surprised how I miss use my blade and how well the steal has held up. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Elmax
 
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RBid said:
I know this may not be a popular opinion here, but I like Elmax. My ZT 0566 is holding it's edge very well despite lots of use at work. The corrosion resistance is something I won't be able to properly observe for a long time, but that should be very predictably awesome, based on chemistry.
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Why would saying Elmax is good not be popular? It's mostly popular among folks that tend to repeat what they hear from others. There may have very well been a few knives with a bad heat treat that slipped through th cracks, but it's part of the territory when new peoducts are released.

My choice would be ZDP on a folder and Elmax on a fixed blade. Some steels are better suited for some tasks than others. As Jim says, blade thickness and geometry is also a very important factor to consider.
 
David Lowry said:
I have yet to see anyone super thrilled by ELMAX. It may be fantastic but who would know? I know ZDP kicks butt and I like it and have had real world use with it. I have not had much use at all with ELMAX.
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ZDP SUCKS in my experience....it rusts and pits in hard use knives....I had insane tearout of fine edges when using a buffer to finish the edge, sometimes even a leather wheel would tear out chunks.

Your experience my differ greatly, but I vastly prefer ELMAX.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Im lovin my 0566. The Elmax is holding up nicely so far. Rust resistance is good (no problems with tomato juice, grapefruit juice, water, sweat) I havent used it enough to comment on edge retention, but when I got it, it was laser sharp, so at least I know it can take a super fine edge. Ive just been touching it up on a strop at the end of each day, so I have yet to actually sharpen it.
With how thick the the blade is on the 0566, Im not too worried about toughness being an issue. Its not very thin behind the edge and the tip is nice and thick.
 
I have a spyderco stretch and manbug in zdp with quite a bit of use on both of them, I have a zt 0561 and kershaw blur (the blur I got today) in elmax. In my use zdp holds an edge much longer, but is much more prone to chipping than elmax which can be an important factor depending on what you are doing. I havent had any rust or pitting issues with zdp and I work/live in a pretty humid environment, nothing more than a few small rust spots kinda like with aus8 or d2. Overalll I prefer zdp, its a really incredible performing steel, where elmax is more of a tough, hard working stainless which I also like quite well. Its just like anything else, personal prefrence, but I think they are in different categories.
 
I honestly can't really contribute anything meaningful to the conversation seeing as I've never used either steel from Kershaw and have only used ELMAX from a custom maker.

However I do want to take avantage of this thread simply to say that the knife I have made in ELMAX survived a pretty nasty hit on asphalt today and only suffered minor denting/rolling. This knife is .098" at the spine and scandi ground to have a ~.200" bevel and be ~30 degree inclusive ( so do the math on how thin the edge is ) and hardened to 62 HRC.

I wouldn't really brag about it except that it really did happen, and I sharpened out the dent in less than 15 minutes using a DMT credit-card sharpening hone. Now like I said I don't have a lot of experience with other steels to say so, but wouldn't most other steels at that hardness have chipped from such an accident, and wouldn't most high-hardness, high-wear-resistant steels take a bit longer than 15 minutes to repair afterward?

P.S.
The only other time this blade has suffered any kind of serious deformation is when I thought a staple was a wood splinter on a piece of furniture and tried to shave it off. It made an extremely deep depression but still no chip, and we're basically talking what equated to me shaving the head of a staple off.
 
If you have diamonds to sharpen your knives then just pick whatever that suits you. If you maintain your blades then you shouldn't have to worry about rusting your ZDP. I prefer Elmax because it's more well rounded and easy to touch up. If you don't have diamonds then stay with Elmax because ZDP is just an endeavor for your patience with ceramics or plain stones. I'm speaking from experience.
 
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