SR-3V Question for Jerry

Ironic

Ironic

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I’ve noticed that some knife makers/manufacturers are using a low-temperature temper with CPM3V to get better high-hardness performance and edge stability. Some of those makers have warned against using belt sharpeners such as the Work Sharp on their blades because that kind of heat treatment can easily be compromised by the heat generated by a belt.

I know that Busse Combat has traditionally used heat treatment that results in blades that are much more resistant to damage at high temperatures than most, and Busse owners have noted much success with using the Work Sharp and even regular belt grinders to sharpen INFI.

I’m wondering if Busse’s heat treatment of SR-3V employs a low-temperature temper or if it’s more like the INFI heat treatment, and if it’s the former, should we not use power sharpeners on Busse’s SR-3V blades?

Thanks!
Will
 
Ironic said:
I’ve noticed that some knife makers/manufacturers are using a low-temperature temper with CPM3V to get better high-hardness performance and edge stability. Some of those makers have warned against using belt sharpeners such as the Work Sharp on their blades because that kind of heat treatment can easily be compromised by the heat generated by a belt.

I know that Busse Combat has traditionally used heat treatment that results in blades that are much more resistant to damage at high temperatures than most, and Busse owners have noted much success with using the Work Sharp and even regular belt grinders to sharpen INFI.

I’m wondering if Busse’s heat treatment of SR-3V employs a low-temperature temper or if it’s more like the INFI heat treatment, and if it’s the former, should we not use power sharpeners on Busse’s SR-3V blades?

Thanks!
Will
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Good question. Of course I don't have an answer as I have no clue. I will say that both steels are wood chipper 8% steels in a sense, so HT might be closer than you think. Again just a guess.

For the rest, this is from way back in the day when INFI was first released:
"As for INFI and temperature extremes, it is amazing. INFI is tempered at nearly 950 degrees. It does not begin to lose any significant hardness until it is held above 1050 degrees for a considerable amount of time. I have to believe that it would need to be extremely mishandled in order to do any noticeable damage.

Most of the simpler high carbon steels (of which INFI is NOT a member) can be drawn down in temper in a matter of seconds if the temperature hits above 500 - 800 degrees. Along the thin edge of a knife, a buffer or dremel can produce this level of heat and can cause serious damage if not executed by a professional. Always check the grade of steel and heat-treat specs. before assassinating it with the dremel tool Uncle Leo gave you for Christmas. Always keep the steel cool to the touch and you should be fine.

As far as INFI is concerned, care for and feed it like a friend. If the blade does get warm pour beer over it to cool it down. Stories out of Africa indicate that Beer Tempering only increases the performance of the steel. Is this true? I question nothing I hear from our friends in Africa.

Jerry Busse"
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I may offer some in-sight ?

I am Not 100% an expert, but I have belt ground a few things and even have done sharpening with a work sharp brand.

I think where a problem can arise is if the belts are worn and rub rather than cut the steel.

A worn belt can do a really pretty convex edge but the friction can generate a lot of heat.
especially right on the edge, where the metal is thinnest.

Think of when someone "grinds" a tip or sharpens a knife on a power belt sharpener how they tip can discolor before you realize it.
that is an indicator of it getting really hot.

also the tip is the thinnest part of the knife usually.


So would a belt grinder or sharpener be fine to work on a knife ?
absolutely that is how most of all knives are made :)

You just have to make sure it is actually cutting the steel rather than polishing it.



as far as another knife maker saying do not use a powered belt sharpener ?

I would guess and can see why that would be, mostly because;

all who use such devices may not know they are creating such friction and effecting heat treat.

The burden of proof that a customer ruined a blades heat treat would have to be on the maker.



I remember when some folding knife makers said the warranty would be void if you disassembled the knife.

Mostly because ;

1. the customers would put them back together incorrectly
2. damage the parts when taking them apart.
3. lose parts
4. blame the maker somehow for all of this.

again not 100% an expert or claim to be. :)
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
Please do not put a Ken Onion worksharp on one of my knives. I think it will burn the edge. Save that for knives that are heat treated with a high temper. it is not a good choice for the low temp tweaks, particularly on an abrasion resistant steel like 3V. You're going to get too much heat on a system like that for my knives.
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One of many examples of warnings I’ve seen regarding the low-temp tweaks such as that used by Carothers or Keffeler—and quite a contrast with Jerry’s remarks about INFI in Cobalt’s quote above. Maybe I wasn’t clear why I was specifically asking Jerry about Busse’s processes.
 
Ironic said:
One of many examples of warnings I’ve seen regarding the low-temp tweaks such as that used by Carothers or Keffeler—and quite a contrast with Jerry’s remarks about INFI in Cobalt’s quote above. Maybe I wasn’t clear why I was specifically asking Jerry about Busse’s processes.
Click to expand...
Yep only Jerry and Garth truly knows
 
It’s a good question. Also would like to know the answer for SR-Magnacut if possible. How high can it and SR-3V be heated on the grinder, when being DLC coated, etc.
 
Nathan has specifically said that ANY uncooled, powered belt sharpener will ruin the Delta heat treat on his 3V, due to a low-temperature tweak, his 3V HT protocol is optimized that much. Anything over 325 degrees, if memory serves, will ruin* the HT at the edge apex on D3V, according to Nathan.

INFI has a higher-temperature temper where this is much less of an issue.

*ruin is subjective here. Will it crumble? No, but it won't be as good as it is supposed to be, and the end user could experience some degree of edge failure, more than they would have otherwise.
 
I’m only asking what sort of special care, if any, should be taken when sharpening a Busse 3V blade as compared with sharpening an INFI blade. I think he’ll answer. I hope he’ll also give us an explanation of what’s involved there. 👍
 
I am interested as well. I hope we get an answer from headquarters.

What about SR101? I'm assuming its similar to Infi?
 
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