CPM Magnacut steel and CPM CruWear are both powder metallurgy steel produced by Crucible Industries following the Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) process that results in a homogeneous microstructure with a finer, more uniform carbide distribution.
For the context of this article, I will be looking at CPM CruWear which is a powder metallurgy version of the conventional ingot CruWear steel.
MagnaCut was developed by Dr. Larrin Thomas as a knife steel with a balanced approach to qualities like toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.
CruWear on the other hand is a typical tool steel with an approach towards high toughness for its industrial applications in the making of industrial knives, dies, and punches.
While both CPM Cru-Wear and CPM MagnaCut offer excellent edge retention and wear resistance, MagnaCut stands out with its superior corrosion resistance. This is because MagnaCut is a stainless steel, while Cru-Wear is a tool steel.
MagnaCut achieves impressive corrosion resistance by eliminating chromium carbides, enabling it to attain high hardness levels unmatched by other stainless steels. In contrast, Cru-Wear, with its coarse chromium carbides, is prone to rusting.
For those seeking high-performance stainless steel cutlery, MagnaCut’s balanced qualities of hardness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance make it a top choice over Cru-Wear.
MagnaCut vs CruWear Steel Differences At A Glance
| Properties | MagnaCut Steel | CruWear Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Type of steel | Non-Stainless Tool Steel | Non Stainless Tool Steel |
| Hardness | 60-63 HRC | 60-65 HRC |
| Edge Retention | Good, very close to CruWear | Slightly better than MagnaCut |
| Toughness | Excellent | Slightly better than MagnaCut |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent, better than CruWear | Moderate, prone to rusting |
| Ease of Sharpening | Excellent, much easier than CruWear | Moderate, carbides hinder sharpening |
| Pricing | USD 150-200 | USD 200+ |
Composition
Hardness
CPM MagnaCut and Cru-Wear exhibit some key differences in hardness. According to the Crucible Steel Data Sheet, the maximum attainable hardness is marginally higher for CPM Cru-Wear compared to MagnaCut.
CPM MagnaCut has a typical Rockwell hardness range of 60-64 HRC, with a recommended heat treatment hardness of 60 HRC for an optimal balance of properties.
In comparison, CPM Cru-Wear can achieve slightly higher hardness with a range of 60-65 HRC. Cru-Wear recommended heat treatment hardness of 62 HRC, which is 1-2 points higher than that of CPM MagnaCut.
Edge Retention
CPM MagnaCut and CRU-Wear are very closely matched in edge retention and cutting ability. Both steels are capable of achieving high hardness levels in the 60-64 HRC range when properly heat treated.
This high hardness comes from stable vanadium-rich carbides that resist abrasive wear and help the steels hold an edge well.
However, MagnaCut features both vanadium and niobium carbides, which can provide more well-rounded wear resistance and edge stability.
My real-world testing indicates that knives made from either Magnacut or CruWear steel exhibit excellent edge retention and can take and hold an extremely fine edge when sharpened.
Toughness
While CPM MagnaCut is renowned for its excellent toughness, CPM CruWear can be considered to have slightly better toughness than CPM MagnaCut steel. The higher toughness of Cru-Wear steel is attributed to the low volume of very fine and evenly distributed carbides.
MagnaCut on the other hand has a bit higher volume of carbides which are excellent for other properties like wear resistance but are considered brittle and that’s slightly lowering the toughness of the steel.
In my use, I found very minimal toughness difference between knives made from either steel though it’s worth pointing out that CPM CruWear has exceptional toughness leading MagnaCut steel.
Corrosion Resistance
MagnaCut steel has better corrosion resistance than CPM CruWear steel, this is because MagnaCut is a stainless steel while Cru-Wear is a non-stainless steel.
In my independent testing, the corrosion resistance of Magnacut outperformed CruWear as it was able to withstand salty water droplets overnight with no rusting forming on the surface while CruWear extensively formed rust on the surface.
MagnaCut achieves excellent corrosion resistance by uniquely eliminating chromium carbides in its matrix. By eliminating these Chromium Carbides, Magnacut is also able to achieve a higher Rockwell hardness level than other stainless steels.
This unique blend of high hardness and corrosion resistance is only present in a few stainless steels like Crucible S110V steel and is even better than the popular M390 Steel
Ease of Sharpening
CPM MagnaCut offers substantially better ease of sharpening compared to CPM CruWear. MagnaCut’s incredibly fine microstructure, resulting from advanced powder metallurgy production, enables much easier grinding, finishing, and sharpening than expected for its hardness level and alloy content.
The fine carbides resist abrasion well during sharpening, deburr easily, and take a keen edge that is very responsive to stropping. In contrast, CPM CruWear has coarse chromium-rich carbides that hinder abrasion during grinding and sharpening.
I found that the MagnaCut knife sharpens easier than CruWear, and even sharpens better than CPM-154 knives.
For both knife enthusiasts and hobbyists seeking to optimize the sharpenability of high-performance tool steel cutlery, MagnaCut represents a clear step forward in ease of sharpening compared to CPM CruWear and other carbide-rich alloys.
Pricing
Despite MagnaCut blade steel offering a balanced approach to its qualities compared to CPM CruWear blade steel.
Magnacut knives tend to be a little bit cheaper than CPM CruWear knives, most Magnacut knives range between USD 150 to USD 200 while CPM CruWear are a bit more expensive ranging from USD 200 upwards as of Jan 2024.
Pricing and availability may change over time as MagnaCut knife steel gains more popularity.
Conclusion Magnacut vs Cruwear
In conclusion, CPM MagnaCut and CPM Cru-Wear steel exhibit differences in hardness, with Cru-Wear having a slightly higher maximum attainable hardness.
Both steels show comparable edge retention, but MagnaCut’s inclusion of niobium carbides provides additional wear resistance and edge stability.
While MagnaCut is known for excellent toughness, Cru-Wear is considered slightly tougher due to the lower volume of fine and evenly distributed carbides.
MagnaCut surpasses Cru-Wear in corrosion resistance, attributed to its stainless steel nature. MagnaCut also outshines Cru-Wear in ease of sharpening, thanks to its fine microstructure from advanced powder metallurgy.
Amazingly despite MagnaCut steel knives offering a more balanced profile, they tend to be priced lower than CPM Cru-Wear knives, making MagnaCut a cost-effective choice for those seeking high performance in their knives.