The New Guy and Carbon Steel

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:16 am

OK...I get the carbon steel thing now.

I got a Sharpmaker about two weeks ago, and I've been practicing with it on my kitchen knives. They are excellent stainless Henckels and, after a couple weeks of practice and experimentation, I put an excellent edge on them.

I'm too dark, hairy, and Eastern European to shave my arm with anything other than a weedwhacker, let alone have the hairs "pop" off, but with the Sharpmaker I have my chef's knife close.

Anyway, my slippies are new and still sharp, so I though I'd take a shot at an old carbon steel Eye Brand fixed hunter I have.

In about five minutes the thing was crazy nutty insane sharp. I could not have just magically improved my Sharpmaker skills.

So I get everybody raving about carbon steel. I tell you, it's a wonder of modern metallurgical science! It's too bad this newfangled carbon steel stuff wasn't around years ago, our forefathers would have loved it!

useem · Post by **useem** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:09 am

carbon steel wasn't around years ago? What kind are you talking about? Did I miss something? I haven't spent alot of time on the forum lately

johnnierotten · Post by **johnnierotten** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:35 am

Do you mean stainless steel??

Classic Case · Post by **Classic Case** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:39 am

i think marcinek was being sarcastic,notice the wink.

johnnierotten · Post by **johnnierotten** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:41 am

Oh...Ok...Duhhhhhh!!!

knowtracks · Post by **knowtracks** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:27 pm

Welcome to the carbon club Marcinek

For my money it's still better than all the new "wonder" steels. Especially the "hammer forged" carbon steel like the Eye Brand. Smashing those molecules closer together just seems to make a tougher blade material, Crazy thing is, Eye Brand is one of the least expensive knives around.

Dave

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:01 pm

Sorry jrotten...mom always told me stop being a smart ass.

knowtracks!!! Incredibly interesting point!!! One of my slipjoints (I've only got two, with another in the mail) is a new Eye Brand carbon steel minitrapper (hammer forged).

I figured the old Eye Brand fixed hunter went so well, I'd give that one a shot (even though it probably didn't need it).

It was as hard for me to sharpen as the stainless chef knife. I got it nice, but it took a while and still isn't as sharp as the fixed blade. I swear, that patina'd, pitted, and slightly bent blade just looked at that Sharmaker and got scary sharp.

I'll throw this question out to anybody...are there any current carbon steels out there better than Eye Brand's Hammer Forged stuff? Should I be avoiding it in the future and going with something like Case CV and/or 1095 to get that ease of sharpening?

I tell you what though...I am even more in love with this knife...maybe I'll get a nice custom leather sheath made for it...

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:23 am

I give up onm trying to find a pattern...

Just gave my SAK a shot on the Sharpmaker...got scary sharp easy.

My sharpening conclusions...
...whatever steel is on that old Eye Brand...awesome.
...the stainless on a SAK Tinker....pretty awesome.
...the hammered carbon on a new Eye Brand...OK...

Anyway, once again, I hope you AAPK folk are happy...first you got me obsessed with buying pocket knives...now you got me obsessed with sharpening pocket knives.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:07 am

Yeah, I'll take 1095 carbon steel over 440C stainless ALMOST every time. I am around the ocean quite a bit and carbon steel will work wonderfully around the marine air, I do try to keep everything with a light coat of oil on it. I usually have carbon steel at marine environments by accident however.

I try to use 440C around the ocean and marine environment, it's more forgiving when I don't keep a light coat of oil on it. Stainless does not mean it will not rust IT WILL, nor stain, IT WILL! It's just a bit more forgiving in a harsh environment.

There is one stainless steel that peaks my interest and that is CPM S30V . This steel is manufactured through powered metal technology. What this metal offers is the best combination of toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Its chemistry has been specially balanced to promote the formation of vanadium carbides which are harder and more effective than chromium carbides in providing wear resistance.

When sharpening I reccommend useing a device such as Lansky for begginners and those that like an exact angle on a knife blade.
I like to use whetstones myself, but I have been sharpening blades for many years. (many years, like 40

). Even then, it is good to check how "calibrated" you are every now and then with a tool such as a Lansky (a recent addition to my arsenal). The angle on the knife blade is very important as with the right angle (shallow) you could make mild steel seem sharp as a razor, for just a little while.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:40 am

Hukk,

For a good test run, I'd suggest you try to find a WalMart Spyderco Native. They were done in CPM S30V...and sell for under $40.00. I carry one pretty regular like and am very pleased.
JMO, of course.

