Anyone remove blade coating around the pivot screws to reduce friction?

D

d0nut

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Dec 5, 2012
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I picked up used a Benchmade 940BK a couple weeks ago and really can't get the blade to open or close as smooth as other Benchmades I currently own (or have owned). No matter how many times I have loosened, adjusted, lubed with blue lube, re-adjusted, and flicked open a billion times - it's never quite smooth.

I suspect the black coating is creating some friction at the washers. I was thinking about taking it apart and rubbing the coating off with some sandpaper to hopefully smooth out the action.

Good idea? Bad idea? Something else I should try?

Thanks.
 
I always polish the contact surfaces when I disassemble a knife. I haven't specifically done a 940bk, but if like other coated blades I've done you'll find that there is no coating where the washers contact.
 
It's been a while since I've had mine apart but I don't think there is any coating where the washers go.

You might want to take it apart and clean, polish that area, but I don't think the coating is the problem.

Keep in mind you are voiding your warranty is you do this.
 
ryxlyx said:
I always polish the contact surfaces when I disassemble a knife. I haven't specifically done a 940bk, but if like other coated blades I've done you'll find that there is no coating where the washers contact.
Click to expand...

No coating where the washers contact? Well that's interesting. I'll have to check tonight.

aquaman67 said:
It's been a while since I've had mine apart but I don't think there is any coating where the washers go.

You might want to take it apart and clean, polish that area, but I don't think the coating is the problem.

Keep in mind you are voiding your warranty is you do this.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the warranty reminder, I completely forgot. Bummer.
 
It depends on the coating. Something like DLC or other rough coatings will definitely increase friction dramatically, but something like the Benchmade black coating will leave a smooth surface, that while rougher than highly polished steel will still be smoother than unpolished steel.

I had a Vantage that had Buck's craptacular coating on it, and that stuff was like sandpaper on the washers. Unless you gave you arm a nice flail when trying to open the knife was not going to open all the way. Even after taking the coating off it was still a bit rough because the coating is over steel that has some kind of a rough finish. Long story short, coatings suck on folders.
 
If it's the same coating that's on one of my Benchmades, it shouldn't affect operation much. Even Cerakote doesn't seem to hamper function. Removed and everything highly polished I can't tell a difference.

If you really want to monkey with it I'd just polish the PB washers on a strop and give em a light oiling.
 
Just a quick update in case anyone finds this thread via google searches in the future...

The blade IS coated clear down to the base of the blade, and around the washer area.

I took apart my 940 over the weekend to clean and lube everything up and wanted to note there is black coating at the pivot area for what it's worth....
 
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