What is Vanax Superclean Steel?

Vanax superclean knife

What is Vanax Steel?

Vanax Superclean is stainless steel produced by Bohler Uddeholm following the powder metallurgy process. Over the years, Vanax has been made in three versions: Vanax 35, Vanax 75, and now Vanax SuperClean. However, Uddeholm discontinued the production of 35 and 75 to produce Vanax Superclean. Vanax Superclean is also referred to as Vanax.

Vanax SuperClean is tougher and has better edge retention than the discontinued versions. What’s more, it is among the best steels in the knife-making industry. It is Nitrogen steel, meaning that it contains more Nitrogen than Carbon and the end product is solid and durable steel.

Quality and Performance

When it comes to choosing a knife, quality and performance are key. That’s where Vanax Steel Knives come in. With their near perfect blend of exceptional quality and unmatched performance, Vanax Steel Knives truly stand out from the competition.

Crafted with precision and superior craftsmanship, these knives are made from the finest Vanax steel, ensuring long-lasting durability and razor-sharp edges. The unique composition of Vanax steel results in blades that are exceptionally hard, corrosion-resistant, and capable of retaining their sharpness for extended periods.

Whether you’re a professional chef or an avid home cook, Vanax Steel Knives could be the perfect tools to bring your culinary skills to new heights. The knives’ ergonomic handles offer a comfortable and secure grip, ensuring precise control and reducing fatigue during long hours in the kitchen. Not only do Vanax Steel Knives excel in performance, but they also boast a sleek and modern design that is sure to impress. With their attractive aesthetics, these knives are a true embodiment of style and functionality. 

Vanax Steel Composition

  • Carbon C 0.36%: Increases the edge retention, hardness and tensile strength. It also improves steel resistance to wear, abrasion, and corrosion.
  • Chromium Cr 18.20%: Formation of Chromium carbides Increases the hardness, tensile strength, and toughness of the blade.
  • Nitrogen N 1.55%: Increases hardness and corrosion resistance and hardness
  • Molybdenum Mo 1.10%: It improves machinability and hardness.
  • Vanadium V 3.50%: Increase wear resistance and toughness, it also improves corrosion resistance. High vanadium content enables the formation of Vanadium Carbides.
  • Silicon Si 0.30%: Improves grain structure for better hardness, however like Manganese it can increase brittleness.

Properties of Vanax Steel

Vanax Superclean Hardness

Vanax Superclean has a hardness of 60-62 HRC as per the Rockwell hardness scale. This high hardness is associated with Nitrogen in its composition, and it produces knife blades with excellent edge retention and wear resistance.

Vanax Superclean Edge retention

The edge retention of steel is correlated with the hardness. Therefore, steel with high hardness like Vanax offers excellent edge retention. This means that once you sharpen the blades, they stay for a long time without becoming dull.

If you search for knives to be used in situations that do not give space for frequent sharpening, the varieties of Vanax knives will not disappoint you.

Vanax Wear resistance

Another area of excellence for hard steel is in wear resistance. With high wear resistance, the blades do not wear out faster, and hence the knife lasts longer. With proper care and use, Vanax knives can be used across generations. Proper care means that you do not subject them to more they can handle.

The high wear resistance of Vanax superclean is achieved by replacing Carbon with Nitrogen which gives it a great blend of stainless and high wear resistance.

Vanax Superclean Corrosion resistance

Corrosion resistance is an essential consideration for many knife users. So, is Vanax corrosion resistant? Yes, it is resistant to corrosion. It contains 18% chromium in its composition, exceeding the steel stainless steel requirements.

Additionally, it is Nitrogen-based steel; Nitrogen-based steel like Vanax, LC200N, Nitro-V, and CTS BD1N are known to provide excellent corrosion resistance over other Carbon chromium stainless steels.

Also, it is a powder metallurgy steel, meaning that it has the corrosion resistance of powder metallurgy and qualities of stainless steel. The combination of these qualities makes Vanax have excellent corrosion resistance properties.

If you are searching for knives to be used in highly corrosive environments, look no further because Vanax knives will never disappoint you.

Vanax Toughness

Steel will either give you hardness or toughness. Therefore, for steel with high hardness and wear resistance like Vanax, we expect it to score poorly in toughness. However, this is not the case with Vanax.

Although it does not offer the best toughness out there, it has enough toughness to take in pressure and impacts without breaking or chipping. For context, Vanax offers better chipping and cracking resistance than AISI 440C but falls below AISI 420 steel.

Ease of sharpening Vanax

Another steel property affected by the hardness is the ease of sharpening. Being very hard steel, sharpening Vanax is a challenge. It will take you a lot of time and energy to get a razor-sharp edge.

The experience will be tougher for you if you are learning how to sharpen. On the positive though, the blades remain sharp for a long time; therefore, you do not have to go through the tough sharpening process every day.

Machinability of Vanax Superclean

Vanax offers good machinability, meaning that it is easy to work with. The easy machinability works in favor of the knife makers and the user.

