HUGE CPM-Magnacut Voids

Check out these HUGE voids in CPM-Magnacut. Niagara Specialty Metals has blocked us on IG and seemingly refuses to even acknowledge the issue. I wonder if Larrin Thomas @knifesteelnerds will ever decide to weigh in on the issue? You can keep hiding behind marketing for a while, but we are getting independent third-party lab testing done now. This is all going to come out eventually, backed up with multiple lab reports. Enjoy your sunshine while it lasts... 🍿

[@billclancy4913]

Knowing what I pay as a hobby maker for a 2" x 36" piece of Magnicut, I can hardly imagine the feeling of losing all those blanks as scrap.

[@Surviveknives]

Yeah, I don't think most folks understand how much this material actually costs. Our knives are expensive, but they are tremendous value. Things like this make it really hard to maintain our competitive pricing and our high standards.

[@ct2368]

If it had to be said, I'm glad you said it.

[@Surviveknives]

Other people are going through similar issues, they are starting to reach out now. Someone had to step in front of this.

[@gravytrainoutdoors]

You are doing the right thing with being totally transparent with what you are experiencing. Honesty and integrity will carry you through these issues. I’m not surprised to hear of these issues with the steel. Bark River had some issues with a few of their Magnacut blades. I have a few of their knives in Magnacut and have had great luck with the steel and it’s performance so I know the steel can deliver when there are no manufacturing issues

[@Surviveknives]

Yeah, I'm having to learn the hard way that there is a huge difference between a data sheet and a manufacturable product. All the charts and graphs in the world don't mean anything without good formulas and processes in manufacturing.

[@lonestardude6283]

I was wondering that too, why so many knife companies are going to the trouble to coat a steel that is supposedly so corrosion resistant!

[@rustytygart405]

I’ve watched a lot of your videos and I appreciate your integrity

[@Surviveknives]

Thank you so much for stopping by!

[@markanthonystringfellow3923]

Radiography (RT) or X-Ray inspection is a non-destructive testing process for detecting subsurface discontinuities in metals, polymers, and composite materials. The process saturates the part with radiation, which creates areas of preferential absorption based on material density and voids. Just think if everyone started checking their own knives from ALL manufacturers!!! NIN I cant remember how this got started.........But i can tell you Exactly how it will End!! Im also sure some people havent been as Resilliant as yourself and have gone under because of this!! Well i admire your Honesty and shame on the Wilful Participants covering it up!.

[@Surviveknives]

Thank you for explaining that for folks out there. I also made this public, just because I'm feeling petty today. (Internal Memo) Counter Offer To NSM kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqWlknikbb6jd7s

[@markanthonystringfellow3923]

@@Surviveknives Your Welcome and appreciate the much needed factual evidence and light needed to show the dark side of the knifemaking industry and community that should never have been!! An Ounce of preparation is worth a Pound of Cure!.

[@DallasDashcammer]

The 6 Magnacut knives I have from other knife makers do not have a coating on them and do not have these "voids". Why do we not hear about any of these problems from other makers, big and small?

[@Surviveknives]

I can't speak to other companies standards and practices but I know we aren't alone. This video below spells it out a bit better. We used to use subcontract manufacturers and their processes did not highlight these things. I only found out about it on warranty, after a customer got it. Once we started doing our own finishing, I became aware of what was happening and started pulling these things before they left our shop. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZS7ZWeagrqfjKsfeature=shared

[@Surviveknives]

They aren't unique to us, get off it. Others are going through similar issues, it's just hard to talk about. You'll get cut off by your supplier if you speak up too loudly. Also, this explains a lot more. We didn't see any of this stuff either, until we took over our own finishing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZS7ZWeagrqfjKs

[@21_Cabbage_]

I'm in my 40s, and this is one of the videos I've seen.

[@WhatsthePOINT_EDC]

We need more people to stand up to the big companies. What’s wrong is wrong. Take it easy.👊

[@Surviveknives]

The little guys are afraid of being cut off and the big guys protect the money machine. I'm just a special kind of hardheaded.

[@markanthonystringfellow3923]

Excellent Work Guy!! Some people literally worship these powder steels like a false idol by the way they act i think theres only yourself that has a spine!! All truth matters and thats All that matters :-))

[@Surviveknives]

They have jacked up our small business so much with all of this that honestly it's not even about money anymore. I just want people to understand what's really going on. Their attorney reached out and tried to offer us some money to be quiet. I was not into the offer, and they didn't seem to like my counter offer of taking all of the CPM material off my floor, so now their position is it's all our fault. I will not be bought, I will not be silenced, and we will get to the bottom of this with third-party lab reports. It will take some time, but we will find out exactly what's been going on here and I fully intend to share everything with you guys and girls.

