Emerson Thoughts/Questions

S

skinnyjay

Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
9
Hello, I bought a cqc-15 a few weeks ago and had some observations and questions you guys might could help with. I apologize in advance if this is old news on here.

First, I was wondering why Emerson uses nylon washers over bronze. I believe I read somewhere they are a "high-tech" nylon, but in my experience bronze always feels smoother. Are there advantages I'm unaware of?

Second, this coating seems to be on the fragile side. Where the tang slams down on the stop bar is already missing a bit of coating. It doesn't bother me, but at this price I would expect it to perform at the level of my $50 kershaws with DLC. My blur has been opened at least 1000 times with no sign of wear at the spot where the tang hits the stop bar.

However, I really do love the knife, and will most likely buy more EKI models in the future. :thumbup:
 
Nylon washers work just fine.
Sorry about the coating... no biggie. I really prefer the Stonewashed Emersons.
 
the coating is a baked on ceramic if im not mistaken. and i agree rolf the SW looks cool.
 
You can always DIY satin it.
 
Technically, aren't those nylatron, rather than nylon? There's a pretty big difference (some feel). Nylatron is used by some pretty high-end knifemakers.

You could probably replace them with PB, if you wish - but I thought about it and decided it wasn't worth the effort for a small or invisible gain.
 
Jay,

My 15 has been EDC for the past year and a half.

The coating on the tang where it contacts the stop bar began to show bare metal soon after I began flipping out the blade with enthusiasm...which, by the way, Ernest recommends.
I welcomed the visible evidence of the solid and robust lockup.
After an extended period of use and abuse I can report that the coating on the more visible and usable portions of the blade is scuffed but not scratched or scarred.
This leads me to theorize that perhaps the coating is thicker, more protective and more permanent in the areas where it is most necessary.

Got an Emerson question? Ask Haze!

Congrats on your purchase...enjoy.

CP
 
Thanks for the input. I also prefer the stone washed, but chose the coated finish with rust prevention in mind (I wanted as low of an up keep as possible). Anyone use tuf-glide on Emersons with good results?
 
skinnyjay said:
Thanks for the input. I also prefer the stone washed, but chose the coated finish with rust prevention in mind (I wanted as low of an up keep as possible). Anyone use tuf-glide on Emersons with good results?
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well since emersons are made from stainless 154CM steel you shouldnt have to apply rust inhibitor.
 
I was thinking of using the tuf-glide on the pivot particularly as lube rather than rust prevention.
 
Just remember tuf glide is a dry lubricant. It is not made to stay in liquid form. If you were to treat the pivot area with it, you would need to disassemble the knife, thoroughly wash with soap and water the pivot areas (washers, scales, blade) and dry completely. Then, apply tuf glide to the washers and the scales, and the blade, and then allow it to dry (I stick my blades in front of a fan). Once dry, reassemble. You may want to do a second coating.

Personally, I use a small amount of hoppes no. 9 oil. Works great on the nitralon(sp?) washers.
 
JNewell said:
Technically, aren't those nylatron, rather than nylon? There's a pretty big difference (some feel). Nylatron is used by some pretty high-end knifemakers.

You could probably replace them with PB, if you wish - but I thought about it and decided it wasn't worth the effort for a small or invisible gain.
Click to expand...

Inded, the nylatron (that sounds so funny to me :p) washers are actually pretty good. They are "self lubricating" in that they don't need oiled to work smoothly. That's great if your out in the field or what not. A bit of oil or tuffglide won't do any harm of course, but they are not bad washers to use by any means.

The coating(s) on EKI knives are actually pretty good IMO. The OP said the stop pin contact had worn through and it has on all of mine as well. The coating will wear off on all the hight trafic areas of the blade. That's really nothing to worry about though, as those areas will not have a build up of rust any way. They are the areas seeing all the contact with the materials your cutting. The coating helps keep rust from building up in places like the thumb ramp jimping and other hard to reach places.

:):thumbup:
 
imho EKI coatings are no better/no worse than any other, i have never had issues with them anyway.

i have gone to bronze bushings on my SOCFK and ended up going back to the nytrolon, imho they work fine, obviously to me better than the bronze.
 
Nylatron

Nylatron is a tradename for nylon that is filled with molybdenum disulfide lubricant. RH Nuttall manufacture nylatron washers, nylatron thermal breaks, nylatron plates, nylatron gaskets, nylatron seals, and nylatron strip. Components are normally supplied in Nylatron GS which makes it stiffer, harder and more dimensionally stable than traditional Nylon. Possessing a high mechanical strength, and fatigue resistance, Nylatron is most suited to applications where a medium load of moving parts is apparent. Its high mechanical damping ability coupled with its strong sliding properties make it a popular choice in conveyor belt trades. Furthermore, our Nylatron washers and gaskets have a good wear resistance as well as electrical insulating properties. A self adhesive backing can be applied to one or both faces if needed.

Nylatron GS Nylon is a nylon and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) composition designed to improve the mechanical, thermal and bearing properties of type 6/6 nylon while maintaining its basic electrical and chemical characteristics. Through compounding, finely divided particles impart extra lubricity to this nylon, permitting Nylatron GS parts to operate with little or no lubrication. The added lubricity also contributes dramatically to component service life, making Nylatron GS a very cost-efficient choice. Nylatron GS nylon offers greater wear resistance, lower surface friction, higher strength and greater rigidity than unfilled 6/6 with improved dimensional stability.
 
kirko said:
Personally, I use a small amount of hoppes no. 9 oil. Works great on the nitralon(sp?) washers.
Click to expand...

+1 for Hoppe's Oil. After trying a whole bunch of expensive knife lubes, I've found that this works best for Emerson's particular combination of blade and washers. Smooth, tight, just fast enough, and lasts quite a while.
 
In my experience the coating was the major Achilles heel of the Emerson line-up. This has now been corrected with the new stonewashed finish. It doesn't make the knife any more functional but its a damn sight easier on the eye.
 
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