Vanax steel vs. other steels

Bestseller No. 1
Knife Set, Astercook 15 Pieces Knife Sets for Kitchen with Block, Dishwasher Safe Kitchen Knife Set with Built in Sharpener Block, German Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensils Set
  • 【15 Pieces Multipurpose Knife Set】 15 pieces knife set includes: 8" Chef knife, 8" Slicing knife, 7" Santoku knife, 8" Serrated bread knife, 5" Utility knife, 3.5" Paring knife, 6 Pcs 4.5" serrated steak knife, 1 Pc kitchen shear, and Black hard wood Knife Block with built-in Knife Sharpener.
  • 【Black Non-Stick & Anti-Rust Coating】 The black coating on the stainless steel surface does a good job of stopping the knives from oxidizing in contact with oxygen in the air, so the kitchen knife set will remain non-stick and rust-proof for years to come.
  • 【Amazing Built-in Knife Sharpener】 Kitchen knife sets with built-in sharpeners are very convenient and you can sharpen your knives with one hand. It saves you the trouble of finding a sharpener and sharpening your knives on a whetstone, which is great invention.
  • 【Dishwasher Safe Sharp Knife Set】 Forged from 1.4116 high-carbon German stainless steel, this kitchen knife set is extremely resistant to stains and rust. Industry-leading tapered edge grinding technology provides optimal sharpness for precise cutting and easy resharpening.
  • 【Astercook lifetime warranty system】Astercook each set of knives based on excellent quality, after strict quality inspection, superior customer service for each customer to provide a lifetime warranty, please feel free to buy!
Bestseller No. 2
Astercook Knife Set, 6-Piece Kitchen Knife Set with Block, High Carbon Stainless Steel Ultra Sharp Kitchen Knives, Wood Grain Handle, Dishwasher Safe Knife Block Set, Black, Kitchen Utility Knives
  • 【AESTHETIC KITCHEN UPGRADE】 Warm wood grain handles and a sleek black knife block make this set a countertop centerpiece — a seamless blend of modern style and everyday function that elevates any kitchen aesthetic.
  • 【SMARTER 4-HOLE KNIFE BLOCK】 Unlike traditional wooden blocks that trap moisture and emit unpleasant odors, our square block features a 4-hole drainage design for rapid drying. A non-slip base keeps it firmly in place while saving valuable counter space.
  • 【SHARP & RUST-RESISTANT】 Each blade in this Kitchen Utility Knives set is crafted from high carbon stainless steel with advanced OPD non-stick coating — food releases cleanly, rust stays away, and cleanup takes seconds. Fully dishwasher safe for easy maintenance after every meal.
  • 【EFFORTLESS PRECISION CUTTING】 Engineered with a 0.618 blade ratio for a perfectly balanced cut — smooth on the push, effortless on the pull. The ergonomic handle fits naturally in your hand, reducing wrist fatigue for confident control through every slice and chop.
  • 【PERFECT FOR GIFTING】 Practical enough for everyday use, elegant enough for any occasion — a thoughtful housewarming, wedding, or apartment essential for anyone who loves to cook. Arrives ready to impress, no wrapping needed.
Bestseller No. 3
Amazon Basics 14-Piece High Carbon Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife Set with Full Tang Construction, Ergonomic Handles, Sharpener and Pinewood Block, Black
  • 14-piece knife set incluedes: (1) 8'' Chef's knife, (1) 8'' Slicing knife, (1) 8'' Bread knife, (1) 5.5'' Utility knife, (1) 3.5'' paring knife, (6) 4.5'' steak knife, (1) 8'' kitchen scissors, (1) 8''sharpener, (1) knife block
  • High carbon stainless-steel blades for precision results and lasting sharpness
  • Traditional, full tang, triple-riveted ergonomic knife handles offer pleasant weight for better balance and control
  • For best results, wash knives by hand and dry immediately; wipe the block with a damp cloth and air-dry upside down at least once per month

Vanax vs M390

Vanax has betterhardness than M390 and offers better edge retention, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Specifically, on corrosion resistance, Vanax Superclean beats M390 due to the high level of chromium and high level of Nitrogen in its alloy composition.

On the other hand, M390 is tougher and a bit easier to sharpen. In most aspects, though, Vanax Superclean is better than M390 steel.

As much as Vanax beats M390 in edge retention, you should note that M390 is no slouch and offers among the best edge retention in steel out there. Vanax is also relatively expensive compared to M390 and other knife blades, and this may be the only reason that may push you to pick M390 over Vanax.

Vanax vs Elmax

Vanax Superclean and Elmax are both products of Uddeholm works. They both offer excellent performance in terms of wear resistance, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.

Vanax Superclean is an improvement of Elmax by adding Nitrogen and Vanadium in its alloy. It offers much-improved corrosion resistance over Elmax. The addition of Vanadium also improves the edge holding capacity of Vanax steel

Browse Super Sales on Knives

Vanax Superclean vs LC200N / Z Finit

Vanax and LC200N / Z finit steel are both Nitrogen based steel but manufactured by different companies. Uddeholm Vanax Superclean steel offers incredible edge retention, and it is better than Spyderco LC200N / Z finit in edge retention and corrosion resistance due to its superior alloy composition.

