What are marking knives made of?

4th March 2020


What are marking knives made of?


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		Marking knives are made from materials that enable them to withstand continual use without becoming easily damaged. Blades need to be hard and durable so that they cut easily and aren’t quickly dulled or damaged.

		Marking knives also need to offer the user easy control when marking, so the materials used for the handles need to be lightweight and comfortable to grip. The type of materials used to make marking knives have a great effect on how well they perform.

		Handles
		Ebony Ebony is a hardwood that comes with either a dark brown or black finish. It is hard, dense, strong and resistant to decay. Ebony handles are tough, able to withstand wear and do not rot if looked after appropriately. Although ebony is a tough wood, it is also brittle, meaning it can easily break under stress.


		Rosewood (bubinga wood) Rosewood is a hard, dense and durable hardwood with a reddish brown finish. Handles made of rosewood are able to withstand lots of use. Some manufacturers put an oiled finish onto their handles which protects and provides the wood with a longer working life.

		Maple wood Maple is a creamy white, beige or tan-coloured hardwood. It is a dense, hard, strong, and decay-resistant. These properties make a marking knife handle tough and able to withstand frequent use.

		Curly or tiger maple is often used on the handles of marking knives. These are just the names given to specific maple wood that contain a pattern. The pattern resembles the coat of a tiger.

		Cocobolo Cocobolo is a dense, hard, oily wood with great strength. It has a varied colour range including yellow, orange, red and shades of brown, with streaks of black or purple. Cocobolo handles are tough and wear-resistant.

		The oil found in cocobolo makes it resistant to water, providing the marking knife with a waterproof handle. The oil also makes this type of wood resistant to decay, ensuring the handle has a long working life.

		Tulipwood Tulipwood again is a part of the hardwood group. It is a dense and hard wood with great strength, making it tough and able to withstand prolonged use when used as a marking knife handle. Tulipwood often has a straw-coloured or brown finish with streaks of yellow, pink and violet.

		African blackwood African blackwood is an extremely dense and durable wood with a reddish or black finish. Handles made of this wood are hard-wearing, strong and resistant to decay.

		Nylon-reinforced ABS (acrylonitile butadiene styrene) plastic Nylon-reinforced ABS plastic is a petroleum-based thermoplastic. This means it has been heat treated to make it hard and rigid. Nylon is added to the ABS to improve its properties, making it easier to mould and to add strength. It is lightweight, tough, resists oil and chemical corrosion and has a glossy coat which provides it with a stylish finish.

		High carbon steel This is a type of steel that has a high carbon content. High carbon steel contains more than 0.5% carbon. Some handles are produced from the same material as the blade. High carbon steel provides a hard and durable handle.

		Blade
		High carbon steel High carbon steel is also used to manufacture blades on marking knives. The amount of carbon makes the blade very hard, able to withstand wear and stay sharper for longer.

		How is this steel hardened?
		Some carbon steel blades have been put through a process called hardening. This is a special heat treatment given to steel. The hardening process involves heating an object to a certain temperature then cooling it down with cold clean water. This will prevent the blade wearing down easily, so it holds a sharp edge for longer.

		A2 Steel A2 steel has added chromium, which strengthens the steel, making it a tougher metal than steel alone. Similar to the alloy of carbon steel, it is a successful metal to use for marking knives because it can retain a sharp edge, does not break easily and can be sharpened repeatedly.

		The A in A2 steel stands for air. This type of steel is put through a process called air hardening. The tool is heated to a certain temperature then cooled down with air (room temperature). This process improves the strength of the steel and will stop the blade from wearing down so it holds a sharp edge for longer.

		O1 Steel O1 is a high carbon steel with small amounts of manganese, tungsten and chromium added. This alloy is tough, does not break easily and holds a sharp edge even after continuous use.

		The O in O1 steel stands for oil. This type of steel has been hardened through a process called oil hardening. Oil hardening consists of heating the tool to a certain temperature then cooling it down with oil. This process gives the steel added strength and allows it to retain a sharper edge for longer.

		Stainless steel Stainless steel is an alloy made up of iron, nickel and chromium. The amount of chromium found in stainless steel provides it with a thin layer of oxide that covers the surface. This protective layer resists staining and corrosion. Stainless steel blades are hard, strong and easy to maintain.

		Carbide steel Carbide steel is a very tough steel, with added tungsten carbide and cobolt. Carbide steel is hardwearing. However, it is a brittle material so can be damaged if dropped. The strength of carbide steel means that it will stay sharp for a long time and will not require frequent sharpening,


		Ceramic Ceramic blades are often produced from a material called zirconium dioxide (zirconia). The powder-form zirconia is pressed into shape using heat and pressure to form the blade of the marking knife. Ceramic blades are very durable with extreme strength that will not corrode and are unlikely to require sharpening. However, ceramic is brittle, so if it is dropped on a hard surface the blade could be damaged.

		Material is an important factor when choosing a a marking knifebecause you want the best tool available to you. However, it is important to choose a marking knife because of its features and not its materials. Each material used to manufacture marking knives is tough and can withstand wear, but the tools are simply purchased based on their ability to perform specific applications.

		Ferrule
		The ferrule used on certain types of marking knife are made from brass. Brass is used it is tough and can be easily shaped to fit around the blade and the handle, keeping the two in place.

		Brass Brass is a yellow alloy made of copper and zinc. It is a malleable material (it can be easily shaped), with high strength and resistance to tarnishing.

		Pins
		Brass The pins that are used to hold the blade and handle on some types of marking knives are also produced from brass. The brass pins are tough and can withstand wear and tear, making them suitable for keeping the blade in place.

		Can marking knives become worn or damaged? The materials used to make marking knives are all chosen because of their properties, providing strength, hardness and a long working life. However, this does not mean marking knives will not become worn or damaged over time. The more frequently they are used, the more likely they are to wear.

		It is not just frequent use that can affect a marking knife. No matter how strong the materials used to manufacture the knife, if it is used inappropriately or not looked after it can easily be damaged.