Some Info On Aus-8 Please?

MANIXWORLD · #1

Please can someone shed some info on AUS-8 bladesteel for me,WRT the stats of AUS-8 and with which other bladesteel, can it be compared?
Im familiar with using VG10,H1,154CM and SANDVIK steels.
I know its really not any steeljunky's favorite bladesteel,but some knife companies rate AUS-8 as there hi end steels.
I know Spyderco also uses AUS-8 in certain models,therefor im posting this in the Spyderco General Discussion thread.

JBE · #2

You may be surprised at how many steel "junkies" actually like AUS-8 (aka 8A). It's really not a bad steel at all - easy to sharpen with "decent" edge holding properties; it's very similar to a fresh H1 blade that isn't work-hardened. As far as comparing to VG10, you really can't. VG10 really isn't any harder to sharpen then 8A and holds a fine edge much longer; VG10 is a very "balanced" steel property-wise. As far as 154cm and Sandvik, I can't offer much comparison because I've never owned blades in either, at least that I can remember.

Spyderco Steel Chart - you can compare properties of steels here. :)

You'll see that VG10 has a bit more carbon then 8A (think edge retention) and is a bit higher in other elemental properties such as chromium and molybdenum (think wear resistance/hardness)

MANIXWORLD · #3

JBE wrote:You may be surprised at how many steel "junkies" actually like AUS-8 (aka 8A). It's really not a bad steel at all - easy to sharpen with "decent" edge holding properties; it's very similar to a fresh H1 blade that isn't work-hardened. As far as comparing to VG10, you really can't. VG10 really isn't any harder to sharpen then 8A and holds a fine edge much longer; VG10 is a very "balanced" steel property-wise. As far as 154cm and Sandvik, I can't offer much comparison because I've never owned blades in either, at least that I can remember.

Spyderco Steel Chart - you can compare properties of steels here. :)

You'll see that VG10 has a bit more carbon then 8A (think edge retention) and is a bit higher in other elemental properties such as chromium and molybdenum (think wear resistance/hardness)

thanx JBE,im always trying to up my knowledge on bladesteels-very interesting to know the different properties of different steels used in the knife industry today.
MW.

scout · #4

JBE, very good comparison. Aus-8 is a great steel, just remember to remove the wire edge that forms during sharpening.

jjacques · #5

In my experience, you can get just as fine an edge on AUS-8 as any of the more "premium" steels. It doesn't seem to last as long as others, though.

As far as knives I've owned go, the edge-retention scale seems to be:

AUS-8 < VG-10 < 154CM < S30V

with D2 in the same ballpark as S30V if not better (I haven't had enough experience with it to be sure).

#6

Hi Manixworld,

AUS-8 is made by Aichi Foundry in Japan. It has about 0.75% carbon, about 14% chromium, It has a little Moly, Nickel and Vanadium. All are in the "right" combination so the product's claim to fame is a very homgenous even grain structure. It will probably get as sharp as the best steels, just won't hold it as long as some of the super steels.

sal

carrot · #7

I wouldn't call AUS-8 a premium steel... especially compared to VG-10, but it is pretty good and sharpens up nicely.

yablanowitz · #8

It may be a low end steel for Spyderco, but it is better than a lot of makers have at the top end. Sal spoils us with his steel offerings

:D

gunmike1 · #9

It is very similar to 8Cr13MoV, but I have found the Byrd steel to perform better, possibly due to it being run harder than most AUS-8 that I have tried.

Mike

Zdenek · #10

Not bad but ATS-34 and CPM's are (far) better.

Agent Starling · #11

scout wrote:JBE, very good comparison. Aus-8 is a great steel, just remember to remove the wire edge that forms during sharpening.

hey scout, is the "wire edge" the same as a burr?

bh49 · #12

Agent Starling wrote:hey scout, is the "wire edge" the same as a burr?

I am not scout, but answer is yes.

Cliff Stamp · #13

gunmike1 wrote:It is very similar to 8Cr13MoV, but I have found the Byrd steel to perform better, possibly due to it being run harder than most AUS-8 that I have tried.

They are very similar :

http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/b ... #stainless

AUS-8A having a slightly lower carbon and higher chromium would be expected to be slightly softer (1 HRC) with increased corrosion resistance. However the differences are so small that the heat treatment variances would easily be what decided performance.

In reality, the main difference in these steels is nothing but marketing. Calling AUS-8A not a premium knife steel because you like high carbide steels is like saying P. J. Tomes is not a premium knife maker because you don't like the style of knives he makes.

-Cliff

scout · #14

Agent S., Yeah, the burr on Aus8 tends to bend back and forth a lot if your unfamiliar with sharpening that type of steel. At first, I couldn't figure out my edges dulled so quickly. :confused:

Cliff Stamp · #15

The burr isn't inherent in the steel but how it is hardened. Have AUS-8A heat treated past 60 HRC and there will be no issues with burrs.

-Cliff

Mr.S · #16

The EDC that i carry for over seven month now has AUS-8 and i like this steel: it gets very sharp, it's easy to refresh this sharpness, there are no problems with chipping and it's very corrosion resistant.

Very good user steel, nothing special, but not bad!