What determines the durability of blade coating?

R

RedLynx

Joined
Aug 5, 2011
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Hi guys,

So I've just been wondering, are there certain blade coating processes that increase its durability?

For example fellow forumite Ulf Krogstad was showing off what little wear his Benchmade Adamas had received after felling a tree... honestly looks like the coating didn't take a scratch.

However some other knives, let's say a coated Utilitac II, have shown noticeable wear in the coating. I own some Utilitacs and but not a coated one and don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Utilitac II, so my comment on its coating is not meant as a reflection on the knife, just an observation.

Are certain coating processes better? Or is it more the materials being cut that do a number on the coating? Just curious. Thanks guys.
 
Yes some are better, in my experience the DLC coatings hold up well.

The Benchmade BK coating at least for me haven't held up that well. Seems more like a tough paint, not the same as the DLC from Kershaw or Spyderco, it's thicker and tends to catch and scratch when cutting tough material. Not a huge deal but I woudn't mind them switcing to DLC.
 
Redmasta said:
Yes some are better, in my experience the DLC coatings hold up well.

The Benchmade BK coating at least for me haven't held up that well. Seems more like a tough paint, not the same as the DLC from Kershaw or Spyderco, it's thicker and tends to catch and scratch when cutting tough material. Not a huge deal but I woudn't mind them switcing to DLC.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much. Do you know, are the processes used to apply the coatings different, or are the chemical make-ups of the coatings different? Or perhaps both?
 
In my limited experience I've had a couple of different coatings: powder coating,DLC,TiN, PVD and what seems like simple "paint" to me.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can correct/ expand this:

Powder coating, like ESEE for example uses, has a texture to it. When you baton it through a log, it wears of the "peaks" first. It gets smoother before it wears completely off.

DLC coating, I know that from motorcycle forks. It is very tough. Take a knife with DLC coating and cut through a coke can-the marks you see aren't the coating wearing off, its the soft aluminium of the can :eek:

TiN: Don't know much about this, only that it held up quite well on the one knife I have with this. It has a "shine" to it, and seems almost see-through to me, so I'd guess its very thin.

"Paint": I don't know what else to call this, I mean the coating used for example on the RAT folders, it wears off really quick. I've seen some cheaper Cold Steels with similar coating as well.

Best coating I've experienced so the PVD coating Lionsteel uses on the DPX Hest folder. I don't know what material it is, but it sure is damn tough !
 
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