Clear coating for high carbon blades.

savagesicslayer

savagesicslayer

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May 24, 2005
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I was wondering if all anti-rust coating has to be black or is there a clear alternative?I like the WSKs with the silver/grey blades and was wondering if the same thing could apply to a T.B.Tracker. :thumbup: :thumbdn: :confused:
 
Most of the coatings work by filling the little vallies in the surface of the steel so that less moisture would be in contact with the surface. That is why even when coatings are worn away it still helps to protect.

I have never heard of a clear coating for blades. I suppose you may be able to use some kind of automotive product, but I'm not sure any will hold up.

Apparently there is a clear form of powder coating, that would be your best bet, but will probably be more expensive.
 
A coat of clear epoxy resin would work, as long as you do it right.
 
Machete's with a clear coating are usually just laquered. It may not last as long as the newer coatings, but it's cheap and pretty easy to reapply when it does wear off (if you choose to do so, I just keep mine lightly oiled after use). Coatings don't only come in black though. Tan, Camo, Pink, Silver, just about every color of the rainbow.
 
Best coating out there is one called Gun Kote that is tough as nails and supposedly fairly easy to apply. I'm sure you can find all you want to know on it by a google search.

Many people clean off their blades of high carbon steel with acetone and let it dry. Then soak the blade in a stove top warmed solution of vinegar and flip the blade after a uniform coating or patina is achieved. Then they clean it off with a course dish sponge and soap and water, and fine steel wool. This is not a coating so to speak but simply accelerates the patina growth or oxidizing that will occur over time anyway with high carbon steel only it coats the blade entirely and uniformly instead of sporatically. It is a love or hate it thing though and not all blades turn out beautiful but some really look great afterwards and have a 'character' that they lacked before treatment.

On my hand mades that are high carbon I typically clean them off with acetone and then dry, and then gun blue the blades using a bluing solution I get from my local gun smith. One thing to make note of if you do this though. Most of these solutions will dull a sharp blade on contact. So you will have to resharpen after you are done. The Ouparator in my signiture is a gun blued blade I just did of 1095 steel.

Steve
 
I think Kevin McClung uses hard chrome clear coating for his o-1 blades. Also John Greco uses some kind of lacquer in his 8760 carbon steel knives.
 
Wally Hayes used a clear coating on a camp knife he made for me years ago. It wasn't intended to be permanent, but it worke4d well while it lasted. I can't remember what it was. Ren wax and similar products don't work well for me.
 
The Desert Knife Works Sandshark in O1 tool steel had a clear-ish titanium coating on it. It actually gave the blade the slightest hint of purple to it, but it was still transparent (you could see the steel and grind lines underneath).
 
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