Black knife blade scratches - How to avoid and repair them

C

collinthegeek

Joined
Mar 16, 2014
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4
I've had a Gerber for a few years and recently bought a Kershaw Brawler. Both of which have black blades. After a few years the blade on the Gerber is horrendously scratched. I wan't to know if there's a way to fix/avoid these scratches from accidentally hitting metal or rocks and things. like some kind of clear finish to protect the black or a spray to repair the scratches.
Any ideas?

Collin N.


[EDIT]
Stop saying to just use the knife and ignore the scratches. I know paint scratches and I'm perfectly within my rights to want MY knife to look nice, I don't care if YOU like the scratches on YOUR knives. Your replies are a waste of time, energy, and space so just stop. And singularity35 Thanks for being nice but I bought my knife to use it, I'm looking for some kind of spray or coating or something to protect the black finish.

Also replies about removing the finish defeat the point. I bought a black blade because I wanted a black blade.
 
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Bead blast the blade and get rid of the coating. You will never avoid scratches with a coated blade.
 
Best way to avoid damage to blade coating is to not have coating on it at all. Sadly coating will wear, steel will scuff. Best way to avoid seeing scratches is to get a deep stonewash finish to hide them, or refinish your blade constantly (or get a ceramic knife so it doesn't scratch, or never use your knife).
 
I like the wear marks...indicates it has been used.
Embrace the wear...shows you actually use it.
My Benchmade HK Plan D.
IMG_2368_zpsd7aec1f2.jpg
 
Stonewash is the best for hiding abrasions. Also keep in mind that lower end knives typically use lower end finishes which make for easier damage. Cerakote is pretty cheap for just a blade and is one of the few finishes in the world that is so hard the pencil hardness test doesn't even phase it. Add to that it's spray on and I'm baffled the knife market is still sleeping on it, when firearms, aircraft, and automotive industries have been using it with great success for many years.

Unlike other ceramic spray ons, it's microns thick so it won't effect function or soften the boade grinds.
 
At first I thought this thread was a joke.

Dude, just use your knife. It's a tool. If you're worried about scratches get an uncoated blade.
 
Minor scratches.....black sharpie. major scratches.....get used to them.
 
o4tg said:
Stonewash is the best for hiding abrasions. Also keep in mind that lower end knives typically use lower end finishes which make for easier damage. Cerakote is pretty cheap for just a blade and is one of the few finishes in the world that is so hard the pencil hardness test doesn't even phase it. Add to that it's spray on and I'm baffled the knife market is still sleeping on it, when firearms, aircraft, and automotive industries have been using it with great success for many years.

Unlike other ceramic spray ons, it's microns thick so it won't effect function or soften the boade grinds.
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Because it's not necessary for a knife. It's added expense for an unneeded feature. We don't cerakote hammers or screwdrivers. They're meant to be used, scratched up at times, and replaced when they wear out.

That's my take at least. I don't mind use marks.
 
If you get a ceramic coat like TDLC or TiAlN (72 and 92 HRC respectively), it will hold up much better than an organic coat Teflon or powder coat.
 
Scratches are an unavoidable fact of life on any blade you're actually gonna use. I agree with those who say just accept them. Like a few others (myself included) you may even learn to enjoy them as signs of honest use. The Brawler isn't that expensive, so you could always buy one to use and another to keep pristine to look at, show off to friends, etc. Nothing wrong with that. :thumbup:
 
Fanglekai said:
Because it's not necessary for a knife. It's added expense for an unneeded feature. We don't cerakote hammers or screwdrivers. They're meant to be used, scratched up at times, and replaced when they wear out.

That's my take at least. I don't mind use marks.
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It's not like 99% of all hammers and screwdrivers aren't hard chromed, right?
 
If you're really worried about it you can use different types of paint removers to take the finish completely off.
 
it's not jewelry.....it's a cutting tool and is meant to be used and scratched up, especially a Kershaw Brawler and Gerber as you indicated you have, they are meant to be used and scratched because they are so cheap.
 
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Maybe the guy just likes black blades. It sounds like he does and just wants to know a way to re-finish them.

Heck, how many people on this forum change the APPEARANCE of their knives to suit their own tastes, whether it's forced patinas, mirror-polished finishes, custom handle scales, dyed handle scales, or any of the other things people do to their knives that have absolutely nothing to do with their function as cutting tools.

If the guy likes black blades that's his personal choice. I don't see anything wrong with that, nor is it any indication that he doesn't know what a knife is or how it's meant to be used. But then again, who here is in a position to tell someone else how THEIR knives should be used or what condition or appearance they should accept for THEIR knives. Like I said, personal choice.
 
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