Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
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Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
I own an Endura in ZDP-189 and was wondering what the actual HRC for Spyderco's ZDP-189 really is.
I've googled the topic and have found claims of the ZDP's HRC being anywhere from 65 to 62, and I haven't found a claim yet that is referenced.
So, do we really know how hard it is? I'd love to learn that its run at 66 or 67.
I've googled the topic and have found claims of the ZDP's HRC being anywhere from 65 to 62, and I haven't found a claim yet that is referenced.
So, do we really know how hard it is? I'd love to learn that its run at 66 or 67.
- Strong-Dog
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Are you waiting to use your knife until you find out how hard the blade is? Has it chipped? Have you had to sharpen it yet?
What's the point of having a harder steel if it isn't getting used?
What's the point of having a harder steel if it isn't getting used?
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Got it for Christmas. I use DMT to sharpen my knives, and it hasn't been any harder to sharpen than S30V, which I find to be trivial to sharpen on diamond. The ZDP has chipped slightly but I was using it to pry stuff, not simply cutting.Strong-Dog wrote:Are you waiting to use your knife until you find out how hard the blade is? Has it chipped? Have you had to sharpen it yet?
What's the point of having a harder steel if it isn't getting used?
Are you able to detect the HRC of a steel just by using it?
- Strong-Dog
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Not so much detect the exact HRC number, but with experience in use relative to other steels and hardnesses, then yes. To a certain extent.can't freehand wrote:Got it for Christmas. I use DMT to sharpen my knives, and it hasn't been any harder to sharpen than S30V, which I find to be trivial to sharpen on diamond. The ZDP has chipped slightly but I was using it to pry stuff, not simply cutting.Strong-Dog wrote:Are you waiting to use your knife until you find out how hard the blade is? Has it chipped? Have you had to sharpen it yet?
What's the point of having a harder steel if it isn't getting used?
Are you able to detect the HRC of a steel just by using it?
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Ok....so, has Spyderco ever officially stated the zdp HRC?
- Strong-Dog
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Not entirely sure. I think it's on the lower side of 62-65 however
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
To the best of my knowledge the only way to know how hard is the blade on your knife is to test it.can't freehand wrote:I own an Endura in ZDP-189 and was wondering what the actual HRC for Spyderco's ZDP-189 really is.
Keep in the mind that Endura is production knife and blades ate harden in batches. Any process has variation. If you take a dozen of blades from one batch, you will see some variation in hardness between blades. in addition to that will be variation from one batch to another batch. And in addition to that, there is accuracy of measurement. Most of the hardness testers are +/- 1 point. There are some with accuracy +/- .1. But they are quite expensive and require test blocks, which accurate to +/- .1. Ridiculous or not, but once I visited metrology lab of one huge international corporation. Their tester had +/-.1 accuracy, but blocks +/-.5 :confused:
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Spyderco do not officially certify hardness on any of their blades. It make sense just to avoid complains.can't freehand wrote:Ok....so, has Spyderco ever officially stated the zdp HRC?
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
I guess from a company standpoint but not for a consumer. If for example Spyderco estimates 64-65 and a concerned consumers runs his/her own test and records 62 hrc then its not a "complaint", its a real defect.bh49 wrote:Spyderco do not officially certify hardness on any of their blades. It make sense just to avoid complains.can't freehand wrote:Ok....so, has Spyderco ever officially stated the zdp HRC?
I gotta say, I'm pretty surprised a hardcore steel company like Spyderco doesn't certify hardness. Does Benchmade experience great difficulty for their hardness ratings?
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
This is exactly what I am talking about: there are some consumers with unreasonable expectations. Spyderco or any other company can target hardness at 64-65 or 59/60. Which doesn't mean that each blade will be in that range. Production blades are heat-treated in large batches, so there is variation in hardness in the same batch. I am Quality Assurance Manager for contract manufacturer. My company has four suppliers, who heat-treat material for us. With any of them standard range for hardness specification is four points. If we want less, than price double, triple and quadruple.can't freehand wrote: I guess from a company standpoint but not for a consumer. If for example Spyderco estimates 64-65 and a concerned consumers runs his/her own test and records 62 hrc then its not a "complaint", its a real defect
Next, I hope that you are aware that HRc reading is not most important. Heat-treater can completely mess-up micro-structure but achieve desired HRc.
IMHO when companies announcing high HRc number this is nothing more that sales trick. I hope that you read my previous post completely and realized that if you test the same blade using two different calibrated testers you can get two reading different by two points. So if Spyderco measured 64 using their tester, you can find it at 62 or 66.
I am Spyderco knives user. Currently I have 10 Spydercos in use. I have no problem with performance. Should I worry about hardness of each blade? I have calibrated hardness tester next to my office. I used it only once. Out of curiosity to see hardness on The Forum native5, mostly because people on the forum was asking.
