Blade Coatings

[Vorpal Blade]

There are many blade coatings. Offhand, there is:

Baked on Teflon
Ceramic coatings like Ti-nitride or Boron Carbide applied by vapor deposition.
Powdered epoxy
Various crinkle finishes
Phosphate

Presumably these coating help subdue, camouflage or even decorate the blade and are supposed to help with rust prevention.

Personally, I have had Teflon, powdered epoxy and phosphate wear off some of my blades in areas of heavy use. And I have seen pictures of the same on crinkle finished knives. Ceramic coatings are touted as more durable but there are reports of chipping and/or rust working its way undeneath.

What are your experiences and opinions?

 

[Willieboy]

I've read that even after some coatings have worn, they still provide some level rust protection. Personally, I think it is less labor intensive and, therefore, cheaper for makers to coat rather than finished the blade. I have also read that one owner removed the coating from a Busse blade and found the blade to be pretty rough.

Personally, I would prefer a smooth, brushed finish with no coating. That way no moisture can wreak havoc, unseen, under the coating.

 

[Vorpal Blade]

Personally, I would prefer a smooth, brushed finish with no coating. That way no moisture can wreak havoc, unseen, under the coating.

I agree. Moisture hidden under a coating can persist far longer without evaporating than if it was on the surface. In this way corrosion can be hidden until the steel substrate is so damaged it no longer supports the coating.

 

[Normark]

Hey Guys....

I've beat the living daylights out of my Busse Battle Mistress and Busse Basic 7,, coating is worn off,, however the knives still chop like Champs...

I use to be all worried and bummed out about coating scratches,, now they are just character marks,, and show that the knives are actually used...

Coating,, no coatings,, doesn't matter to me either way...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST

 

[tirod3]

I have had great use out of Ti treated blades. I'm not sure hwo they get it on, the process is a lot more like plating than painting, as most of the others are.

Ti doesn't come off in abrasive use, such as cutting cardboard shipping tubes, has a much harder surface, resists scratching much better against stone and sand, and leaves the surface as smooth as it was ground. Coated blades with teflon, like my BM CQC7, wore off after one attempt against cardboard tubes, and left a uneven surface.

On a Swamp Rat, I see the paint coming off each use. So it will eventually wear down to a nice even patina - if I don't help it with a 600 grit 3M pad.

Personally, if it's not Ti, I'm not interested - but I haven't tried some of the gun finishes now being applied. Over a twenty year period, tho, probably nothing works well until we invent black cutlery steel.

Oh, we did - it's called L6.