Best Steels you've used?

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mlb1988
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by mlb1988 »

jbart65 wrote: Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:10 am
mlb1988 wrote: Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:54 pm
jbart65 wrote: Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:56 am

My favorite 240 is a Tanaka Sekiso. My favorite 210 is a Gassan. And my favorite nakiri is a Watanabe 180.

What do they all have in common? Aogami #2. I don't think it's a coincidence.
I have heard a lot of good things about Watanabe, and when I went to their site, I am very puzzled on how to purchase one. The makers site. They aren't in USA $ lol.
You go to the order page on a knife you want, fill out the email and personal info stuff and send it to him. He'll get back to you. Stuff isn't always in stock. It may be in production when you email.
How are their prices tho? Do they make custom anything I asked?
gladius
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by gladius »

mlb1988 wrote: Mon Jul 23, 2018 6:23 pm
jbart65 wrote: Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:10 am
mlb1988 wrote: Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:54 pm

I have heard a lot of good things about Watanabe, and when I went to their site, I am very puzzled on how to purchase one. The makers site. They aren't in USA $ lol.
You go to the order page on a knife you want, fill out the email and personal info stuff and send it to him. He'll get back to you. Stuff isn't always in stock. It may be in production when you email.
How are their prices tho? Do they make custom anything I asked?
---
Prices are good and they can make most anything you want.
old onion
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by old onion »

I googled the conversion table of Yens to USA dollar.
https://coinmill.com/JPY_USD.html#JPY=16
mlb1988
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by mlb1988 »

old onion wrote: Mon Jul 23, 2018 7:20 pm I googled the conversion table of Yens to USA dollar.
https://coinmill.com/JPY_USD.html#JPY=16
Truly appreciated. Thanks!
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by jacko9 »

I like carbon steels from my old 1095 chefs knife (that I bought in kit form 50 years ago) to the B2, W1 and W2's and whatever Kato used to make my JNS Workhorse. I agree with Jeff about grind and geometry and also the blacksmiths forging and heat treatment of a particular steel.
mlb1988
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by mlb1988 »

Why is it that 52100 steel popular? Bob Kramer, Masafireart, Murray Carter, most other Blacksmith uses it...
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by delmar »

Jeff B wrote: Tue Jul 10, 2018 5:55 pm And if you feel an absolute need to crush garlic with a laser, use the butt of the handle. ;)
Half way through this thread, and this was my thought to a T. Simple, effective and reduced risk of mishap. And if you happen to break a handle (very unlikely smashing garlic), a heck of a lot cheaper to replace pr repair than a blade.
PappaG
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by PappaG »

I really enjoy w#2. What knife would you recommend as the best, or at least very very good for W#2?
delmar
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by delmar »

PappaG wrote: Thu Aug 09, 2018 9:50 am I really enjoy w#2. What knife would you recommend as the best, or at least very very good for W#2?
There are plenty. Great reviews of Makoto out there - the grinds in particular are impressive. Mazaki is another to look at.
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Jeff B
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by Jeff B »

PappaG wrote: Thu Aug 09, 2018 9:50 am I really enjoy w#2. What knife would you recommend as the best, or at least very very good for W#2?
Definitely Makoto. An amazing knife at an even more amazing price!
If God wanted me to be a vegetarian he wouldn't have made animals taste so good.
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by lsboogy »

I like AEBL stainless stuff just fine. Kikuichi and Richmond do very well with it. I think it’s more the blacksmith/heat treat/grind and whomuses it. I love my HAP40, W#1&2, B#1&2, and AS stuff as well. It’s just one facet of a knife. It’s kind of like asking which car is the best - depends on the situation
mlb1988
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by mlb1988 »

lsboogy wrote: Thu Aug 09, 2018 8:59 pm I like AEBL stainless stuff just fine. Kikuichi and Richmond do very well with it. I think it’s more the blacksmith/heat treat/grind and whomuses it. I love my HAP40, W#1&2, B#1&2, and AS stuff as well. It’s just one facet of a knife. It’s kind of like asking which car is the best - depends on the situation
AEB L steel worth investing over carbon?
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by Jeff B »

mlb1988 wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:40 pm AEB L steel worth investing over carbon?
If you like or want a stainless knife AEB-L is a good choice.
If God wanted me to be a vegetarian he wouldn't have made animals taste so good.
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lsboogy
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by lsboogy »

Jeff B wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:45 pm
mlb1988 wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:40 pm AEB L steel worth investing over carbon?
If you like or want a stainless knife AEB-L is a good choice.
It's fine for edge holding and takes a really nice edge for a stainless knife. Better edges can be had with carbon steels, but it's a blacksmith thing. My ultimatum AEBL knife will take a better edge by far than some carbon steel knives, and I think Kikuichi Swedish is about the same thing - both take and hold great edges - much better than many 52100 knives. It's all in the smithing - thinking that you will get a great edge from steel type is a hope at best - the knives in this site have all had good edge for the buck for me - even the Artifex II BD1N knife I bought for a neice this spring has the ability to take a great edge (she will get the knife when she graduates - I put an edge on it with 1K/3K/6K stone that cuts veg ever so nicely) - I get all the kids a nice knife when they graduate from college - and sometimes suprise some of them with additions - I've taught them all some basic stuff to eat cheap and well - easy when you have some basic knife skills and ingredients.

Get away from thinking of a knife by steel - I have 30 or so White #1 knives - some are fantastic edge takers, some are not so much. It's smithing and heat treat by people who know what they are doing that gives you a great knife - I'm waiting for a Kramer to come to my house - his 52100 stuff is about as good as anything
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by inzite »

PappaG wrote: Thu Aug 09, 2018 9:50 am I really enjoy w#2. What knife would you recommend as the best, or at least very very good for W#2?
kiyoshi kato!
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by Cutuu »

inzite wrote: Tue Aug 14, 2018 11:24 am
PappaG wrote: Thu Aug 09, 2018 9:50 am I really enjoy w#2. What knife would you recommend as the best, or at least very very good for W#2?
kiyoshi kato!
Kato felt similar on the stones to me as mazaki, although I have very little experience with both.
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Re: Best Steels you've used?

Post by ChefKnivesToGo »

White 2 with about 60 HRC heat treat.
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