Summary of "Procut Steel Testing and Review"

Product Reviewed: Pro Cut Steel by Laren Thomas

Main Features

Marketed as a potential “52100 bearing steel killer,” aiming to outperform 52100 in edge retention and toughness.
Chemically similar to 15 and 20 steel but with added vanadium and tungsten.
Claimed to be easier to heat treat than 52100.
Recommended heat treatment:
- Single normalization cycle
- Fast subcritical anneal (DE anneal)
- Quench between 1500°F and 1650°F depending on desired properties (abrasion resistance vs toughness)
Can harden up to approximately 65 HRC.

Testing Methods

Cutting one-inch rope repeatedly until the blade edge dulls.
Batoning against the grain until the edge dulls.
Dropping steel balls on the edge to test toughness and durability.
Comparisons made against steels such as 52100, 5160, 1095, 1084, and 80 CRV.

Key Results

Edge Retention

Pro Cut cut rope about 9.5 to 11 times per test.
52100 steel cut rope 13–14 times at similar hardness (60–62 HRC).
Other steels like 5160 ranged from 7 to 12 cuts.
Pro Cut’s edge retention through rope was mediocre and did not meet expectations based on Catra test claims.
Catra testing by Laren Thomas showed Pro Cut outperforming 52100 by 8–10% and 1095 by 20%, but real-world rope cutting did not reflect this.

Toughness and Durability

Batoning through cedar showed good toughness with 9 cuts before edge failure.
No major edge chipping after batoning.
Steel ball drop tests demonstrated very high edge toughness, with minimal deformation and no chipping even on thin edges.
Prone to snapping when pried under heavy stress, which is expected at tested hardness levels.

Heat Treatment Observations

Tempering curve was inconsistent; blades tempered about 2 HRC softer than expected from Laren’s curve.
Full heat treatment including normalization and DE anneal improved temper curve accuracy.
Even with full prescribed heat treatment, edge retention remained similar and did not improve significantly.

User Experience

Initial tempering and heat treatment attempts resulted in softer than expected hardness.
Edge retention did not meet hopes or the steel’s marketed potential.
Toughness is very good, making it suitable for applications requiring durability.
Some concerns raised about possible decarb (surface decarburization) affecting edge performance, but grinding back the edge did not improve results.
Reviewer ordered a second piece and replicated results, confirming consistency.

Comparisons

Pro Cut is tougher than 52100 when quenched at higher temperatures but less tough at lower quench temperatures.
Edge retention is inferior to 52100 in practical rope cutting tests.
Outperforms 1095 in Catra tests but not necessarily in real-world cutting.
Comparable edge retention to other common steels (5160, 1084, 1095) at similar hardness levels.

Pros

Very tough and durable steel.
Minimal chipping and good resistance to deformation under impact.
Easier to heat treat than 52100.
Bright etching due to nickel content.
Potentially good for applications requiring toughness over edge retention.

Cons

Edge retention is mediocre and below expectations.
Tempering curve inconsistent and tempering results softer than expected.
Not a clear “52100 killer” in practical tests.
Performance may be affected by decarb, but not conclusively.
May require precise heat treatment to optimize.

Different Speaker/Contributor Views

Reviewer (primary speaker): Skeptical about Pro Cut’s edge retention despite good toughness.
Laren Thomas (steel maker): Claims better performance and easier heat treatment.
Pops (steel supplier): Suggested decarb as a possible cause for lower edge retention.
Overall consensus: Toughness is a strong point, but edge retention does not meet marketed claims.

Verdict / Overall Recommendation

Pro Cut steel shows excellent toughness and durability, making it a strong candidate for applications where edge toughness is critical. However, its edge retention in real-world rope cutting tests is mediocre and does not live up to the claim of outperforming 52100 steel. The tempering behavior is somewhat unpredictable, and the steel may require careful heat treatment to achieve optimal properties.

For users prioritizing edge retention above all, Pro Cut may not be the best choice. For those who need a tough, durable steel that is easier to heat treat than 52100, it is worth considering but with tempered expectations.

Final note: Results may vary depending on heat treatment and specific use cases; users are encouraged to test Pro Cut in their own setups to verify performance.