Vanax Super clean beats LC200N steel owing to the addition of about three times nitrogen content and about 3.5% Vanadium content like that of S35VN steel. The added Vanadium significantly improves the edge hardness and retention due to the formation of vanadium carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides.

In toughness, they both offer almost similar performances. Still, Vanax performs slightly better due to the hard carbides in its alloy. Vanax SuperClean is also a relatively new steel in the market compared to LC200N, and thus it is much more expensive.

Bestseller No. 1
Utopia Kitchen Knife Sharpener Rod 12 Inch, Professional Honing Rod for Knife Sharpening with Hanging Hook, Black
  • Premium Steel Construction - The steel rod is made of carbon steel and plated with nickel-chrome; the fine surface of the steel rod prevents the cutting edge from damage when sharpening.
  • Versatile Compatibility - Our knife sharpening steel rod is for all types of knives, including kitchen, household, sporting and pocketknives; sharpens standard and serrated edge knives. Restores dull knives to razor-sharp perfection with ease.
  • Ergonomic Non-Slip Grip - Easy to use, with an ergonomic handle that fits your hand, be it right or left. The slip-resistant rubber bottom makes the rod easy to handle and firmly stays in place during use.
  • Hanging Loop for Storage - Convenient design for easy access and space-saving storage.
  • Effortless Maintenance - Use a non-woven cloth soaked with cooking oil to wipe the body and dry it. If washed with water, be sure to wipe the rod dry completely and hang in a cool place to air-dry. Do not put the sharpener into the dishwasher.
Bestseller No. 2
Kota Japan 12 in. Diamond Carbon Steel Professional Knife Sharpener Rod | Kitchen, Home or Hunting | Master Chef, Hunter or Home Gourmet Blade Sharpening Rod or Stick
  • ✔️ DIAMOND ELECTOPLATING: State-of-the-art manufacturing for precision Kitchen, Home or Hunting blade sharpening. Ensures efficient and sharp sharpening of dull knives and tools.
  • ✔️ OVAL SHAPE: This knife sharpener rod is designed to ensure higher sharpening efficiency.
  • ✔️ LIGHTER TOUCH: Requires much less force than most sharpening steel. 'Easy-does-it" leads to long lasting results..
  • ✔️ ELEGANT DESIGN: A pleasing and attractive addition to any kitchen or work area,
  • ✔️ UNCONDITIONAL LIFETIME GUARANTEE | 100% TESTED | BUY WITH CONFIDENCE!! Visit KotaJapan to contact our friendly Customer Service in Sunny Arizona, or contact us through your Amazon order screen.
Bestseller No. 3
Professional Carbon Steel Black Knife Sharpening Steel, Black 12 Inch
  • Realigns Knife Edges for Smoother Cutting-This carbon steel knives sharpener honing rod helps realign the edge of your kitchen knives so they cut more smoothly through vegetables, meat, and herbs. A few light strokes before cooking provide quick daily knives sharpening maintenance without removing excessive metal from the blade.
  • Designed for Chef Knives and Everyday Kitchen Use-Sized for common chef knives and other everyday kitchen blades, this honing steel is ideal for regular edge care at home. It supports the typical edge angles used on Western‑style chef knives, helping you keep your main cooking knives ready for meal prep, weeknight dinners, and weekend cooking projects.
  • Durable Carbon Steel Honing Rod for Long‑Term Use-Made from hardened carbon steel, this knives sharpening rod is built for frequent honing sessions and long‑term durability. It straightens and maintains the blade edge instead of aggressively grinding it, helping extend the life of your knife set over time.
  • Non-Slip Handle and Anti‑Slip Metal Tip- The textured, non-slip handle provides a secure grip even when your hands are slightly wet. A hanging loop at the end makes it easy to store on a kitchen rail or hook. With a metal anti‑slip tip at the end, allowing you to brace it securely against a cutting board so it stays in place instead of sliding.
  • Practical Kitchen Gift for Many Occasions-This knives sharpener honing rod makes a practical kitchen gift for home cooks, cooking students, and anyone building a better knife set at home. It’s suitable as a thoughtful present for birthdays, Christmas, housewarming parties, or as a small gift for friends and family who enjoy cooking.

Is Vanax good knife steel?

Vanax is impressive stainless steel for knife making. It offers excellent corrosion resistance and holds an edge for a very long time due to its alloy’s Nitrogen and Vanadium elements. It is also easy to work with and offers good toughness.

Make the cut above the rest with Vanax Steel Knives – possibly the perfect choice for those who demand excellence in every slice. The only downside to this steel is how costly a Vanax steel knife is; steels that are considered premium like M390 can be found at a much lower price than Vanax Superclean. But if cost is not an issue and you want performance, take a look at Vanax steel.

Explore Categories
improve knife sharpness
Damascus knife steel kitchen set