2 Myths About Carbon Steel

[me2]

My contention is that its mainly a moot point now. There are users and buyers who think there are only carbon and stainless steel. That is such a drastic over simplification that it is essentially meaningless. M4 and 1075 would be carbon steel by that simple classification. 440A is tougher than CPM 10V. You gwlet the idea.

 

[Ballenxj]

In general, though, I would have thought a high-end stainless would hold a better edge, but the carbon would be easier to sharpen.

This is what I have found to be true when I sharpen my own knives. Both can be made shaving sharp, but the more exotic wonder steels are harder to get to that point once dulled. The other side of the coin is that they do hold the edge longer. That is the trade off.
-Bruce

 

[hardheart]

Some of the stainless steels contain other materials that seem to increase their wear resistance. I don't know if any carbon steels are similar.

Stainless steels have chromium, and any chromium carbides would contribute to wear resistance. There are no similar carbon steels for alloying to increase wear resistance, as carbon steels have only iron, carbon, and manganese.

 

[Fishinbo]

Interesting post.
Thanks for the share.

 

[Ankerson]

Stainless steels have chromium, and any chromium carbides would contribute to wear resistance. There are no similar carbon steels for alloying to increase wear resistance, as carbon steels have only iron, carbon, and manganese.

And that's the reason why the edges smooth out so fast when cutting more abrasive materials when compared to the high alloy steels.