Removing black finish ?

E

Edd Harbin

Joined
May 24, 2000
Messages
540
I am getting through trade a Ontario Bagwell Stealth bowie . I plan on making a leather fog style sheath ,radiusing the grips and removing the black finish/polishing the blade . I know how to do the first two , but need some help with the last part .
Does anyone know what kind of coating this is and what is the best way to remove it ? Also How hard wil this be to polish up ? Should I find a machine shop that will bead blast the blade for me ? If so what should I expect to pay for this and what prep should I do ?Any help is greatly appreciated ..
 
I think it's just a black oxide coating. I'm not sure if paint stripper will take it off like it removes epoxy coatings. A beadblast should do the trick, though you'd probably want to take the blade off first or shield the handle really well. Or just get some sandpaper and set aside a few hours. Do a search and you should find some posts on different ways of polishing discussed in the past.
 
What kind of tools do you have access to?

I think that determines the outcome more than anything.

It would only a few minutes on a belt grinder with a scotchbrite belt on it. Looking at an hour or so with sandpaper.

Personally, I have done the hard way before and it's do-able. Just get some wet/dry sandpaper from Home Depot. Start at 220 and go up to 600.

If you are unsatisfied with the satin finish, you'll have to invest in more specialized options such as buffing, etc.


Try asking in the Busse forum - they have guys there that strip finishes off their knives.

Best of luck.

Dan



p.s. if you do decide to do it the hard way, tape up the handle real good with multiple layers and take it easy...through in a good movie.
 
If it is just a black oxide coating you might try naval jelly (phosphoric acid in a gel) or vinegar (acetic acid) or hydrochloric acid ( muriatic acid.
 
If it appears that the finish is like the powder coat that Cold Steel uses as well as Busse.....then use Duplicolor brand auto paint stripper in the spray can. Works like a charm.
 
I've used the green Scotch-Brite pads to remove the Black-T coating from my Nimravus knives. I put some newspaper on the floor in front of me, kept the pads wet to keep the dust down, put a movie in the DVD player, and had myself some fun for a few hours.
 
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