Any experience with Stellite?

[WT351]

Either full Stellite blades or laminate blades.

Ease of sharpening? Edge retention in normal day to day use (not to include shaping marble statues :poke: )?

Discuss. :help:

[Tinysd]

Got one coming from Jim Burke. Should be here Wednesday.

[Mr.LaBella]

nope, none yet.


:help:

[Stabber]

Well, Its to my understanding that stellite is a sandwich of metals with the center being the hardest. Shouldn't be a project to sharpen.

[WT351]

From what I have been able to find out, Stellite is a metal unto itself. There are all sorts of multiple metals that are alloyed to create it and I don't feel like cutting and pasting it over just now, but it does not act like a normal steel. It can be made into a blade by itself, or used as the center layer in a san mai type layered blade. The outer edges can be any stainless steel really since it is not the cutting edge.

The other information on Stellite in particular is that it is a very durable material, but not very strong. The edge tends to bend easily, but can be thin enough that it cuts well for a long time. I have read it has relatively large carbides as well compared to some of the other high-tech materials. This would explain some of the enhanced long term cutting ability.

Of course, all of this is from reading through some of the other forums.

I have been trying to choose between a couple of Duncans. One is S30V and the other is a Sharpfusion (440C with Stellite in the middle). I am leaning toward the S30V right now. I think it will serve my purposes better, but I still wanted to learn some more about Stellite.