Boron Carbide what's the verdict?

LizardKing

LizardKing

Joined
May 7, 2001
Messages
1,138
Well BC coating has been out for a while now, what is the concencous? On paper it seems great, how is it holding up in the real world?

Any scratches?

Do you think its adding any protection?

I dont own any yet but i am thinking about it, so what do you guys think.
 
I've seen it in person on several knives and it looks great. I'm definitely planning on trying it on some future piece. Meanwhile, I'm wondering too, just how well it holds up.
 
well, imho, the coating is 110% better than any othe coatings, have 2 MOD razorbacks darrel recoated for me, and they had exhibited a great amount of wear stictly from the kydex sheath w/ther std coating, while w/the BC coating, after 3 months, literally no wear can be seen on the blade - a BIG diff
what else can i say, i'm happy w/it

sifu
 
I own a BM 705 in both the old coating and the boron carbide. The bc version has been my EDC for about 3 months. It has held up quite nicely. The bc coated knife is one of the limited edition "forum knives". Looking closely I can see a couple of very TINY scratches at a 45 degree angle to the edge. They really aren't noticable unless I'm searching for them. My older 705 has only about 50% of the coating still on it. Quite crappy looking in comparison. Still love the knife though.

I definately prefer the bc coating. Glad to have it on the m2 steel forum knife.

Bruce
 
Maybe too early for a clear call..., but I got my nephew a BM folder with the BC coating and it's held up really nicely considering he uses it quite heavily. I sharpened it for him the other day and it hasn't shown much sign of wear to speak up...


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
I sent out my SOG Vision blade and liners, as well as my CRKT small S-2 blade for BC coating, to see how it holds up.
I am certainly interested in everyone's opinion.
 
Rob,
How would boron carbide work on a Randall #14. I emailed Darrell Lewis a few weeks ago and didn't get a response, but I'm interested in redoing the finish on my currently parkerized Randall. I'm concerned with the non-removable micarta handle and how that is dealt with in the BC process. TIA
 
ras, I may be wrong but from what I understand the knife cannot have any handle material on it period. The coating process takes the steel or titanium up to 250 degress or so.
 
ras, handles have to be removed for Boron Carbide coating, even though it is a fairly low temp coating, outgassing of handle materials will foul the chamber. Therefore all that can be coated is clean, bare metal. Other than that, it would be great on the Randall.
 
I'll call Randall about this. If I remove the handle and have the BC done, then let them rehandle it ... $$$
 
ras have it hard chromed and then BC coated (i think they usually do this) but this way it will be nore rust resistant (i am assuming you have a tool steel randall)
 
LizardKing,

I think, based on my talks with Rob and Darrell out in Las Vegas, BC bonds with the metal at the molecular level, which is why it holds so well (I'm posing a question for Rob down below). Rob said above that it needs to bond with bare metal to work. Rob, if a blade is hard-chromed first, then the BC would bond only with the hard chrome wouldn't it? So, would it be more likely to flake off with the hard chroming, since the BC is not bonded with the metal of the blade?
 
Brian, I am not sure what kind of chrome they use but their process is different than plating. The chromium layer Bodycote puts down bonds the same as the BC, and the BC bonds to the chromium and there is no peeling. It is a sputtered on coating at maximum vacuum, plasma and all that good stuff. It will not peel! :)
 
IIRC, Bodycote uses pure chrome for their undercoat, then the BC over that.
 
Originally posted by Rob Simonich
It is the best black/dark grey coating out there bar none.
Click to expand...

Rob, You said a mouthfull. I will second that.

BTW guys, I have used it on some heavy use knives and I am EXTREMELY pleased with it's performance.
 
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