Folks who have been grinding custom profile moulder knives have seen a number of different options hit the market in the last decade. What once seemed like a simple order, “give me ten bars of 5/16 x 2 x 25 steel” has gotten a little more confusing as advances in technology have brought a few different grades of steel to the market. Not only are there now different types of corrugated moulder steel, but there are also different coating options as well.
Here is a high-level summary of some common variations on the traditional M2-grade moulder knives, which can be found on our site at https://www.toolwolf.com/product/product-category/corrugated-moulder-steel/:
– D2-grade steel:Typically consisting of carbon and chrome, it is good for shorter production runs, is easy to grind and is usually the cheapest option available because of its make-up and softness compared with other grades.
– V2-grade steel: This is a new twist on the D2 grade that has a different chemical component (Vanadium) and claims to offer the same run life as M2 at a cheaper cost.
– M2-grade steel: The go-to bar steel for a long time, it has a solid useful life and is good for long production runs in both hard and softwoods.
– T1-grade steel: Lasts longer than M2 due to higher levels of Tungsten. It’s good for extra long runs and demonstrates solid performance when used on man-made materials.
– V3-grade steel: The hardest of all the aforementioned options, it lasts much longer due to its chemical composition and is great for long hardwood runs or problem woods. It’s tougher to grind, but can offer higher performance (and a higher price).
90% of ToolWolf’s customers go with the tried and true M2-grade steel, but we’ve got a few who like to experiment or have unique applications that call for something different.
ToolWolf stocks a full line of M2-grade steel from Europe that provides excellent life at a very low total cost. Check out our website today to view the full line of corrugated back moulder steel.
