Comment by jeffbee
3 days ago
Why though? Cr-Mo steel tubing is already superior to 304 stainless in every relevant measure, except surface corrosion. In particular this article discusses fatigue behavior, and Cr-Mo has a (much) higher fatigue limit than 304.
This is also true WRT knife steels. Old, simple carbon based steels are much stronger than most stainless steels. They tend to bend rather than chip or break (when abused). They do rust and do have less edge retention than some stainless steels (such as S90V), but otherwise they are generally stronger.
Totally. Just curious why the above wanted a stainless bike. If you want a steel road bike with disc brakes and thru-axles you can absolutely order one right now. I myself ride a Soma Wolverine with Tange Prestige Cr-Mo tubing, flat mount disc brakes, and thru-axles.
If you wanted a bike that didn't necessarily need painting, you can order a bike like that in titanium tubing instead.
Thanks for that - Titanium bikes look amazing when bare metal.
That's just not true, though. Stainless (e.g. AEB-L) is up to four times tougher than simple low-alloy carbon steel (e.g. 1095). See https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/10/19/knife-steels-rated-by... for example.
High hardness simple carbon steels do have their place in knives, but what you're saying is factually incorrect.
"Stainless (e.g. AEB-L) is up to four times tougher than simple low-alloy carbon steel (e.g. 1095). See https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/10/19/knife-steels-rated-by... for example."
I'll guarantee my UHC 1080 cleaver will slam a good distance through your stainless steel knife edge-on. Your chosen steel has toughness but it lacks in actual strength.
Toughness is not the same as strength.
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Reynolds 501 is CrMo. But 531, which was more coveted, swapped the chrome for manganese, making it lighter at the same mechanical numbers.
The stainless steel construction helps with flux dispersal when you hit 88mph.
> Cr-Mo steel tubing is already superior to 304 stainless in every relevant measure
If you exclude cost as a relevant measure.
Stainless is more expensive as well