Microtech applying dlc over serrations?

[AlongTheRazorsEdge]

DLC = diamond like carbon (coating).

Why does any manufacturer use coatings? I am not a fan of any coating. They look like crap after use (and many before use), and no coating does anything to protect the exposed edge of the blade anyway.

I never understood the so called "traction coating" thing..why would you want a coating that causes more friction/resistance between the blade and whatever it is you are cutting?

 

[shane45-1911]

I never understood the so called "traction coating" thing..why would you want a coating that causes more friction/resistance between the blade and whatever it is you are cutting?

Yeah, that "truck bedliner" crap is the worst!

DLC is definitely the lesser of all evils, but I still prefer my blades coating-free.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

why would you want a coating that causes more friction/resistance between the blade and whatever it is you are cutting?

DLC actually decreases the resistance/friction between the blade surface and whatever you are cutting.
By reading the thread, I'd say that most of the guys commenting on the DLC are not really familiar with it's properties...

 

[AlongTheRazorsEdge]

DLC actually decreases the resistance/friction between the blade surface and whatever you are cutting.
By reading the thread, I'd say that most of the guys commenting on the DLC are not really familiar with it's properties...

I was talking about the coating marketed as "friction coating" by companies like Tops and on some of the Kabar Beckers. Makes no sense to me personally.

Yes DLC, PVD, TiN etc. are old news in machine tool industry; only somewhat recently rebranded and marked up astronomically for the knife and firearms markets.

 

[MrStabby7]

I was talking about the coating marketed as "friction coating" by companies like Tops and on some of the Kabar Beckers. Makes no sense to me personally.

Yes DLC, PVD, TiN etc. are old news in machine tool industry; only somewhat recently rebranded and marked up astronomically for the knife and firearms markets.

I dont understand the decrease friction part either. Isn't the point of serrations to increase friction?

 

[AlongTheRazorsEdge]

In regards to machine tooling, the idea of applying the hard and smooth coating (DLC, TiN, TiALN etc.) is energy savings (less friction requires less effort) and tool longevity due to decreased thermal load (less friction generates less heat and therefore extends tooling life). In a knife or firearm part, the benefits would be the same. For knives specifically, less important would be reducing thermal loading; decreased resistance/friction should make for easier cutting with less effort required. This is why "friction coatings" on a blade make no sense to me. That being said; in reality, the real purpose of any of these coatings applied to a knife blade is likely aesthetics and corrosion protection.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Yes DLC, PVD, TiN etc. are old news in machine tool industry; only somewhat recently rebranded and marked up astronomically for the knife and firearms markets.

DLC is still DLC, nobody rebranded it. If you are familiar with the "old news" PVD/DLC coatings for tools and their properties,
they apply to knife blades exactly in the same way and gives you exactly the same advantages.
I don't see much rebranding or "astronomical" marketing in the firearm industry either - Glock moved to DLC coating years ago, after gen3, (I personally still prefer Tenifer)
S&W DLC coats most of their firearms for years and they are not the most expensive or advertised guns in the industry...

MrStabby7 - Serrations are there so the pointy tip of it can tear material, not to decrease friction. Serration works exactly how the tip of your blade works, just multiplied by the number of the serration tips.
It concentrates your force to a small area. A DLC coating only makes serration to slice easier trough the material, it makes it easier for you to cut and preserves the sharpness of the actual serrations to some extend.

Even DLC isn't completely corrosion resistant coating, to me it makes more sense to have it done on blade steel that is more corrosive, like carbon steels and such.
Premium new stainless steels hardly need any coatings and simple polishing works in most cases if you want to protect the blade from elements.
DLC makes sense to me exactly in cases like the object of this thread - giving some lubricating properties to a specialty grinds as the mentioned serrations.
DLC coating also absorbs very well oils and other protecting or lubricating treatments, we are talking molecular levels because the actual coating is only 2-3 microns,
but this is very beneficial for your blade, especially if it's carbon steel type.

It was a gentleman in this forum, who had excellent, very educational posts in General KD about the DLC properties and PVD in general,
I wish I can find the thread, it worth reading it and I'm sure most of you guys will look differently to this particular coating.
Of course, we are all different, you don't have to necessarily love the DLC but the fact is - it is extremely thin and well protective, hard coat and could be beneficial for you blade in any way.

 

[AlongTheRazorsEdge]

Rebranded/repurposed coatings and processes like Cerakote for example are astronomically priced compared to the very same base product marketed towards other industries. Cerakote takes pre existing ceramic epoxy coatings adds "tactical" colored pigments and acts like it is a new innovation specific to firearms. Most (if not all) of the new "hot" coatings and surface treatments are all repurposed mainly from the tooling industry and automotive industry. Another example would be Fireclean, which when spectral analyzed was found to be nothing more than coconut oil marked up 1000% lol. Almost no innovation comes from the firearms industry.