Question about Microtech DLC

jfever311

jfever311

Joined
Jun 14, 2007
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What ,if any, real world advantages does the DLC coating provide? Does it have any use other than aesthetic appeal for some?

I am not a ninja, nor am I going to participate in any covert ops anytime soon....... nor would I use a folding knife I were.

So, does this stuff inhibit corrosion or anything useful??
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DLC does not inhibit corrosion, as it is not intended to seal the steel surface in an airtight/watertight way. The purpose is to prevent reflection of light and to keep the blade from getting scratched up.
Here is a link to a previous discussion
 
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The DLC does impart some corrosion resistance because it acts as a physical barrier to corrosive substances. The coating is also very hard and provides a serious amount of abrasion (scratch) resistance. The frosting on the DLC cake is its ability to be used as a finishing steel for softer blades. It is very hard and usually very smooth. This is a perfect combination for setting up the microedge on a softer knife.
 
Frankly, I think DLC coating stinks. It shows marks and scuffs easily, is mildly abrasive (think chalkboard) so it increases cutting resistance, and looks like absolute hell once it's got some wear on it.

If you take the same exact blade, one with a stonewashed finish, and the other with a DLC finish, and then perform a task cutting a dry material such as cardboard, the uncoated blade will glide right through, whereas the DLC blade with have quite a bit of resistance.
 
I have some knives with a smooth DLC, and it seems to aid in cutting (reduces friction). I also have some with a rough finish, which increase friction. Microtech seems to produce the rough type. Just got a UTX-70 yesterday, and it's got the rough stuff. It cuts well tough. Of course, it's got a thin blade too.
 
The appearance of the DLC coated blade depends on the finish the blade received before it was coated. I've seen mirror polished blades that were DLC coated that look like black chrome. Satin finished blades look good also when coated in DLC. As far as scratches go, most of the time it is not a scratch in the DLC coating, rather the material cut has rubbed off on the coating. That coating should have a Rockwell hardness of 75 or above, and that is HARD.:thumbup::)
 
The knife I am looking into getting is the new 2011 Microtech Vector. What experience have ya'll had with their DLC?
 
I don't know. Not much help, huh? I thought/think that most all DLC coating was/is done my a company called Bodycote, because I think the name Tungsten DLC is a registered name for Bodycote. There is a similar coating called DiamondBlack which is boron carbide. I would think that it would be a good coating if done by Bodycote. Sorry I couldn't be a bit more helpful.:thumbup::)
 
RevDevil said:
DLC does not inhibit corrosion, as it is not intended to seal the steel surface in an airtight/watertight way. The purpose is to prevent reflection of light and to keep the blade from getting scratched up.
Here is a link to a previous discussion
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That link is dead
 
Therealtexasac said:
Great job continuing to give to this community
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rxcd-lacre.gif
 
Therealtexasac said:
Only she

only after calling her out did she add any value. Additionally she should update her profile, I bet she is from the suburbs and not Chicago proper.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what suburbs vs. Chicago has to do with anything.

The more pressing issue is why you think Aflac is a "she"? Have I been wrong all these years????
 
You got all the important info on the DLC - it’s 75hrc, appearance depends on the surface it’s applied to it and the marks on it are usually just material from what you’re cutting. DLC is easily maintained and prevents rust to some extend, it’s a good stuff if you like the color, usually gray. I personally can confirm all this because I have few knives with this coating and they are users, hardly any marks from cutting cardboard boxes, plastic ties and insulation.
If you don’t think you don’t need it, don’t buy the knife in question.
 
I don't mind blade coatings. My BassPro 110 in CPM-154 has some kind of grey coating (aluminum tungsten nitride?) and my American Lawman in CTS-XHP has a black shiny DLC coating. Both treatments are very smooth and hard and seem to prevent stuff from sticking to the blade, and probably add some corrosion protection too. My latest knife with a blade coating is a Kabar Mark 1 USN deck knife replica in 1095 cro van (a.k.a. Carbon V, or close to it), which has a black epoxy powder coat that is very tough but not as hard as DLC. Doesn't seem to inhibit cutting and adds rust protection. Probably also useful if I need to sneak up on sentries.
 
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