Zdp-189

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Nov 25, 1998
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Does anyone know how ZDP-189 is made or how they keep it from curdling around the carbon molecules? At 3% carbon, it damned well ought to be cast iron. If you know of a link to how it is made, I'd appreciate it.
 
FullerH said:
Does anyone know how ZDP-189 is made or how they keep it from curdling around the carbon molecules? At 3% carbon, it damned well ought to be cast iron. If you know of a link to how it is made, I'd appreciate it.

It actually is cast iron.
 
Why is it always laminated (by softer "bread")? Too brittle for a full blade? Too expensive to use in full thickness? With 20% chromium I can't imagine that it's to give a rust-free outer layer like a san mai kitchen knife might have.
 
Considering its use on some smaller knives, it isn't like the extra toughness of the laminate is going to be of large practical benefit, nor the common advantage of ease of sharpening due to having to shape a thin hard core because on some of them like the Calypso Jr. all the metal you are sharpening is the hard core. It is likely either a monetary issue, or just available steel stock. Unless of course the steel is that brittle that it would break if dropped or similar, which however is the opposite of how it is promoted which is actually for relatively high toughness.

-Cliff
 
So, other than William Henry, and the Spyderco Calypso jr., what is available with this new Uber-steel? I'm definitely intrigued by the touted properties.

DD
 
Spyderco is also putting out a Delica with an ATS-34 laminated ZDP-189 blade (blue handles)
 
Planterz said:
Spyderco is also putting out a Delica with an ATS-34 laminated ZDP-189 blade (blue handles)

IIRC they changed the Delica to be solid ZDP-189.
 
s0rce said:
IIRC they changed the Delica to be solid ZDP-189.
That is my understanding as well.

Thans to all who have contributed to this thread. I had studied the CPM steels to understand how they worked with more than 2% carbon and Iwas wondering how the Japanese were making steel with over 3% carbon. If they are using some form of the crucible-particle method, it may make sense.
 
The laminated material can be stamped. The solid material must be laser cut.

The Delica in ZDP will be solid ZDP.

sal
 
Sal,
Are there currently any plans for larger knives in ZDP? Manix? Military maybe?

Say it's so...I need a head start to begin selling off my knife collection. Or, better yet, just give me Spyderco's bank routing info so I can just have my paycheck direct deposited into your account. :eek: :D
 
misque said:
Sal,
Are there currently any plans for larger knives in ZDP? Manix? Military maybe?

Say it's so...I need a head start to begin selling off my knife collection. Or, better yet, just give me Spyderco's bank routing info so I can just have my paycheck direct deposited into your account. :eek: :D

It will be chinese folder - check Spyderco Forum. I think it will be back blade with orange G10 handle... ;)

2 Sal

What is wrong with stamped ZDP-189 if it performs so well? (Am I understand it righ and Callipso is stamped or you are reffering to something else?)

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Hi Misque, We're planning a Delica in January and as Vassili said, we're seriously considering a Chinese folder for '06.

For Spyderco. it always depends on what our customers want.

Hi VAssili, nothing wrong with stamping. ZDP is too difficult to stamp in a thicker format without damaging the tooling. By laminating with a "softer" material in a sandwich, the softer material is the bulk of wht is being stamped so the tooling isn't damaged. CPM steels cannot be stamped either.


some will argue one method is better than another depending on their "sales pitch", IMO, "all good, just different".

sal
 
It's gonna be hard to call it cast iron when it has _20%_ Chromium in it. It's super stainless. I dunno how it could be easy to sharpen if there's so much Chromium in it. I would assume the core is very very thin, surrounded by soft stainless in those laminates.

WYK

FullerH said:
Does anyone know how ZDP-189 is made or how they keep it from curdling around the carbon molecules? At 3% carbon, it damned well ought to be cast iron. If you know of a link to how it is made, I'd appreciate it.
 
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