New YouTube video is a Q&A from Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters. The following topics were covered:
Nitro-V vs 14C28N
Carbide pullout during sharpening
What is difficult about high hardness heat treating of MagnaCut
What steels are coming next after MagnaCut
Does a fine grain mean a good heat treatment?
What are good pocket sharpeners?
Now we just need for the makers to follow the damn heat treat protocol you suggest. I’m afraid it’s going to take 10 yrs to get a decent MagnaCut knife, just like it took to get decent S30V. Most all MagnaCut out there is too soft, and worse, an incredibly difficult burr to remove while sharpening. It might be the worst steel for burrs.
Try some cobalt high seed tool steel that’s got a lame treat. better yet, don’t. My experience with MagnaCut has been fantastic. The only downside of the steel itself from the end user is the heightened maintence requirement as a result of the vanadium. Considering how hard it gets while maintaining more than good toughness, it’s incredible corrosion resistance, fine grain structure, more than adequate edge retention… this stuff is bad ass. The only potential downside is the reduced machinability vs chromium steels.
What is next after MagnaCut (8% carbide volume)?
MagnaCut HD —> 5% carbide volume (VC and/or NbC only) for Toughness and Wear resistance of 3V but stainless,
and
MagnaCut XHD —> 2% carbide volume (VC and/or NbC only) for Toughness and Wear resistance of Z-Tuff/CD1 but stainless.
Therefore,
– MagnaCut for all food processing knives, folders and small fixed blade outdoor knives.
– MagnaCut HD for mid-size outdoor knives (4″ to 9.9″).
– MagnaCut XHD for large knives (10″ and over), machetes and swords.
That trio of dream steels would cover all blade needs and be very stainless of course.
It would be perfect, almost…
What about a high-edge retention steel based off of something like S60V? You have done the balanced version, an ultra-tough forging steel, now something like MagnaEdge or something where you aim for S90V-like edge retention but with S30V toughness and decent corrosion resistance. Aiming for something like a double-tough S90V with similar corrosion resistance would be excellent for folding knives.