Category: Steels
4 thoughts on “Steels”
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MagnaMax Is Here: The Next Evolution in Knife Steel
Background
MagnaMax has been in development for a long time. When I first proposed the idea for MagnaCut to Crucible and Niagara in June 2019 I also proposed a high wear resistance version I was calling “stainless 10V.” This version was intended to match the combination of toughness and wear resistance in the non-stainless grades K390, Vanadis 8, and CPM-10V. K390 has developed some popularity in recent years from Spyderco using it in many knives. This steel hits a real sweet spot for having good toughness with very high wear resistance. That high wear resistance gives it excellent edge retention. MagnaMax achieves that same level of toughness and edge retention but with the same excellent corrosion resistance of MagnaCut. MagnaMax achieves these properties by using the same general approach to composition as MagnaCut while increasing carbon, niobium, and vanadium for wear resistance. We are still waiting for the ok from our patent lawyer before releasing the composition, but that will hopefully come soon. The first commercial “heat” of MagnaMax has been delivered to a few knife companies, so it is time to talk about the steel, even if we can’t reveal every detail yet.
Testing Erasteel MagnaCut (vs Crucible Original)
Crucible, Niagara, Erasteel, and MagnaCut
In case you haven’t been following steel news, Crucible Steel went through a bankruptcy and no longer exists. I interviewed Bob Shabala of Niagara Specialty Metals about this transition several months ago. Niagara is the company that purchased ingots from Crucible and would hot roll, anneal, and distribute them to knife companies and steel suppliers. They have also recently started a new online store to better sell directly to individual knifemakers. Niagara has managed to keep production going for a wide range of Crucible (and other) knife steels, including:
Making ProCut Damascus with Devin Thomas
We traveled to Nevada to visit my dad, Devin Thomas, and make some Damascus with Pop’s ProCut. Along the way we saw some sites around my hometown and my wife tries to prove that her town is better.
Testing Tamahagane – Traditional Japanese Steel
Patreon
Thank you Patreon supporters! Through Patreon support I was able to pay for metallography and for the consumables for making coupons and running the CATRA experiment. If you want to support more knife steel research please join us at Patreon.com/KnifeSteelNerds
Pop’s ProCut – A New Carbon Steel for Knives
My steel research is supported through Patreon. Patreon supporters saw the news on Pop’s ProCut before anyone else. There is currently an article about the upcoming MagnaMax only available on Patreon.
CPM-3V – Still the Best High Toughness Steel
Still working on getting an update to everyone about the status of knife steel after Crucible’s bankruptcy and the sale of many of the assets to Erasteel. Still more i’s to dot and t’s to cross.
Is 1084-15N20 the Best Pattern Welded Damascus?
Patreon
Several new experiments were done to support this article. I am able to do these experiments thanks to the contributions of Patreon supporters. If you would like to support knife steel research visit Patreon.com/KnifeSteelNerds
Wootz – The True Damascus Steel?
Thanks to Spencer Sandison for providing the Wootz steel for this new study! Thanks to Shawn Houston for performing the microscopy. And thanks to the Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters who allow me to do these studies through providing funds for all the experiments. All Patreon dollars go towards knife steel experiments.
Matrix Steels K888 and CPM-1V
Thanks to Roman Kasé for donating the K888 and Niagara Specialty Metals for donating the CPM-1V. Thanks to my Patreon supporters for funding this study, those dollars went toward metallography and CATRA blade grinding. You can support knife steel research by visiting Patreon.com/KnifeSteelNerds
Testing Super High Speed Steel Vanadis 60
The following is a collaboration project between myself and Malachi Chou-Green. He obtained the Vanadis 60, did some heat treating experiments, and also did metallography including some fancy electron microscopy. He also heat treated and machined the CATRA knife that I tested. His original experiments were published some time ago on his Patreon, so if you want to see what he is up to I recommend visiting his Patreon page and becoming a supporter.
Thanks for what you are doing. There is so much misinformation, hyperbole, and exaggeration being presented as fact on the internet regarding knife blade steel. I felt like the skies cleared when I discovered your site. I really appreciate your science-based approach to demystify so many issues.
Thanks!
Can you tell me about AR-RPM9 please?
Thanks,
Mine S
I’ve only written about AR-RPM9 in an article exclusive to the Knife Steel Nerds Patreon.