Stripping or Grinding?

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wvknifeguy

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Feb 11, 2015
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So I have plans to remove the coating from my BK7, but I only want to remove it from the blade. I know this can be done by taping & using a chemical stripper, but I had also read where a poster had good success using a bench grinder & brass brush. So what would be the recommendation to accomplish what I want?
 
wvknifeguy said:
So I have plans to remove the coating from my BK7, but I only want to remove it from the blade. I know this can be done by taping & using a chemical stripper, but I had also read where a poster had good success using a bench grinder & brass brush. So what would be the recommendation to accomplish what I want?
Click to expand...

chemical stripper.
Less toxic dust, less likely to wash out all the features of the blade, fewer tools required.
 
Yeah, stripper.

I use Jasco epoxy stripper. Its harsh, painful, and toxic.......but it works fast.

There are others out there that are less lethal, though.

Anytime I hear grinder and knives......I get a little queasy. I know, I know, lots of folks do good work with them......its just all that spinning and sharp metal.......ewwwww....

Thats why I likes belt grinders......

Moose
 
CITRUSTRIP - virtually no downside to stripping.

Depending on what else you plan on doing, power tools can mess it up just as fast and cause more work as they can help.
 
Chemical strip, that way you won't lose any metal from the blade either.
 
Sounds like stripping is the way to go. May be a little more difficult to accomplish what I had in mind, but we'll see. So what is THE very best stripper to use?
 
Jasco for sure. About $10 for the quart at your low depot. You can get the smaller one but price/oz is better and ya end up stripping other stuff and more knives when ya see how easy it is. I also used a large aluminum pan, can be cleaned or tossed, blue shop rags(auto store type) plastic scrapers (dollermartgeneral) and rubber gloves. Gloves don't really last tho, I just took them off and washed when it started to burn then put on another couple layers and went back at it. You'll be amazed how easy cheesy it is to strip it. Get steel wool too for touch ups. I like the strip because I really like the rugged? look of the grind marks and the color of the blade underneath if anything, I might make mine more worn looking rather that fancy it up. I don't want to "not want to use it" because I worked real hard to make it shine... Good luck man, and keep us posted!
 
Moosez45 said:
I use Jasco epoxy stripper. Its harsh, painful, and toxic.......but it works fast.

There are others out there that are less lethal, though.
Click to expand...
Yep, that's why we use CITRISTRIP in the woodshop.

Safe enough to use indoors with minimal ventilation.
 
If I'm going to use a stripper I'll probably wait until the weather warms a little. Seems I read here where someone had some difficulty stripping in colder temps.
 
Checked my can of Jasco, it recommends 65-85deg. Did mine a few weeks back here in NC and it was prob in mid to low 50's and had no probs. had a couple small stubborn spots and did a second soak. They were really small and the 2nd didn't really help, just scraped harder then steel wool after a wash and it was fine. Also I should say if you go with plastic scrapers wipe them off frequently(shop rags) to keep the edge from melting, heh. A 5 should be here in a few days and I plan on just putting a pan in a box and soak it out in the cold, just check it occasionally. It'll be a weekend day. You don't have to test it, just look and see it shrivel up off the blade and its ready. In fact, I'll just be your guinea pig and let ya know how it goes before you decide to do it. I'm shooting for this weekend. Just tracked it to Charlotte so it'll be in Durham hopefully tomorrow!
 
CM, that IS really nice! I'm going to look into that. Is it sold at the low depots? Does it take longer than Jasco and need multiple runs?
If i can do that in my bathroom with the fart fan on, I'm game. Snows shutting everything down around Raleigh today so my 5 is gonna be late...
 
Got some supplies today: can of Jasco paint & epoxy stripper, some gloves, 3M painters tape, fine 3M sanding sponge, & some 1500 grit wet/dry sand paper. Not looking for a mirror polish, but I would like to polish just a bit to give a contrast between the edge & the flats. Will the sponge & 1500 work for this?
 
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