ZDP-189 steel

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Armenate

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Oct 1, 2014
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Hi all. I can't seem to find any thread on the new zdp-189 steel. I have been thinking about getting a spyderco dragonfly 2 and am wondering if its worth the extra $13 to get the new steel. If there is a thread already started please show me where it is. If not, here is a place for anyone with experience to enlighten the rest of us.
 
Zdp-189 isn't new to spyderco, and is a great steel IMO ,however it does have its drawbacks, vg-10 is a lot easier to sharpen than zdp, zdp while it will take a great edge and hold it longer than vg-10, I have heard some call zdp brittle , but in my expierence I have only chipped it once and probably any steel would of chipped for what I was using it for. If you have the means and skill to maintain the steel by all means get it, you won't regret it.
 
Armenate said:
Hi all. I can't seem to find any thread on the new zdp-189 steel. I have been thinking about getting a spyderco dragonfly 2 and am wondering if its worth the extra $13 to get the new steel. If there is a thread already started please show me where it is. If not, here is a place for anyone with experience to enlighten the rest of us.
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I think you'd have to search for threads about 6-8 years old. That's when Spyderco introduced knives with that alloy.

If memory serves, with it's high carbon content it is less corrosion resistant than VG10. It is said to be less tough than VG10 as well. But it will hold an edge a good deal longer than VG10

The carbides in ZDP-189 are primarily chromium carbide, which is not as hard as vanadium carbides and tungsten carbides found in most of the CPM and Bohler alloys. So the CPM and Bohler alloys will hold an edge longer, but the ZDP-189 will take a very fine edge using a Sharpmaker.

My personal opinion is that for a 2 1/4" blade, toughness should not be an issue, but of course it would also depend on your use. And at the moment I have a non-stainless pocket knife in my pocket, so that likely gives you my thoughts on the importance of corrosion resistance.

The ZDP-189 sounds like a nice upgrade to the design for not much money.
 
I agree with knarfeng, $13 isn't a huge financial gap in these knives. It is actually a very mild price jump. VG10 is very different from ZDP though. Please feel free to use the SEARCH function, available to everyone registered on the site. WE're talking about approximately over 400 threads, I don't think many people are going to be doing that kind of research for you. Part of the fun is looking through the forums, reading, and learning as you go. Google (as mentioned) is also a valuable tool, but keep in mind, not everything you read or video you watch is the Gospel truth, so take things with a grain of doubt/salt.
 
View attachment 500323View attachment 500324View attachment 500325 I have had really good service from ZDP 189. I have never chipped it. It holds an edge as well the upper CPM's, probably because of its higher 67HRC rating.
In an accelerated corrosion test, it out performed the 410 bread in the ZDP bologna sandwich. So I wouldn't worry about corrosion. The William Henry knives are ZDP laminates. The Spyderco knives are solid ZDP.
 
RevDevil said:
I agree with knarfeng, $13 isn't a huge financial gap in these knives. It is actually a very mild price jump. VG10 is very different from ZDP though. Please feel free to use the SEARCH function, available to everyone registered on the site. WE're talking about approximately over 400 threads, I don't think many people are going to be doing that kind of research for you. Part of the fun is looking through the forums, reading, and learning as you go. Google (as mentioned) is also a valuable tool, but keep in mind, not everything you read or video you watch is the Gospel truth, so take things with a grain of doubt/salt.
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You changed your avatar you ....devil now I don't now when to shut up because the hone badger was in the room.:D
 
My ZDP Delica has way outperformed my VG-10 Delica in edge retention and cutting power (the FFG grind might've helped though, instead of the saber grind), I have yet to sharpen it so I do not know how difficult that will be, but I would recommend the upgrade if you have the capability.
 
I got the dragonfly 2 in ZDP-189 as a stocking stuffer and its riding alongside a daily driver in VG-10 I'm very impressed with this little laser beam. It takes a ridiculous edge and is holding it. I've been using the VG-10 blade through the holidays to open every box. It's dull as can be, purposely. I like VG-10 for how easily it takes an edge but it can lose it just as fast. I don't think it compares to the ZDP-189 for smaller blades. I've been honing the Dragonfly daily even though it doesn't seem to need it using the Knives Plus chromium oxide strop block. It's hair popping sharp and will do easy "S" curves through receipt paper. I'm now researching other knives in this steel. I'm impressed.
 
tiguy7 said:
View attachment 500323View attachment 500324View attachment 500325 I have had really good service from ZDP 189. I have never chipped it. It holds an edge as well the upper CPM's, probably because of its higher 67HRC rating.
In an accelerated corrosion test, it out performed the 410 bread in the ZDP bologna sandwich. So I wouldn't worry about corrosion. The William Henry knives are ZDP laminates. The Spyderco knives are solid ZDP.
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If I'm not mistaken, when William Henry refers to laminated ZDP 189, they are referring to the laminated coating. For example, if the blade is coated with Tungston DLC, that material is actually harder than the hrc67 rated ZDP 189. So some blades have a laminated coating of softer material, but the laminated coating makes the blade much stronger than an uncoated solid ZDP 189. That is how William Henry is able to get an HRC of 67 without have a crumbling blade. I own a few and I may be wrong, but pretty sure I am right.
 
I have it on the Al Mar eagle hd and its made me a fan, but I'm not really a steel connoisseur. Tony of EverydayCommentary though (a smart dude whom I've known since grad school) lists the Spyderco dragonfly II in zdp as his top pick for edc.
 
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I've now had 3 qty Dragonfly 2's show up at my home. Each of the 3 arrived as the sharpest knives I've ever received from a factory with the exception of my Tojiro Gyuto from Chef Knives To Go.

I've been EDC on the Dragon since 12/25 when the wife put one in my stocking.

I'd like to get something in m390 and CPM-M4 to compare but wow, these things can get sharp and keep it. It goes through my toddler's grapes literally as though they weren't there.
 
my experience: you can bring down zdp to less than degrees per side and it will give you the sharpest knife edge you'll ever find. however, it's use will be limited to slicing soft, non-abrasive material. 15 to 20 degrees per side will be most practical. note: my 10 dps zdp endura got badly chipped when i opened several tin cans with it during an outing. naturally i was the only one in the group who brought a knife.
 
I'm a 30 degrees, inclusive 20-22 degrees microbevel sort of urban warrior. I'm still building up a hand sharpening collection of DMT and other stones. I was only honing the Dragon on my UF306 and knives plus strop block to keep it hair popping.

No opening metal cans with my super steels. No way.
 
Not a big fan of ZDP. Was once curious about this steel with extremely high alloy amount, but it intimidated me with its obvious lack of toughness and worrying corrosion resistance(3% carbon).
So I mailed Rockstead and in their reply I got this information:
this metal needs to be very carefully taken care of;
its corrosion resistance is not strong;
the knives made by it should avoid moist environment.
Another interesting thing from their reply is that they said if the blade get rust, the repair work would not be free and there is the possibility that they would not be able to recover the surface.
Kinda freaks me out man. To me there are five main characters of a knife steel, Toughness, Hardness, Blade edge impact resistance(deformation or tipping under intense impact ), Corrosion resistance and edge holding ability.
ZDP189 fails at least two, maybe three abilities in these five, though it is extremely outstanding in the aspect of the other two.
 
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