Stripping off coatings

[Bushman5]

Step 1:
buy knife. Ignore the GF's complaining about how many knives you already own or how much much it costs. Just buy the knife. In this case its a Becker/Kabar BK2

Step 2:
crack open a beer! mmm beer. Remove the scales and set aside.

Step 3:
boy that beer was good! better open another before starting this step. Ignore the GF freaking out about beer at 1400 hours and the fact that you are spraying toxic paint stripper in the bathroom sink. Spray the knife blade completely. Let it soak for 30 minutes - besides, that will give you time to surf Bladeforums and drink more beer!

Step 4:
using a scraper, brass brush etc, remove the bubbled up coating. A final rub down with steel wool and a washing in hot water and dishsoap completes the process. By now the GF has stormed out of the house in a huff. So dry the knife on the good bathroom towels and oil with gun oil. Help yourself to another beer!

Step 5:
re-assemble the scales and you good to go! (Knife is actually not this brown underneath). It will develop a very nice gun metal greyish patina after several hard uses in the woods

 

[udtjim]

I would leave the coating on, dump the beer down the sink and concentrate on the GF.

 

[TThom]

I would leave the coating on, dump the beer down the sink and concentrate on the GF.

Nonsense! Cool thread though definitely.

 

[Ebbtide]

That's only half the job!
Now get out there and sand that beastie starting with 220 and work your way up to at least 800, hitting all the stops in between.


Like this

@1500 grit

Kidding aside, if you a want to hand sand the blade, here's a good tutorial on Bruce Evans' website:
http://beknivessite2.homestead.com/guard.html

 

[Bushman5]

nope. my knives see everything from slabs of meat to ripping thru pitch soaked stumps and cutting branches and logs that have bark that stains.......all that work making it shiny would be a waste of time. besides, i like the rough bare metal finish,

looks nice though!

 

[rmfnla]

I would leave the coating on, dump the beer down the sink and concentrate on the GF.

Yeah, like reminding her that nagging about things like a new knife is a perfect way to ensure tht she never progresses past the GF stage!

 

[Reeek]

Nice thread. I thought about doing that to my CRKT Hissatsu Folder. I think all the coating is is some sort of teflon paint with AUS8 underneath.

The outcome on your knife was very nice.

 

[Ebbtide]

nope. my knives see everything from slabs of meat to ripping thru pitch soaked stumps and cutting branches and logs that have bark that stains.......all that work making it shiny would be a waste of time. besides, i like the rough bare metal finish,

looks nice though!

To each his own

The big plus for the finished blade is that there are no nooks & crannies to collect moisture/condensation, fat or sap.
Makes it much easier to clean too. Especially where food is concerned.
One doesn't have to go to 1500 grit...800 followed by a brown scotchbrite pad will do a nice satin finish.

But hey, if you're happy, I'm happy