Do not make life more complicated than it really is. If you satisfied with your Endura performance, enjoy it. If not sent it to Spyderco W&R and they will find out, if anything is wrong.
Don't you think that this is the wrong forum to ask this question? If you really interesting in this, you need to go to BM Forum.can't freehand wrote: Does Benchmade experience great difficulty for their hardness ratings?
- chuck_roxas45
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Wow, so now a blade that is around 62 rc is defective?
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
I missed you Chuck. Where the **** you have been? :) :) :)chuck_roxas45 wrote:Wow, so now a blade that is around 62 rc is defective?
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
What makes you think Benchmade certified HRC besides giving a general range of where it should be? The only people I've heard of that happening for are custom knifes from folks like Phil Wilson. Even those particular examples, as I understand, have ranges of hardness depending on where it is tested on the blade.can't freehand wrote:I guess from a company standpoint but not for a consumer. If for example Spyderco estimates 64-65 and a concerned consumers runs his/her own test and records 62 hrc then its not a "complaint", its a real defect.
I gotta say, I'm pretty surprised a hardcore steel company like Spyderco doesn't certify hardness. Does Benchmade experience great difficulty for their hardness ratings?
I think you are highly overestimating the average consumer. In fact, most of the most empathic knife testers who know the metallurgy are unlikely to consider something like like ZDP-189 in 62 a defect. Especially since they would need to cut up yard and yards of cardboard in a controlled test with a similar knife at 65 hrc just to tell the difference. There is a bigger variance of dyno horsepower amongst exotic sports cars and none of those would be deemed "slow".
It has almost 30 percent chromium
It has about 3 percent carbon
It's hard as heck (no matter what it HRC's at) meaning compression strength isn't the issue but if anything edge stability/embrittlement is. Especially at thin cross sections with normal people using it for normal tasks.
Spyderco has been rocking out with ZDP-189 for about a decade now. It's seen as fairly "old hat" compared to the weird exotic alloys that sound like secret projects for the government. That doesn't deny the fact that it still is extremely impressive especially when compared to the likes of many competing models with Sanvik and lower carbon Crucible steels.
- SpeedHoles
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Great explanation bh49.
Makes complete sense.
I have a friend who works at AAM and he has access to Rockwell tester, and I've been tempted to ask him to test a blade just to say I have for fun, but honestly it will have little, if any, impact on my actual experience (aside the fact I know very little of how it actually effects things!), beyond simply knowing a number in my head.
I think I have seen where Sal mentioned dislike for posting these numbers here for those similar reasons. Do not remember what thread it was in though.
Makes complete sense.
I have a friend who works at AAM and he has access to Rockwell tester, and I've been tempted to ask him to test a blade just to say I have for fun, but honestly it will have little, if any, impact on my actual experience (aside the fact I know very little of how it actually effects things!), beyond simply knowing a number in my head.
I think I have seen where Sal mentioned dislike for posting these numbers here for those similar reasons. Do not remember what thread it was in though.
Going back to Caly.
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
bh49 wrote:This is exactly what I am talking about: there are some consumers with unreasonable expectations. Spyderco or any other company can target hardness at 64-65 or 59/60. Which doesn't mean that each blade will be in that range. .can't freehand wrote: I guess from a company standpoint but not for a consumer. If for example Spyderco estimates 64-65 and a concerned consumers runs his/her own test and records 62 hrc then its not a "complaint", its a real defect
I've only been here a short while, yet already its obvious that this forum is as shill-heavy as bladeforums, which is sad to me given that I very much admire Spyderco. I ask a simple question, try to make a neutral point and get my head bit off.
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
I feel that far too many people spend far too much time worrying about blade hardness and edge holding. If a particular steel takes a good edge and holds it for a reasonable time, then it's hard enough. Learn how to sharpen a knife and exercise a little common sense in using it and your life will be far less stressful.
...just my opinion and as always,YMMV.
...just my opinion and as always,YMMV.
Paul
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
I did 3 hardness reading on my cf stretch & 1 read on dragonfly zdp189 => hrc around 63. zdp189 has ridiculously high carbide volume, good thing Spyderco lowered hardness from initial launch of 66 to ~63, otherwise the blade would be too brittle for EDC. I thinned out my stretch and sharpened my stretch around 20dps (40* inclusive), very sharp and sturdy. IMO, 66rc probably ok for kitchen knives with 10/13+dps bevels.
- kennethsime
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Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
64. For what it's worth, all the other answers above are better than mine.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
Re: Spyderco ZDP-189 HRC?
Edit: deleted to avoid shill on troll mayhem
Last edited by Blerv on Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.