DLC or satin/stonewash finish?

XtianAus

XtianAus

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2016
Messages
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Just wondering what are the benefits of DLC coating?
If you have had experience with them, what do you think of it and how do they compare to non coated blades?

Please post pics of well used dlc knives too if you can :)
 
Wear resistance, reduced coefficient of friction and glare and increased resistance to corrosion. Regardless, I prefer non-coated blades.
 
adamlau said:
Wear resistance, reduced coefficient of friction and glare and increased resistance to corrosion. Regardless, I prefer non-coated blades.
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Hi, thanks for your reply.

I have read conflicting information regarding corrosion resistance. Some say it wont affect corrosion resistance, others that it boosts resistance and some say that it actually inhibits the resistance because it allows moisture to be stuck between it and the steel.
Can you shed some light on this?
 
XtianAus said:
Some say it wont affect corrosion resistance ... and some say that it actually inhibits the resistance because it allows moisture to be stuck between it and the steel.
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I've never heard that before. Well, google "DLC corrosion resistance" and choose the industry/academic results. You'll see that DLC inhibits corrosion. "Inhibits" means reduces, btw.
 
Hey, yes, inhibit is to prevent or restrain. In the context of my sentence, I meant that I have heard it will reduce a steel's ability to resist corrosion because water can be trapped between the coating and bare steel.
Do you mean it inhibits corrosion as in, it reduces the chance rust? (basically the opposite of what I originally said).
Thanks
 
I'm not a fan of dlc or black blades in general. However, in a fixed blade with corrosion prone steel like 1095, I am ok with it.

You can also force a patina on a corrosion prone steel, which many people here do.

DLC shows wear much more than satin or stonewashed.
 
I go for
1- stonewash/blackwash
2- DLC
3- satin

A good DLC is pretty resistant and even after cutting wood or similar hard material it shows little wear on it (ZT 0350, PM2, extreme ratio BF1 for what is have tested)
 
I own several Cold Steel knives with DLC finish and it looks very nice. More like a blued firearm compared to the baked on finish they call Tuff-Ex which looks cheesy in my opinion. It holds up well but then I dont beat on my knives either. I wish they would offer DLC on their Trail Mater, Laredo and Natchez Bowies as well.
 
Thanks for your thoughts man, glad you like it. And I agree that there are definitely baked on cheesy coatings out there! Glad to hear it doesnt fall into that department :p
 
Depends on the knife, but for the most part i tend to prefer dlc coated blades. No real reason besides appearance, i just like how they look.
In my experience, when you use dlc it will mark up quickly but takes a long time to scratch up. And if you do get scratches on it, as you continue to use it, the dlc tends to have a smearing/smudge effect that covers previous scratches. Where when other coatings get scratched or dinged up, the just stay that way.
Haven't noticed any performance differences between dlc-satin, or any corrosion resistance (i mostly use stainless super steels anyway).
 
sfrigon1 said:
There aren't many steels that I would want dlc on . Jmho
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They do it right though. I have a urban tactical in vanadis 4 extra that is beautiful and tough as nails. I really do like it. The dlc holds up unreal, no scratches yet. The only thing I notice is it gets hung up a bit when cutting certain things, almost like I can feel it slowing the knife down. Just curious how much you will be using it and for what ?
 
sfrigon1 said:
They do it right though. I have a urban tactical in vanadis 4 extra that is beautiful and tough as nails. I really do like it. The dlc holds up unreal, no scratches yet. The only thing I notice is it gets hung up a bit when cutting certain things, almost like I can feel it slowing the knife down. Just curious how much you will be using it and for what ?
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Ah ok cool :)
Any corrosion issues with that steel?

I'm not entirely sure but probably be used as a general purpose utility knife.
Something I can use around the house as well as take camping/hiking.
 
XtianAus said:
Ah ok cool :)
Any corrosion issues with that steel?

I'm not entirely sure but probably be used as a general purpose utility knife.
Something I can use around the house as well as take camping/hiking.
Click to expand...
I've personally never had any corrosion issues ,because I baby my knives that aren't stainless. So if you are the type of person that can't live w a scratch dlc might not be good for you,but if your like me and don't give a darn then dlc is amazing and you will love it
 
sfrigon1 said:
I've personally never had any corrosion issues ,because I baby my knives that aren't stainless. So if you are the type of person that can't live w a scratch dlc might not be good for you,but if your like me and don't give a darn then dlc is amazing and you will love it
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sfrigon1 said:
I've personally never had any corrosion issues ,because I baby my knives that aren't stainless. So if you are the type of person that can't live w a scratch dlc might not be good for you,but if your like me and don't give a darn then dlc is amazing and you will love it
Click to expand...
XtianAus said:
Ah ok cool :)
Any corrosion issues with that steel?

I'm not entirely sure but probably be used as a general purpose utility knife.
Something I can use around the house as well as take camping/hiking.
Click to expand...
Did you get m390 ?or Elmax
 
sfrigon1 said:
I've personally never had any corrosion issues ,because I baby my knives that aren't stainless. So if you are the type of person that can't live w a scratch dlc might not be good for you,but if your like me and don't give a darn then dlc is amazing and you will love it
Click to expand...
Haha i agree, the more beat up they are, the more beautiful they become
 
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