Coated blades always less smooth?

[sinsanity]

Are coated blades always less smooth than an uncoated one?

I seem to always find this to be the case!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Nope! Titanium nitride and DLC coatings applied to a mirror polished blade will still be glassy smooth. Check out the rainbow Kershaw Leek for a good example. When coating blades, however, the surface finish is often bead blasted because it's cheaper.

 

[sinsanity]

That's a good point I guess it depends on the texture of the coating. My rainbow leek is silly smooth when a more textured cerakote is stiffer.

 

[DRK]

They do come smooth, my DLC Para is very smooth and wears incredibly. The blade definitely has more drag when cutting than a regular non coated blade though.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

That's a good point I guess it depends on the texture of the coating. My rainbow leek is silly smooth when a more textured cerakote is stiffer.

Cerakote is an applied finish, as is epoxy powder coat. Applied coatings increase friction during the cut as compared to bonded coatings like DLC or Ti-nitride.

 

[9blades]

I find my zt 0200 to be my smoothest knife......and really if a knife has washers it shouldn't matter....