Condor Kephart: Remove coating?

[steve-in-kville]

I'd like to strip the black coating on my Kephart and force a patina, just because. I understand the scales are epoxied on, so removal is out of the question. I tried a bit of paint stripper and all it did was dull the finish.

Any ideas?

 

[Travman]

Sandblasting?

 

[steve-in-kville]

Sandblasting?

Thought of that. I just applied another coating of stripper a little bit ago. Its not even touching it from what I can see.

I do have a mini sandblaster used to etch glass somewhere...

 

[Guitarist7.62]

Let the stripper sit longer or buy stronger stuff. If it dulled the finish the first time, something was working.

 

[steve-in-kville]

Let the stripper sit longer or buy stronger stuff. If it dulled the finish the first time, something was working.

This stripper I am using is pretty tough stuff. I've used it on a lot of projects over the years. Usually within a few minutes it starts to blister whatever is beneath it. Not this. I am giving serious consideration to just soaking the blade in vinegar for a while... and see what becomes of it.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Sandpaper. And don't stop until the black is all gone.

How far you go toward fine grit is up to you, but I used 220 grit which left mine with a relatively unpolished surface. Sharpen to taste.

Why? I disliked the "tacky" (= tactical) look of the painted blade, which is totally unhistorical for a Kephart. I'm not a fanatic, but if I have a historical pattern of knife, I prefer it to look as much as possible like its original.

Like all carbon steel blades, it will develop a patina in use. But for fast patinating, get a tall glass jar, fill with ordinary vinegar, nuke it for about 30 secs (until it's almost too hot to touch), then immerse the blade. Pull it out and rinse when the patina reaches the level you want. In hot vinegar, the process goes fast, so be ready.

The Nessmukian Trio: Bridgeport hatchet, Camillus Army Engineer's knife, Kephart

 

[weltondl]

Maybe acetone?

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[bralexander]

Yeah I stripped a Condor Kephart a few weeks ago and the aircraft stripper didn't work. I am not sure what the blade is coated with, but I had to use sand paper to strip it. Came out really nicely and took a quick patina with food use.
Bruce

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It's a coating something like bluing or forced patina. Stripper won't touch it. Only way to get it off is sandpaper.

 

[bralexander]

It's a coating something like bluing or forced patina. Stripper won't touch it. Only way to get it off is sandpaper.

Yep, those were my thoughts on it to, very much like bluing!
Bruce

 

[Andre Basset]

As was mentioned, sandpaper is the way to go. Or you could just buy the condor Kep blank which has no coating. And put your own handle on. ..

 

[steve-in-kville]

Thanks for the replies. Might save this as a winter project.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Thanks for the replies. Might save this as a winter project.

Well, it's winter in the southern hemisphere... It took me about 10 minutes to sand off the coating and I was working by hand, not with a power sander. It's not that tough a material.

 

[Coonskinner]

I used sandpaper on mine.

 

[ninjahawk]

Could someone do me a solid and tell me the width of the narrowest section of the tang by the finger guard? Not the thickness but the width. I have ordered a blank and I'm making scales right now and really need that measurement. Can't find the dimensions of that particular section online, so I'm hoping a Kephart owner could just measure that real quick and let me know. Thanks in advance!

 

[leghog]

Picked up a Condor Kephart this morning. 0000 steel wool and Brasso took of the blade finish in 5 to 10 minutes. Another bundle of 0000 steel wool and mineral oil smoothed out the hardwood slabs in just a few minutes. Wet forming the sheath looks like it will present challenges. The sheath had absolutely no retention. Tip the sheath over and the knife slid right out of it. But for less than $31 after taxes and shipped, I'm happy with it.