Smoothing the rough coating without removing it: what to use?

[KingMC]

So I like coated blades for the most part, but the my BK15 is very rough for the utility work I seem to be considering it for, and I've seen some mention of the ability to sand off the roughness, of which I have a few questions:

What sandpaper/other material would you use to smooth the coating?
Would there be risk of removing the coating entirely rather than just making it smooth?
Should I get a second 15 in case I screw up this mod on my first 15?
Do I ask too many inane questions?

I'm just looking to get the most enjoyment out of the 15, it's the most comfortable fixed knife I have ever held, I would like to have the cutting experience to be as comfortable and I think a smooth coating would do that the best way.

Thanks,

--Matthew

 

[keroscene]

yes, get another 15. leave one as is, customize the other. always a good plan!

as far as what you can use to smooth coating.....i'd use some medium grit sand paper, such as 400-600. personally, I'd just strip it off. Yes, you run the risk of rust, but if you maintain your blades it will never be a problem. if you're that concerned about it, just strip the blade and leave the coating on handle area. there are plenty of threads on this throughout the BKT forum.

 

[TravisH]

yes, get another 15. leave one as is, customize the other. always a good plan!

as far as what you can use to smooth coating.....i'd use some medium grit sand paper, such as 400-600. personally, I'd just strip it off. Yes, you run the risk of rust, but if you maintain your blades it will never be a problem. if you're that concerned about it, just strip the blade and leave the coating on handle area. there are plenty of threads on this throughout the BKT forum.

:thumbup:

Don't worry, you can't screw it up. Chemical stripping is the 'big eraser' that'll fix any mistake you could make.

 

[TBL]

Well since you were nice enough to ask....

You can in fact polish the black coating

I started using 600 paper and sanded until I was down to the bottom of the 'pits' of the coating. Then I went up to 1000 until they were all gone. Then I used 2000 until it shined like glass in the light.

one side

then the other

Keep in mind that if you use it for anything other then food, it will put marks in your polished coating. I tested mine out after on cutting up some bushes and it left some pretty good marks in it. I then went back over it with paper at 1000 and 2000 and its all shiny again.

I completely stripped my second 15 just for the experience. I've been using it now stripped for a few months. I've only taken the handle scales off once and sanded with 2k to get rid of the beginnings of rust where the ends of the scales are.

 

[JWheel]

Just a heads up that corners can be an issue. I thought I might polish the coating on my 15 between the handles with some 1000 grit sandpaper. In less than 5 seconds, I had removed the coating along the 90-degree edge.

 

[KingMC]

Thanks guys, I have another 15 on the way but I have a friend who might just buy it from me after I showed my first 15 to him, so I might hold off on the stripping until I get a second. It seems smarter to strip than to sand at the moment since I'm not looking for a food knife but a GP knife for EDC. I appreciate the advice, I do like the look of that polished blade, TBL :thumbup: