If you are not sure about what Cruwear steel is, but you have seen it mentioned more and more by others, it is time to catch up and learn everything about this steel which can make for an excellent knife.
Crucible Industries’ Cruwear steel is an air-quenched carbon alloy designed for tooling. The air-quenching technique will strengthen the toughness and wear resistance of the material. It’s an exceptional alloy for assembly-line equipment.
Coining dies, blanking dies, laminating dies, and thread rolling dies are common assembly tools. Repeated usage will have no effect or maybe only a little on the equipment, and it will continue to perform as intended.
It’s difficult to find the proper steel if you’re a knife manufacturer. The good news is that the qualities of Cruwear steel are rather outstanding.
It outperforms D2 in terms of wear resistance and edge retention in steel knives. It also has the same heat resistance and hardness as M2 high-speed steels.
Cruwear steel has an industry-leading level of toughness. It should be able to sustain high pressures without cracking. Cruwear, according to data sheets, “has better toughness” than normal steel.
Cruwear employs crucible powder metallurgy, which allows for an equal distribution of hardness. During the air hardening process, the carbide grain size is reduced until the next heat treatment.
Most alloys lose toughness in exchange for greater hardness. Cruwear’s production technique enables considerably smaller carbide grains. Carbides have an effect on the hardness of any alloy. Increased carbon has a proportionate link with high hardness.
Crucible’s CPM process prevents carbide clumping wherever feasible. This is significant because carbide clumping causes the hardness distribution to distort. When enough force is applied, larger carbide clusters will allow cracks to develop.
Cruwear knives can be sharpened as a result of the finer grain size. It also indicates that it can withstand the dullness that might result from repeated use. Blades or drill bits made from Cruwear may therefore cut or bore with the same ease as M2 high-speed steel.
Knife-makers or drill bit producers will not have to worry about malfunctioning products. Returns due to flaws will be less common. The edge retention and wear resistance of a Cruwear knife is demonstrated in this video.
As previously stated, each chemical composition has a function in Cruwear steel. Cobalt and tungsten both improve the alloy’s heat resistance. This is an essential consideration in tool steels.
Cruwear is not excluded because the majority of its applications are industrial in nature. Take, for example, drill bits. If the alloy used to make the drill bit is not heat-resistant, it will melt.
As the drill bit spins, pressure and heat build-up. Add to that the equivalent pressure exerted by the concrete on the drill bit.
Cruwear Steel Properties
According to the Rockwell hardness scale, Cruwear has a hardness of 64HRC. The temperature of the heat treatment performed by the manufacturer, the HRC might range between 60 and 65 degrees Celsius. This steel can be hardened by vacuum, salt, or environment for knifemakers.
Cruwear steel has a distinct advantage over other tool steels such as D2 in that it includes sufficient Tungsten and Molybdenum, resulting in a secondary hardening reaction and a higher Rockwell hardness of up to 65 HRC.
Furthermore, all the components in this material have been fine-tuned to produce increased hardness and wear resistance. Because of its increased Rockwell hardness, a CPM Cruwear knife blade will provide excellent wear resistance.
What Is Cruwear Steel Used For?
Companies that employ shearing blades in their manufacturing. (Most of these businesses will use them on a regular basis.) Companies that manufacture metal, textiles, and polymers, as well as any material woven into sheets.
Cruwear steel is also used in portable wood planes, which are used to level up woodwork. Cruwear is useful for drill bits because it retains hardness even at high temperatures.
The Cruwear steel for a knife is a low-cost, high-quality alloy for industrial equipment. Splendid toughness — you can smash this metal with your boots on, and it will not shatter.
The Cruwear is extremely simple to sharpen, allowing for immediate usage. The Cruwear may be made to seem fresh by using just low-grade abrasives. It should work as well as it did the first time you bought it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cruwear Stainless Steel?
Cruwear is not made of stainless steel. Steel must contain at least 12% chromium to be considered stainless. The Crucible’s Cruwear steel is not stainless since it contains only 712 percent chromium.
However, it is worth mentioning that this steel will still provide enough corrosion resistance. Simple care, such as keeping the blade clean and dry, and maybe oiling it, can go a long way toward preventing rust on your Cruwear knife.
How Do You Care For Cruwear Steel?
After using the blade, wash it to remove any salts or caustic elements, and then coat it with oil, wax, or whatever you like. You could have had a different result if you had used the alcohol before wiping it down. Covering caustic materials with oil isn’t what we’re wanting.
Summary
Cruwear is a simple material with a wide range of industrial uses. It is very durable, machinable, and heat-resistant. As a result, it is suited for long-term, repeated usage. It’s an excellent knife material that can cut everything as well as a stainless-steel knife.
Although there are superior materials for producing knives, the qualities of this steel are diverse. It’s also well-balanced. This is why it is so well-liked. Whether on or off the assembly line.
Hi, my name is Tom Bower and I have had a passion for knives since I was in my early 20s. I moved out on my own and started collecting my own furniture, utensils, and hobbies. Not only do I have a passion for cooking, but I also love being outdoors in adventure mode.
I have dedicated part of my life to finding my favorite knives for different occasions. Have you ever tried to cut through a steak with a blunt knife? Or a rope with a low-quality pocket knife? Once you get a taste of quality, you’ll never go back to what you knew before.
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