CRK BHQ Exclusive CF

T

torrentuser

Joined
Oct 3, 2012
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I am pretty close to buying one of these:
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Chris-Reeve-Large-Sebenza-21--16729

I want to send it off to get pimped. I'd like the blade, clip, and lock handle black and the top handle titanium anodized blue. Some of you may think that is a terrible idea... but I'm into it.

Anyway, my real question revolves around the inlays. CRK is well known for their amazing tolerances and I bet the CF is installed to the same exacting standards. The inlays would need to be removed to make the cosmetic modifications. I'd like to know how they are held in place. Has anyone removed them? Do you destroy the inlays in the process of removing them? I figured this was a good place to pose the question. I hope this prompts a lively discussion.

-Lox
 
They are held in with strip of double sides adhesive tape. It is quite strong. I do not imagine there is anyway to remove them without damaging them at all.
 
Yup, double sided tape, but you're right, I've read that the inlays click into place they are cut so tightly.

Why would they need to remove them? To anodize? I can't see why they couldn't be re-anodized with the inlays in place.
 
Btw, that would pretty much be my dream Sebbie.

I might rather have micarta (maybe) but I've not been known to kick a nice piece of cf out of bed. ;)
 
As I understand it, you can't anodize titanium into black. I was thinking of cerakoting. If I did that and kept the CF on, it would be covered over. I suppose a super fine tape masking job might be in order. Has CRK ever released a blacked out blade? I have only seen satins.

-Lox
 
I wouldn't cerakote a sebenza. The high temp needed for the bake on would melt the tape that holds the inlay on and the airdry looks like crap. Not to mention if you do the inside of the scales the knife will never be as good as it was before you coated it. Cerakote adds thickness. My brother in law owns a shop that does cerakote and hydrographix, I've been around it for years.
 
Titanium is anodized in a aqueous electrolyte solution and requires no colored dye. The oxide layer itself produces the color through interference. Unknown to many I'm sure, but carbon fiber is electrically conductive. An even anodization requires that the current flow evenly and equally into the surface of the titanium. If the bare carbon fibers are in contact with the titanium, and I'm sure it is on the sides, that might result in uneven artifacts in the titanium around the inlay. It might draw the current density away from the titanium.
I would advise removing them before anodizing. I would be surprised if that could be done without damaging them.
 
Therefore, unless one could figure out a safe way to remove the inlays... this plan of mine is not worth attempting. Anyone have any ideas how to do it? Anyone here in this forum have access to the factory or someone who does service on them?

-Lox
 
You may be better off getting a micarta seb, doing all the work and having someone make you cf inlays. I know barry h has made inlays for sebs.
 
The CRK inlays are set with a 3M tape. I cannot remember the exact name but they are very strong and the inlays will have to be destroyed if you want to remove them.

Also, just a word of advice, I think cerakoting the blade is a very bad idea. Cerakote normally isn't particularly thin nor smooth, and is likely to affect its performance quite a bit not to mention make it more difficult to sharpen. DLC will be a better option but I'm not sure if anyone is willing to do that for one blade.

As for the colouring of the handle.. I'm not certain of any solutions, but you may try an electrolytic deposition method if one is available and cover the carbon fibre with generous layers of insulating tape. Or you could also use tape to cover the inlays for any other methods such as vapour deposition but the tape may be difficult to remove afterwards.

Or use a sharpie :)
 
I've replaced a few inlays before, no damage, but then again, I've been doing knife mods for over 10 years, YRMV............
 
I love my carbon fiber insingo the way it is! Listen to Barry, the man has skills.
 
Moxy said:
Titanium is anodized in a aqueous electrolyte solution and requires no colored dye. The oxide layer itself produces the color through interference. Unknown to many I'm sure, but carbon fiber is electrically conductive. An even anodization requires that the current flow evenly and equally into the surface of the titanium. If the bare carbon fibers are in contact with the titanium, and I'm sure it is on the sides, that might result in uneven artifacts in the titanium around the inlay. It might draw the current density away from the titanium.
I would advise removing them before anodizing. I would be surprised if that could be done without damaging them.
Click to expand...

Here is a new video confirming my assumption about anodizing titanium with carbonfiber inlays. The inlays need to be removed. Watch at 1:50

[video=youtube;2eFRSqe9BWc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eFRSqe9BWc[/video]
 
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