[@Surviveknives]

They have jacked up our small business so much with all of this that honestly it's not even about money anymore. I just want people to understand what's really going on. Their attorney reached out and tried to offer us some money to be quiet. I was not into the offer, and they didn't seem to like my counter offer of taking all of the CPM material off my floor, so now their position is it's all our fault. I will not be bought, I will not be silenced, and we will get to the bottom of this with third-party lab reports. It will take some time, but we will find out exactly what's been going on here and I fully intend to share everything with you guys and girls.

[@palerider7171]

And there it is… I theorized that the initial run of MagnaCut would be pristine because it was small batches, carefully controlled to get the product out there, and as volume increases issues would materialize due to the nature of how this has to be “cooked” to have the chromium to form uniform carbides. When something is too good to be true it usually is. I hope these issues can be resolved for your and others manufactures sakes with driving the cost through the roof.

[@Surviveknives]

That's what I think as well. Their heat or "batch" sizes for production are really big, especially compared to a company like Bohler. I personally don't know if Crucible can actually consistently produce Magnacut to the high standard promised, which is why they were trying to offer us a little money over replacing the materials. It seems to me they would be happy to put me in my place with immaculate materials. I think they understand at this point, that I make these detailed videos of everything, put your money where your mouth is. Replace these materials with the "perfect" sheets you claim everyone else is receiving. If they truly are defect free, I would be happy to show that. Side note, we don't see ANY of these issues with Bohler Uddeholm steels. Their materials have been absolutely defect free.

[@peterbiltknifeguy]

Are other companies having this same issue?

[@Surviveknives]

Some makers have reached out, but this other video explains why most companies don't see these things until it's way too late. The customers end up suffering, with lower quality and unnecessary warranties later. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZS7ZWeagrqfjKsfeature=shared

[@knifetoucher]

I own some Magnacut knives (some coated some uncoated) and none of them exhibit this issue. Did you get a bad batch of steel?

[@Surviveknives]

I have been trying to get an answer to that question for over a year now.

[@littlewoody5539]

I would stop offering Magnacut until someone figures out what’s going on .

[@Surviveknives]

We have discontinued offering all CPM products. 👍

[@roostershooter76]

Why aren't other companies like Rowen and Willet seeing these issues?

[@Surviveknives]

I can't speak to other companies standards and practices but I know we aren't alone. This video below spells it out a bit better. We used to use subcontract manufacturers and their processes did not highlight these things. I only found out about it on warranty, after a customer got it. Once we started doing our own finishing, I became aware of what was happening and started pulling these things before they left our shop. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZS7ZWeagrqfjKsfeature=shared

[@jamesburley9718]

Do you guys have any plans to offer the bush crafter scandi in a stainless variant (maybe Vanax or Elmax) now that there are so many persistent issues with magnacut? I ordered a magnacut EDC 3 scandi a little while back as a small sailing/dive/camp knife. I was thinking of getting a bushcrafter scandi as a slightly larger general purpose chore knife for around the boat and camp. It looks like you only have this in k890, which looks absolutely awesome but probably isn't suited to being forgotten on deck overnight in the salt.

[@Surviveknives]

Yes, after some extensive testing, we plan to have some models offered that way. We have all kinds of irons in the fire right now, as I know more, you'll know more. Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

[@scrick7112]

I’m over all the drama about Magnacut at this channel. There are many other knife makers using the steel and there doing fine. Sorry, just my thoughts. My TJ Schwarz will be here any day. Can’t wait

[@Surviveknives]

Oh, we're so over all of this too. That's why we're getting third party lab results done now. Other than showing you folks what we are seeing here in the shop, I am done talking about this issue until we come to some kind of resolution on the matter. TJ is a great guy and makes a nice knife.

[@w4shep]

Damn. Do you know what percentage of the blades have voids? Or is it inherent in the steel 100% of the time due to manufacturing issues?

[@Surviveknives]

10-20-ish% are what I can see with my eyes in Magnacut. It's what I can't see inside the parts that is bothering me.

[@rrcaniglia]

Just curious, have you invited NSM engineers to your shop to evaluate your processes?

[@Surviveknives]

Yes, all of the relevant people have always been involved in the chat. You will see that soon and all of the emails we'll be releasing. We have always been cooperative and proactive with feedback, with the only goal being constant improvement.

