Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
500Nitro
Member
Posts: 703
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:56 am
Location: Australia

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#21

Post by 500Nitro »

That middle photo sends shivers up my spine!
3 x Endura 1 SE, 1 x Endura ? CE and a Black Pacific Salt. Want Aqua Salt, Fish Hunter and a Pacific Salt Yellow.
murphjd25
Member
Posts: 3286
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 12:43 am
Location: Bothell,WA

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#22

Post by murphjd25 »

I’ve had good luck using S30V and SE H1 for stripping wires. I usually use wire strippers though.
Josh
User avatar
Donut
Member
Posts: 9568
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:47 pm
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#23

Post by Donut »

500Nitro wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:04 pm
That middle photo sends shivers up my spine!
It isn't an energized wire.
-Brian
A distinguished lurker.
Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
User avatar
jpm2
Member
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: TX - in the sticks

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#24

Post by jpm2 »

For tasks that stress the edge, and need a long lasting fine edge, M4 is my choice of presently available commercial blade steels. 2nd choice maxamet, 3rd hap40.
500Nitro
Member
Posts: 703
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:56 am
Location: Australia

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#25

Post by 500Nitro »

Donut wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:12 pm
500Nitro wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:04 pm
That middle photo sends shivers up my spine!
It isn't an energized wire.
It wasn't the electricity, it's cutting towards himself.
Attachments
BndWCJ3.jpg
BndWCJ3.jpg (6.58 KiB) Viewed 871 times
3 x Endura 1 SE, 1 x Endura ? CE and a Black Pacific Salt. Want Aqua Salt, Fish Hunter and a Pacific Salt Yellow.
User avatar
razorsharp
Member
Posts: 3066
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:41 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#26

Post by razorsharp »

All the knives you bought are more than capable of the job. :) Never had issues with cutting copper , weather it be 420A or K390
ThePeacent
Member
Posts: 2847
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2016 12:45 am
Location: Barcelona, Spain

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#27

Post by ThePeacent »

500Nitro wrote:
Sat Apr 14, 2018 12:54 am
Donut wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:12 pm
500Nitro wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:04 pm
That middle photo sends shivers up my spine!
It isn't an energized wire.
It wasn't the electricity, it's cutting towards himself.
hahah stole my words!
I also :eek: at the pic especially knowing how sharp Spydercos come :o
User avatar
Donut
Member
Posts: 9568
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:47 pm
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#28

Post by Donut »

ThePeacent wrote:
Sat Apr 14, 2018 8:06 am
500Nitro wrote:
Sat Apr 14, 2018 12:54 am
Donut wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:12 pm
500Nitro wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:04 pm
That middle photo sends shivers up my spine!
It isn't an energized wire.
It wasn't the electricity, it's cutting towards himself.
hahah stole my words!
I also :eek: at the pic especially knowing how sharp Spydercos come :o
I usually think that if you think about what you're doing, it shouldn't be as dangerous.

With most cutting, what you're cutting doesn't move and only the blade is moving. If you're cutting something that is movable towards yourself, you can hold the knife still and move what you're cutting. A stationary knife is not too likely to jump at you to cut you.
-Brian
A distinguished lurker.
Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
zhyla
Member
Posts: 2190
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:12 pm

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#29

Post by zhyla »

anagarika wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:32 am
Wire core is copper, much softer than steel too, so cutting wire also can be done easily.
That's a good way to chip your edge. Copper isn't that soft.

I think I'd err on the side of sharpenability. No supersteel is going to survive this sort of work unscathed. You don't want anything that has even a hint of chippiness, so S30V is out.

Honestly, I think I'd go with 8Cr13MoV if you can find something you like. Easy to sharpen. Cheap enough you don't care too much when something goes wrong. A step up from that is probably H1. I've never used H1 but I hear it's a breeze to sharpen.
Onsharry
Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2018 9:45 pm

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#30

Post by Onsharry »

Thank you everyone for your responses!
User avatar
anagarika
Member
Posts: 1687
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:59 pm

Re: Help me choose a steel for copper/aluminum wire skinning/stripping

#31

Post by anagarika »

zhyla wrote:
Sat Apr 14, 2018 1:59 pm
anagarika wrote:
Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:32 am
Wire core is copper, much softer than steel too, so cutting wire also can be done easily.
That's a good way to chip your edge. Copper isn't that soft.

I think I'd err on the side of sharpenability. No supersteel is going to survive this sort of work unscathed. You don't want anything that has even a hint of chippiness, so S30V is out.

Honestly, I think I'd go with 8Cr13MoV if you can find something you like. Easy to sharpen. Cheap enough you don't care too much when something goes wrong. A step up from that is probably H1. I've never used H1 but I hear it's a breeze to sharpen.
In a controlled manner, cutting copper isn’t that hard, but OP mentioned using it daily at work, which includes human factor, fatigue, time constraints, etc. When working, the cut can include in lateral forces, so the danger of chipping is likely there.

8Cr can do well (Spyderco or Byrd), H1 will be better I think. Upgrades are VG10 and (thanks Lance) M4 might be good at 30° bevel with 40°microbevel. I think Seki’s VG10 isn’t brought to highest hardness (slightly softer than peak) to cater for such EDU role.
Chris :spyder:
Post Reply