Ka-Bar short black

[Danno4017]

Hi,
The black coating on the short black Ka-Bar is easily scratched.
What is the best way of removing it all together?
I was thinking very fine wet and dry paper?
Thanks in advance

 

[knarfeng]

If I remember aright, Ka-Bar uses a baked epoxy powder coating for their black blades. I don't think any paint stripper you can buy at the hardware store will remove that. Sand paper and elbow grease would probably work best if you are going to do it yourself.

A heavy duty commercial stripper could work. You might find a company to do it for you.

 

[Danno4017]

Thanks for the info knarfeng.
I thought that it may come down to hard labour
Cheers

 

[Danno4017]

I have slowly worked most of the paint away.
The knife is a solid little bugger but if "feels " really small, the handle is small for my hand and I do not know if I really like it, I have a "Western" knife that is a totally different style but if feels great in the hand and well balanced, yet they are similar lengths and dimensions.

 

[ashtxsniper]

get a fullsize Ka-Bar

 

[Danno4017]

get a fullsize Ka-Bar

You may be right.
The blade is a good length, just the handle is an inch short I think
Anyway enough whinging, I will get on with it.
Cheers

 

[JGarth]

Danno,
Let it be....just buy another one....they are very reasonably priced.
John

 

[Danno4017]

Danno,
Let it be....just buy another one....they are very reasonably priced.
John

I hear you JGarth as posted above, they are value.
You know an easy way to remove the cheap black finish? Short of sanding as I have done, now I have a "rough" looking blade.

 

[Blue Sky]

Don't kill yourself sanding that stuff, paint stripper takes it right off. Spray it on, let it sit a while and scrape it off. I've done it to Kabar's and Becker's, works well.

 

[knarfeng]

Blue Sky which stripper did you use? I've not had good luck removing epoxy with paint store strippers.

 

[Blue Sky]

It was nothing special, the can says "Citristrip Paint and Varnish Remover". Spray it on, it foams up and smells like oranges. Wait a couple hours or overnight and the coating scrapes right off. I did this to a Kabar shorty and a Becker Crewman and it worked the same on both. It does leave the underlying surface with some discoloration, like a gray patina, but the black is gone.

 

[Cougar Allen]

 

[knarfeng]

I'll look for some. I've got a metal storage box in my back yard that has rust spots showing. It's painted with epoxy primer and a topcoat. I've put off redoing it for a couple of years now because I've had problems stripping epoxy in the past.
Sorry, back to knives.

Danno4017 I owe you an apology. Made you sand it instead of strip it. All I can say is sanding was what I ended up having to do with epoxies.

 

[JeremyI]

I enjoy the "tactical black" look on most of my knives, but once it starts to fade I get out the dremmel tool with a fine sanding wheel and buff it all off

If you can't find a fine enough wheel or drum you can always take your favorite fine sandpaper and glue it onto a worn out drum