Wow!! That's tough!

[Don Robinson]

I bought a large sheet of CPM 154 some time ago. Yesterday I sawed out two blades from it. It's about .105 thick, oversize 3/32". This is my first experience with CPM 154.

I always friction cut thin materials and this was no exception except it didn't want to cut at all. Finally, with a lot of hard pushing, I got the blades cut.

I've never seen anything so hard to cut in all my life. Compared to this, CPM S30V cuts like paper.

Please tell me your experiences with this stuff.

I think I'll try milling most of the profile. I had to leave so much stock around the blades I'm afraid it would use up a bunch of belts.

This is where a water jet would really be nice, but I don't do production work. usually two knives at a time.

By the way, this is going to be a two blade Texas Toothpick slipjoint. I hope!

[David Broadwell]

Don, I love CPM154! I think it's a great steel to work with. Just this year I've made several fighters and a couple of folders from it and have had no problems. I don't friction saw, but just cut it on my band saw with a bi-metal blade. I have drilled, reamed, filed, milled, all the normal shop procedures, and have had no problems with it. It heat treats just like the older 154cm, grinds nicely after the heat treat, hand finishes better than any other stainless blade steel I've ever used except 440c, takes a wicked edge and hold it well. It looks much better than the high vanadium content steels.

It sounds like you got something besides CPM154, or it was not annealed. I buy mine from Alpha Knife Supply who gets it directly from Crucible. Where did you buy yours?

David

[Don Robinson]

David,

I bought it from one of the knifemakers Supply houses. Texas Knifemakers, Jantz or somewhere. I was surprised to see it listed because I thought it was available only from Crucible at that time.

I suspect the only problem was trying to friction cut it. I'll find out when I start to machine and grind it.

I did try to cut the end off the large sheet first, and it stalled my little horizontal/vertical band saw.

Fortunately I have a 2 speed Wilton band saw that I use for metal with an 18 tooth bimetal blade, so I'll try that next time. It's the same saw I use for friction cutting at 3000 sfm.

[David Broadwell]

Hi Don,

I have one of the multi speed Wilton saws. I just use the 3000 SFM for wood and plastics, and cut metals on the slower speeds. I use a Lenox blade. Tried one of the generic brand blades from Enco once, and it was a POS! I have not had any trouble sawing the CPM154 from AKS.

You might take a look at http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/ They have several different blade steels on their site including CPM154. They also have a mammoth ivory sale going on right now, and you can see what you are buying.

David

[Don Robinson]

Hi, David.

I have 3 sets of mammoth ivory scales on hand. Just waiting to go on one of these knives. But then, I love the look of MOP on a nice folder.

[glwaterjet]

Don, you should give me a call!