BK-15 modding question?

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Jan 1, 2009
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My new BK-15 arived today,

I have planned on stripping it since I ordered it, to take full advantage of it's slicing cabapilities

My question is.

If I wish to retain the BK-15 and BK&T Kabar logos on each side. Do I need to etch them prior to stripping the coating?

And if so, what etching fluid do you guys use/recommend?
 
If I understand correctly,those new laser logos will stay after stripping the coating,so no need to etching it. But please let someone confirm it,to be 100%.

EDIT - I just check and yes,no need for etching. But if you want deeper cut,you can etch it,it's on you.

Link ,you can see pictures of logos here,before and after stripping ,without etching:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ng-help!?highlight=laser+logo+after+stripping
 
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Confirmed... the logos will stay fairly well after straight stripping but if you intend on doing any sort of cleanup/sanding you are probably going to want to etch if you want to retain the logos.

The idea behind etching the logos is to ensure they stick around longer, and to make them a little deeper, so if thats something you want... then you want to etch.

Most folks just use PCB Etchant. If you throw that into the google I am certain something might come up for purchase, or radio shack is another place some people have found it.

Its just circuit board etchant.

Good luck and post some pics up of that new 15 in this thread when you have done all the work to it.
 
Here's a picture I just shot of the logo on my 10. I just stripped it this morning.

IMAG0162_zpse726198f.jpg


The laser etching is apparently done after coating and it burns away the coat and into the metal to whatever depth it is.

I can see with a loupe that it's clearly engraved but it is also very shallow so if you really want it to stay, I'd suggest re-enforcing it by etching.

I didn't do mine as I'm not concerned with the logo staying.

TG
 
Here's a picture I just shot of the logo on my 10. I just stripped it this morning.


The laser etching is apparently done after coating and it burns away the coat and into the metal to whatever depth it is.

I can see with a loupe that it's clearly engraved but it is also very shallow so if you really want it to stay, I'd suggest re-enforcing it by etching.

I didn't do mine as I'm not concerned with the logo staying.

TG

I totally lost my logo when I did the gun blue and bleach etch. I wish I'd have deepened it.
 
Well hats off the Ka-Bar and Becker. The new coating is some tough! Or at least chemical resistant.

Last knife I striped was my BK-4 last fall. I used Citri-Strip. I painted it on and about 8 hours later the coating was all bubbled up and ready to peel. There were a couple of tough spots I recoated and waited anothe 4 hours or so, Done.

I took the same bottle of stuff to my newly acquired BK-15, slathered it on and left it for 23 hours. Washed it off and it looks just the same as it did when I started. Tough stuff.

Went and bought some more agressive stuff today. i'll give it another go tomorrow.
 
Go to any advanced auto parts and get the spray paint remover. It works very fast. As for the etching, pcb is the ticket. You can even dilute it 50/50 with water and it will do the job. Level the blade by putting something under it or remove the scales so it will be flat, then apply with a q-tip several times until you have a bubble of acid over the logo. It will dry out within the hour, so you may wash and brush before an hour is up (no biggie if it dries up, it just means the acid did the job and the "crust" needs to be removed). Doing it 2-3 times leaves a nice etch deep enough to resist sanding.
 
I've read on the Esee forum to leave the PCB on for an hour at a time, then switch to the other side. You can do this several times for a deeper etch. They said that the hour at a time leaves a crisper etch.
 
Well two trys with the Citri-Strip, didn't touch it,

Two trys with the heavy duty spray on stuff from Lowes didn't touch it.

Finally found the aircraft stripper. Sprayed it on and ten minutes later it was gone. You could actually watch the stuff peeling off.



I think this is going to be a handy addition to the clan,

 
I have done my 10, 16 and11 now with the spray tuff strip and I noticed that the finish doesn't bubble up but got soft enough to remove with a gasket scraper.

Final clean up was with an exacto knife.

I left the scales on for the 10 and 16 and stripped right up to them. Didn't harm them at all..

TG
 
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