[@emanuelroth7960]

Oddly enough, now that I'm actually thinking back, I very distinctly recall Kevin McClung of Mad Dog Knives warning YEARS ago (15 or 20? ) to stay away from CPM steels for what I believe was exactly this reason. He has an interesting background materials science and having worked at NASA contractor The American Rocket Company etc. A lot of people have had friction with him, but imho, he would actually be an interesting person to talk to about this affair. At the time when he was poo pooing CPM steels I just thought he's old school and can't move on to modern and better steels. Looks like he was right.

[@Surviveknives]

Behind the scenes, there are a lot of folks who understand what is actually going on. People are talking. It is just hard for most to speak up, because it is against their self interest. Most are afraid of getting cut off or the larger companies just accept a lower standard and protect the money machine. I have had to learn on this journey that most people are just willing to compromise a little bit at a time, until eventually what was special is completely ruined and abandoned. I never compromised, but not having other material options for a long time, I slowly drove myself crazy trying to maintain my standards and ideals. I'm so happy to finally have other options, so I can speak up about this stuff and move onto a better tomorrow.

[@feonix138]

What about your predatory order taking even refusing to acknowledge it? You have a long track record of making excuses.

[@Surviveknives]

You can say excuses, I see explanations of what's happened along the way. We have constantly pivoted and redirected in the face of each challenge and pressed forward. Quitting was always an option, we're still here. I don't even really want this, but we're still here. We're doing an excellent job now as a manufacturing company, so we'll keep doing it. Looking at our knives in a brick and mortar store like Edgeworks 🗡, the differences are obvious, the value is undeniable. If you look on our website, we have narrowed down everything, to just what's right in front of us, so we can clear out our backlog efficiently. It's always easy to judge from the sidelines, with the clarity of hindsight.

[@Surviveknives]

Also, we didn't go into this knowing the materials would be like this. How would you like it if you spent all day at work and someone came in and trashed everything you did each day?

[@JackShen]

it's funny I was just watching a YT video from Buck Knives and they had the guy from 'knife steel nerds' who invented Magnacut, supposedly he works making steels for the auto industry. They were saying they had to dial in the heat treat for Magnacut, an also the inventor ( I can't remember his name ) was saying this is the first steel invented for knives, which based on what I know is not true. The dude looked like late 20's early 30's maybe. But S30V was the first steel made specifically for knives with Chris Reeves input. Prior I remember VG-10, old ingot 154CM, and ATS-34 ( which I hate ) were the steels benchmade and spyderco used, I don't remember what Buck used. 440C maybe? Too long ago to remember lol

[@Surviveknives]

Yeah, he never spoke up about any of these quality issues over the last year. I think everyone involved with that material hopes this just goes away. I'm not going to let it, this is affected us too much. It sucks to be punished for having high standards.

[@El74J]

Can I have my vendetta 5.5 in k888 instead of magnacut if you switch 🤤

[@Surviveknives]

Yeah buddy, our rep is looking at what the rolling schedule is for that right now and what thicknesses will be available when. Let's do this shit.

[@ShelleyRaskin]

I get your pain and disappointment but I think you are directing blame in the wrong direction, Dr Thomas merely designed the steel, it’s the manufacturing company that is to blame. If your car does not start do you blame Cugnot, or the car maker, same with the steel, there may be a problem with the nitrogen gas system that disperses the droplets or the compression system that melts and bonds everything together, neither of these issues are the steel inventors problem. You should be compensated and looked, both in time lost, belts and electrify used and of course in the steel itself, by the steel manufacturer not by Dr Thomas though.

[@Surviveknives]

I understand your point, but he is financially benefiting from this situation, and actively promoting this material, while also calling materials that actually work "hype". He was involved in a conversation last year where I brought up these concerns, yet he never participated in the discussion. Now Niagara specialty metals is choosing to not return my material samples for independent evaluation, instead they are sending me a check for $900 for the nine samples we sent in. I'm not cashing that check, something is going on here.

[@javeuiuc]

Are voids also the reason why you can't fulfill S90V orders from 2020? Or maybe you're just full of shit?

[@Surviveknives]

No, those blades have been fine. It costs money to get the sheaths done though and this situation keeps messing up our money, after we've already put tons of time and work into the parts. It's like ice skating up a hill. I tried handling this quietly, now we're going loud. I can't sue a big company but I can visually show you what's happening here with things.