52100 or 1095

[Jason Wilder]

I am wanting to do a run of several kitchen knives. Not that I have any particular fondness of them, but it is one way to make a knife without feeling compaled to make a blasted sheath.

Aldo has both 52100 and 1095 ground to .110/.120 in stock and I'm on the fence as to which to get.

I know that 52100 is on high demand right now but also know that 1095 has been a go to steel for kitchen knives for decades.

52100 may be a bit more corrosion resistant, but 1095 can produce a hamon

Both require exact temps to HT but there seems to be less steps involved with 1095

Is there anything I'm missing?
Thanks,
Jason

 

[Josh Dabney]

One facotor that could easily be the deciding factor is what quench meduim you've got available.

If you've got fast oil like Parks 50 take your pick.

If your using a meduim oil then I'd stick with the 52100.

I'm sure both steels will make an excellent kitchen knife if treated right though.

Thats my take

-Josh

 

[jmforge]

Josh, I can tell you from personal experience that you do NOT want to use Parks #50 on thin sections of deep hardening steel like a kitchen knife. :what!:

One facotor that could easily be the deciding factor is what quench meduim you've got available.

If you've got fast oil like Parks 50 take your pick.

If your using a meduim oil then I'd stick with the 52100.

I'm sure both steels will make an excellent kitchen knife if treated right though.

Thats my take

-Josh

 

[Josh Dabney]

Joe-

How thin are we talking ? I've treated a bunch of 5160 choppers in Parks without any trouble but nothing I would consider "thin"

I've been leaving probably at least .050 at the edge for HT and finish grinding after.

-You and Mike ever get that hammer running ?

-Josh

 

[Jason Wilder]

I think the preferred oil is a medium speed oil, but I have heard of more than a few makers using P-50 and having good results. I just read yesterday (I think it was Ed Fowler) who uses unheated P50.

Either way, if it is too fast I could try Canola oil.

 

[franklin]

j you can get a hamon with 52100. I just did one with the military build knife we are doing with 52100 and i was using room temp dt-48 and steel was held at 1500 for 10 min. its hard to see becuz i wanted a dark blade but here is a pic. But i love 1095 so dont think you could go wrong...............