How do I remove a TOPS river wash coating?

M

master_nylo

Joined
Nov 7, 2022
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I have a TOPS knife that has some problems with the river wash coating, so I need to remove it. The coating comes off easily along the edge, almost flaking off in some spots. I know I can sandblast it, but I don't have a sandblaster, and there is none in my area. I can send it to TOPS for the warranty, but it will cost about $100 for shipping, and they won't tell me how to remove the coating as it will void the warranty. Any recommendations would be helpful.
 
I haven’t tried it on that specific finish, but any good chemical stripper should do the job. I’ve stripped many knives this way. A mechanical option is a cheap 1”x30” belt sander. Get some knife specific belts, I spent more on belts than the sander. Good luck, post the results.
 
vltor17 said:
I haven’t tried it on that specific finish, but any good chemical stripper should do the job. I’ve stripped many knives this way. A mechanical option is a cheap 1”x30” belt sander. Get some knife specific belts, I spent more on belts than the sander. Good luck, post the results.
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Thank you for your response. I'm not at a place to spend 100-200$ on a belt sander that I would only use once to remove a coating. Have you ever tried using sandpaper to remove a coating?
 
Think I spent $40 on the sander, but that was a while ago. You could also use it for sharpening, if you decided to purchase. I would still recommend a chemical stripper. You could definitely use sand paper and some elbow grease. Start around 350, lightly, and work your way up.
 
Here's a thread on this topic. The blade has a clear cerakote coating. Solution in post #17.

Remove blade finish without media blasting?

Hey y'all, this is my first thread on this forum with more to come i'm sure. I have a TOPS Frog Market Special that I really like however I'm not big on coated blades. A large part of the enjoyment of owning a carbon steel knife for me is developing a patina through use. TOPS uses their Black...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
vltor17 said:
Think I spent $40 on the sander, but that was a while ago. You could also use it for sharpening, if you decided to purchase. I would still recommend a chemical stripper. You could definitely use sand paper and some elbow grease. Start around 350, lightly, and work your way up.
Click to expand...
Think 600 grit would work?
 
I removed the coating off my TOPS B.O.B.
With generic stripper and a putty knife. Not sure if that’s the same coating or not but It might work
 
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