Help with customization attempt...

snwbrdr202 · Mar 29, 2009

Hey guys hows it going? I just picked up a Schrade, stay with me for a sec, survival knife on ebay (SCHF3). I thought it was a great deal so I went for it. It is a nice little piece of 440C steel, full tang, micarta handles, with a combo edge. It has that damn black powder coating on it though, and I would prefer to see that beautiful steel. Does anyone know a technique regarding the removal of this black powder coating, while maintaining the smooth steel appearance? I could take the micarta inserts off and go to town with some wet/dry sand paper, but I just wanted to check the ocean of knowledge here first. Thanks for any help fellas.

-Brendan

http://www.knife-depot.com/images/product/8_150401.jpg

snwbrdr202 · Mar 29, 2009

No one has anything?!

Bushman5 · Mar 29, 2009

Remove the handle scales, get an old plastic tub and lay the blade in it. Spray or brush on heavy duty paint stripper and let it soak for a couple of hours. Use a brass brush or coarse steel wool to remove the bubbled up black coating. Wear rubber dish gloves...

wash the blade in hot soapy water, reassemble the scales .

EDIT: here is some pics for you:

finished knives: (after about three days of chopping and slicing in the rain....hence the rust spots....they wipe right off. I had'nt oiled the blade yet,,,,)

snwbrdr202 · Mar 29, 2009

Hey thanks bushman. Paint stripper won't corrode the steel?

Bushman5 · Mar 29, 2009

nope..

Seals · Mar 30, 2009

Sometimes the blade finish you find underneath is pretty ugly.

James_Terrio · Mar 30, 2009

Seals said:
Sometimes the blade finish you find underneath is pretty ugly.

I honestly think that's exactly why so many knives are coated. Seems like it's cheaper/faster to spray some stuff on the blade than to actually finish it. I could be entirely wrong, of course.

firebert · Mar 30, 2009

I just reground my Outcast to get rid of the black. You can simply do this with sandpaper on a sanding block. With patience, you can end up with a beautiful hand-rubbed finish.

Garrett Schmidt · Mar 30, 2009

James_Terrio said:
I honestly think that's exactly why so many knives are coated. Seems like it's cheaper/faster to spray some stuff on the blade than to actually finish it. I could be entirely wrong, of course.

No, I think you are right. I've found that many blades have a pretty rough finish job underneath the coatings. I stripped a Ka Bar USMC and it was pretty rough underneath. Essentially, depending on the finish you desire, you have to learn how to hand rub a blade to your desired finish.

If the blade is truly 440C, you shouldn't have to worry much about rusting. Eventually it will, remember that stainless is "stain less" not "stain proof". If you take care of it though, you shouldn't have too much to worry about. Post pics if you strip it. I'd like to see what it looks like without the coating.

thebrain · Apr 16, 2009

I have used a scotch bright wheel on a drill it worked pretty good but you have to make sure you don`t push to hard and run it the same direction as you will be sanding(later to get the finish you like if the wheel isn`t a smooth as you like).Good luck man.
P.S. I liked the overall style of that knife too.

rookie4real · Apr 17, 2009

James_Terrio said:
I honestly think that's exactly why so many knives are coated. Seems like it's cheaper/faster to spray some stuff on the blade than to actually finish it. I could be entirely wrong, of course.

That's what I thought, but recently I read that rough surface is left on purpose to have the coating stick better to the metal.

Garrett Schmidt · Apr 17, 2009

rookie4real said:
That's what I thought, but recently I read that rough surface is left on purpose to have the coating stick better to the metal.

A couple of makers tested a bunch of glues and epoxies a while back and found that a blasted finish was the best surface prep for gluing on handle material. I imagine the same would be true of prep for coatings. I've also heard that a parkerized finish is great prep for painting.