Bill

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:40 pm

After sleeping on it, I have come to this conclusion.

The 40 degree inclusive I used on the Sharpmaker for the German Eye fixed blade sharpened it.

The 30 degree inclusive I used on the Sharpmaker for the SAK sharpened it.

The 30 degree inclusive I used on the Sharpmaker for the German Eye mini trapper reprofiled it.

I'm sticking with that conclusion, because I want to be able to say that I can sharpen a knife and that I can reprofile a knife!

How cool would I be then!

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:46 pm

El Lobo wrote:Hukk,

For a good test run, I'd suggest you try to find a WalMart Spyderco Native. They were done in CPM S30V...and sell for under $40.00. I carry one pretty regular like and am very pleased.
JMO, of course.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I think I will do that in the next 2 days, Thursday is my surgery date for my right shoulder. 90% of my knives have natural handles and I have only 2 that can be called tacticals. I do have a few bars of CPM S30V for stock removal. I also hear that this steel responds very well to cryo tempering, whether it's done with dry ice or liquid nitrogen. I wonder if anyone has tried liquid Helium at absolute 0, –459.67 °F?

REAL PRICEY, but I used to have access to it, no, it doesn't float away.

Does evaporate quickly though.

marcinek wrote:After sleeping on it, I have come to this conclusion.

The 30 degree inclusive I used on the Sharpmaker for the German Eye mini trapper reprofiled it.

I'm sticking with that conclusion, because I want to be able to say that I can sharpen a knife and that I can reprofile a knife!

How cool would I be then!

I would agree with you there/ Reprofiling the edge. I did a set for my mother in law. Her kitchen knife had about a 40 degree angle, I put it on my Bader first and gave it a 20 degree angle. She used it for slicing and 20 degrees is much better for that. At 40 degrees and dull I might add, was pretty useless.
She thought the knife set was junk because it did not perform well for her. The brand was Henckels, a really good set. The problem was that she did not always use the knives as they were intended. So, now each knife is profiled for what she uses. The 40 degree was for chopping, and she used it for slicing, made a huge difference for her. We both agree that Henckels is a good brand.

Keeping it sharp is important also.

MITCH RAPP · Post by **MITCH RAPP** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:55 pm

Hukk; You will be in my Thoughts and Prayers on Thursday! Hope all

goes well for you.

When you are up to it, be sure to let us All know

everything went well, which I am Sure will be the case!

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:59 pm

MITCH RAPP wrote: Hukk; You will be in my Thoughts and Prayers on Thursday! Hope all

goes well for you. When you are up to it, be sure to let us All know

everything went well, which I am Sure will be the case!

Thanks a bunch, I apreciate it. Be nice to have my feeling back in my right hand again, makes knife work a bit slow, but my son and I have made some nice ones. I'll have to post those this weekend.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:16 pm

Hukk,

We'll all say a prayer for good results my friend.

We'll be waiting for you to come back on here and give us a shout when you feel able.

Bill

marcinek · Post by **marcinek** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:36 pm

Hey hukk! Good luck with the surgery and get well soon!
Here's a little customized joke for you:

Hukk: Doc, will I be able to throw a curveball after my shoulder surgery?
Doc: Of course wou will!
Hukk: Cool, because I never could before!

Hey-ohh! Ba-dump-dump.

richied · Post by **richied** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:39 pm

Hey hukk, we'll be praying for you to have a swift recovery. Besides you have some of the best stories I've ever heard. Good luck

Gunsmoke47 · Post by **Gunsmoke47** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:54 pm

A speedy recovery to you Hukk! Let us know how you are fairing as soon as you can.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:52 pm

Thanks Guy's, I appreciate it. I did pick up that Spyderco Native with CPMS30V and first impressions are that it is an excellent knife, my son got one also. We'll take them with us salmon fishing and any other tests will have to wait

No, I think curveballs are off the list. Getting feeling back in my right hand will be great!