The Coating

[Uncle Screwtape]

I am not emamored by the appearance of the coating on some of my Busse Combat Knives; on some, like the a Steel Heart E, the coating is great...kinda sexy. On others, well, IHO, the black just subdues an otherwize striking blade shape.( Like the custom variants)

Recently, a thread addressed the Issue of removing the coating; some by scraping, then sanding, others suggested a wire wheel. It is my understanding that the Busse Custom Shop uses a bead blaster to remove the coating.

I have access to a glass bead blaster, and thought I might capitalize on it. What I didn't consider is the fact that Jerry, et al, must have a blaster powered by a locomotive engine. After about 1 1/2 hours, I was able to remove an area roughly 1.5"x7" long. The gunsmiths and tool/die makers to whom the blaster belongs, where amazed at how difficult it was to remove the coating.

There has been numerous discussions as to the true toughness of this coating...Well brethren, I can testify "IT IS TOUGH!" I doubt that you can "wear" off a significant amount under normal use.

Oh yeah, just for kicks, we tried the wire wheel...no contest, the bead blast is faster. The gentlemen that have used chisels and sandpaper to achieve this, Man you guys are better men than me.

Just though you'd like to know

 

[Hoodoo]

I'm impressed and amazed. I've done a LOT of bead blasting over the years and either you have a wimpy beadblaster or that is a heckuva strong coating.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM

 

Yeah... sandpaper was NOOOOOOOOOOO fun! Took about 10 hours total to get it all off. Word to the wise though. It's better to remove it in other ways. Sandpaper rough enough to remove the coating also scratches up the INFI. And those scratches can still be seen in the steel once it is bead blasted. So if you can find another way to remove it you'd do better that way. As far as the look of the knife goes that is.

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First impressions are usually the scale by which we are judged unless we make our second with something sharp and pointy.
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