- Joined
- Jan 27, 2012
- Messages
- 1,247
I get asked this question all the time: How durable is a DuraCoat coating on a knife?
I think there is a misconception that it is like any other paint -- like a Rustoleum or Krylon. Not so. But how to show it?
Well, a situation came up. I did some work on a BK-9 -- de-ramped, choiled, butt shaved...and DuraCoated to what I'd hoped would make it look like the blade was made out of diamond plate. Well, the end result didn't meet my standards and I decided to "erase" the DuraCoat in the blast cabinet, but then thought this would be the perfect opportunity to put it through it's paces and see how the coating holds up. If it doesn't -- no big deal, I'm gonna erase it anyway.
So, he're the test subject, Diamond Niner:
Now -- what to do to it to test what Beckerheads would say was a typical life? First, ya gotta carry it somehow, and since the stock sheaths are marginal many opt for a Kydex sheath. OK, so I can't "JUST" do a Kydex sheath, it has to be special. This one is half black Kydex and half translucent Hostex. There may be others out there, but I haven't come across them. So this is DN's new home, and will be even when this coating job will be just a memory. I have to say there is ZERO rattle with this baby -- it is a snug fit.
So-o-o, what will using abrasive Kydex/Holstex do to the coating? While watching TV last night I sat there and sheathed and unsheathed DN until my wife told me to stop.
It was at least 50 times. This next photo shows the result. Right along the intersection of the high points you can see faint rub marks. Also, you can see the marks on the inner surface of the sheath. The marks rubbed through the "design" but not the base coat.
So what else do Beckerheads use their -9's for? Why, chopping, of course! I had just the specimen. During that freek Halloween snowstorm that knocked out power to much of Southern New England for more than a week, a large maple in my front yard lost many huge limbs. I'd dragged them away at the time, but they have been sitting, waiting to be converted to firewood for the last seven months, getting harder and harder. I picked one about 7" in diameter, held it up with the tractor loader bucket, and started to wail away at it.
I learned that I love axes, and I REALLY love chainsaws!
Twelve minutes later I was through. No visible damage to the blade that didn't rinse off with a little spit.
So far, so good. Now the real test of a coating -- batoning. That required a short trip to the woodpile.
Shown is the ultimate chopper resting on top of the ultimate splitter! He's called Brutus. That's an electric crane on the back to lift the big pieces and swing them in front of the ram.
Find a suitable-sized log and start wailing away. This stuff is green red oak. Nasty stuff.
OK, this isn't a giant test of the durability of a -9, it just to test the coating, remember. After splitting a fire-sized pile I decided to check how we're doing.
While not extraordinary, we now have visible damage.
Yes. It did mark up the DuraCoat. But to be fair, given those same logs the original factory coating would be a mess, and the new factory coating would be covered in wood mash. Batoning is brutal stuff. I'll stick with Brutus for the splitting job, although I have to say a -9 is markedly more transportable!
So there you have it. Pretty much what I'd expected, and I hope I educated a couple of folks about the strengths and weaknesses of DuraCoating.
-K9
I think there is a misconception that it is like any other paint -- like a Rustoleum or Krylon. Not so. But how to show it?
Well, a situation came up. I did some work on a BK-9 -- de-ramped, choiled, butt shaved...and DuraCoated to what I'd hoped would make it look like the blade was made out of diamond plate. Well, the end result didn't meet my standards and I decided to "erase" the DuraCoat in the blast cabinet, but then thought this would be the perfect opportunity to put it through it's paces and see how the coating holds up. If it doesn't -- no big deal, I'm gonna erase it anyway.
So, he're the test subject, Diamond Niner:
Now -- what to do to it to test what Beckerheads would say was a typical life? First, ya gotta carry it somehow, and since the stock sheaths are marginal many opt for a Kydex sheath. OK, so I can't "JUST" do a Kydex sheath, it has to be special. This one is half black Kydex and half translucent Hostex. There may be others out there, but I haven't come across them. So this is DN's new home, and will be even when this coating job will be just a memory. I have to say there is ZERO rattle with this baby -- it is a snug fit.
So-o-o, what will using abrasive Kydex/Holstex do to the coating? While watching TV last night I sat there and sheathed and unsheathed DN until my wife told me to stop.
It was at least 50 times. This next photo shows the result. Right along the intersection of the high points you can see faint rub marks. Also, you can see the marks on the inner surface of the sheath. The marks rubbed through the "design" but not the base coat.
So what else do Beckerheads use their -9's for? Why, chopping, of course! I had just the specimen. During that freek Halloween snowstorm that knocked out power to much of Southern New England for more than a week, a large maple in my front yard lost many huge limbs. I'd dragged them away at the time, but they have been sitting, waiting to be converted to firewood for the last seven months, getting harder and harder. I picked one about 7" in diameter, held it up with the tractor loader bucket, and started to wail away at it.
I learned that I love axes, and I REALLY love chainsaws!
Twelve minutes later I was through. No visible damage to the blade that didn't rinse off with a little spit.
So far, so good. Now the real test of a coating -- batoning. That required a short trip to the woodpile.
Shown is the ultimate chopper resting on top of the ultimate splitter! He's called Brutus. That's an electric crane on the back to lift the big pieces and swing them in front of the ram.
Find a suitable-sized log and start wailing away. This stuff is green red oak. Nasty stuff.
OK, this isn't a giant test of the durability of a -9, it just to test the coating, remember. After splitting a fire-sized pile I decided to check how we're doing.
While not extraordinary, we now have visible damage.
Yes. It did mark up the DuraCoat. But to be fair, given those same logs the original factory coating would be a mess, and the new factory coating would be covered in wood mash. Batoning is brutal stuff. I'll stick with Brutus for the splitting job, although I have to say a -9 is markedly more transportable!
So there you have it. Pretty much what I'd expected, and I hope I educated a couple of folks about the strengths and weaknesses of DuraCoating.
-K9
