MagnaCut steel and Maxamet steel are two high-performance steels known for their exceptional hardness and wear resistance in knife making.
MagnaCut, a new steel developed by Dr. Larrin Thomas and produced by Crucible Industries.
MagnaCut offers a unique combination of toughness and edge retention due to its fine grain structure and high vanadium content.
On the other hand, Maxamet steel is produced through the Micromelt process by Carpenter Technology Corporation.
Maxamet is renowned for its super-hard properties with a hardness of up to HRC 70.
This high hardness make Maxamet suitable for applications where conventional tool steels fall short.
The key difference between MagnaCut and Maxamet lies in their composition.
MagnaCut emphasizes toughness and edge stability, while Maxamet excels in extreme hardness and wear resistance.
Maxamet vs MagnaCut Steel At A Glance
| Property | Maxamet Steel | MagnaCut Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Up to 72 HRC | Up to 65 HRC |
| Edge Retention | Exceptionally high (222% CATRA) | High (135% CATRA) |
| Toughness | Low (2.9 ft-lbs) | High (38 ft-lbs) |
| Corrosion Resistance | Poor as a non stainless steel | Excellent, stainless steel |
| Composition | High carbon (2.15%), cobalt (10%), vanadium (6%), tungsten (13%) | Balanced (carbon: 1.15%, chromium: 10.7%, vanadium: 4%, molybdenum: 2%, niobium: 2%) |
| Ease of Sharpening | Difficult | Easy |
| Applications | Extreme cutting where wear resistance is crucial | Versatile usage, including heavy-duty tasks and everyday carry |
Hardness
Maxamet steel is capable of achieving higher hardness than MagnaCut steel. Maxamet can achieve a hardness of up to 72 HRC while MagnaCut achieves a hardness of up to 65 HRC.
Maxamet is capable of achieving exceptionally high hardness levels, up to around 72 HRC.
This extreme hardness is derived from its unique composition, which includes high levels of carbon (2.15%), cobalt (10%), vanadium (6%), and tungsten (13%).
These alloying elements promote the formation of a high volume of hard carbides, contributing to Maxamet’s superior wear resistance and hardness.
On the other hand, MagnaCut is designed to achieve a hardness range of around 60-65 HRC, which is still considered very high for knife steel.
Its hardness comes from a balanced combination of carbon (1.15%), chromium (10.7%), vanadium (4%), molybdenum (2%), niobium (2%), and nitrogen (0.2%).
The presence of vanadium and niobium promotes the formation of fine, high-hardness carbides, while the chromium content provides corrosion resistance.
The exceptional hardness of Maxamet makes it an excellent choice for demanding cutting applications where wear resistance is crucial.
Edge Retention
Maxamet steel has significantly better edge retention than CPM MagnaCut steel.
In CATRA Edge Retention testing, Maxamet at 68 HRC had an edge retention value of 222% while Magnacut at 62.5 HRC had a relative edge retention score of 135%
The MagnaCut CATRA testing results show it matched the edge retention of steels like S35VN, CPM-4V, and CPM-CruWear, which are good but not exceptional.
Maxamet’s superior edge retention can be attributed to its extremely high carbide volume of around 22%.
Maxamet consist of hard vanadium and tungsten carbides, in combination with its ability to achieve hardness levels up to 72 HRC.
Maxamet superior edge retention can only be matched by a few steels like CPM Rex 121, CPM 15V, and Z-Max steel, all nonstainless steel.
The only stainless steels that come close to the edge retention of Maxamet are CPM S90V and S125V steel.
Toughness
MagnaCut steel exhibits better toughness than Maxamet steel.
MagnaCut Steel at a hardness of 62.5HRC exhibits a toughness of 38 ft-lbs while Maxamet at a hardness of 68HRC exhibits a toughness of 2.9 ft-lbs.
MagnaCut toughness even at 64+ HRc is roughly on par with CPM-M4 and CPM-4V at lower hardness levels, while Maxamet’s toughness at 68 Rc is very low.
The higher toughness of MagnaCut can be attributed to its lower overall carbide volume and lack of chromium carbides compared to Maxamet.
The superior toughness of MagnaCut translates into higher resistance to chipping and edge deformation, especially in demanding applications involving prying, chopping, or cutting tough materials.
Knives made from MagnaCut are less prone to catastrophic edge failures compared to knives made from less tough Maxamet steel when used in similar conditions.
Therefore, MagnaCut offers knifemakers and knife users a better balance of edge performance and toughness than what Maxamet can provide.
Corrosion Resistance
MagnaCut is a stainless steel while Maxamet is a non stainless steel.
MagnaCut has significantly better corrosion resistance compared to Maxamet steel, making it more suitable for knives and other applications where corrosion resistance is important.
MagnaCut corrosion resistance is even better than steels like 20CV and S45VN, and just under the exceptional corrosion resistance of steels like Vanax or LC200N.
In salt spray testing, MagnaCut showed no visible corrosion after 72 hours in 1% salt water, while other steels like 20CV exhibited some corrosion.
Maxamet, being a high-speed tool steel without stainless properties, is expected to have corrosion resistance similar to other non-stainless high-speed steels.
The superior corrosion resistance of MagnaCut can be attributed to its unique composition, which eliminates chromium carbides from the microstructure.
The absence of chromium carbides prevents locally depleted regions of chromium, which can lead to reduced corrosion resistance in other stainless steels.
For knife applications where corrosion resistance is a concern, such as outdoor or salt knives that may be exposed to moisture or acidic environments, MagnaCut is a better choice than Maxamet.
Ease of Sharpening
MagnaCut steel is easier to sharpen than Maxamet steel. The finer carbide size of MagnaCut is the contributing factor to its good grindability and ease of sharpening.
MagnaCut has been reported to grind and finish relatively easily, even comparing favorably to steels like CPM-154 and CPM-4V during the initial grinding stages.
In contrast, the high vanadium content (~6.0%) of carbide replacement steels like Maxamet makes them difficult to grind, finish, and sharpen, even in the annealed condition.
The relative ease of sharpening MagnaCut knives could be a significant advantage over Maxamet knives, especially for knives that require frequent sharpening or for users who prefer to maintain a very keen edge.
The better sharpening characteristics of MagnaCut may make it more practical for a wider range of knife applications compared to the more specialized uses that the difficult-to-sharpen Maxamet is better suited for.
Final Thoughts on Maxamet vs MagnaCut Steel
Based on my experience with MagnaCut steel and limited interaction with Maxamet steel, I would recommend MagnaCut to most knife users due to its exceptional toughness and corrosion resistance.
MagnaCut is a well-balanced steel that offers a solid choice for various knife applications, from everyday carry to heavy-duty tasks.
It is suitable for both folding knives and fixed blades, making it a versatile option for knife enthusiasts.
I had a few encounters with Maxamet steel through friends’ knives, which demonstrated superior cutting performance but came with trade-offs on corrosion resistance and sharpening.
Maxamet steel is known for its extreme hardness and wear resistance, which are particularly useful in applications where conventional tool steels do not hold up, such as in dry machining.
However, it requires specialized knowledge and skill to handle correctly, including proper heat treatment and sharpening techniques.
For those who are comfortable with the challenges of Maxamet steel, it can be a rewarding choice for high-edge retention knives.
However, I would recommend MagnaCut to the majority of knife users, as it strikes a balance between performance and ease of use.
It is also crucial to purchase MagnaCut knives from reputable knife makers to ensure optimal performance and durability.