How durable is DLC?

S

Sharperthansticks

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Sep 19, 2017
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I'm sometimes tempted to buy a DLC-coated blade, but I almost never do, because I'm very finicky about how my knives look (since I'm a perfectionist), and I'm afraid that the DLC will look like !@#$ as time goes on. For whatever reason, I'm much less concerned about the look of a satin finish that's slightly scratched -- maybe because I know that I can tumble out the scratches in my rock tumbler. (I rehabbed a scratched Norseman blade using this method.) How durable is DLC? I realize it's hard to quanitfy an answer, but I'm still interested in hearing from people who have put their DLC blades through much use. If you have pictures corresponding to that use, that's even better.
 
SW-EDC said:
I prefer DLC blades. After some use, it adds character to the knife.
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The point of my post, though, is that I don't want "character"; if wear is character, I want something really effing boring -- a complete yawner at the party. You're saying that DLC wears fairly readily?
 
In my opinion it does tend to look like garbage after a bit of use, but that's usually because of material wearing off and adhering to the DLC. The actual coating itself holds up very well in my limited experience with it. You can scratch it with sharpening stones but otherwise you likely won't wear it down through normal use.
 
Not as durable as hard chrome (so they say) but better with regard to rust-proofing carbon steel.
 
I don't like it (any coating) because it shows wear, and I don't need coatings because I prefer to maintain a blade with oiling or other methods to prevent or remove corrosion so a coating is unnecessary. If you maintain your blades and you don't like to worn look, don't set yourself up for disappointment.
 
If material adheres to the DLC, can you remove that material by vigorously washing the blade, or is the adhered material stuck on there for good, unless you scrape it off?
 
Sharperthansticks said:
The point of my post, though, is that I don't want "character"; if wear is character, I want something really effing boring -- a complete yawner at the party. You're saying that DLC wears fairly readily?
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Then avoid it. Cold Steel has the best DLC IMHO.
On their newer versions of the Recon 1 for example.
 
I wonder how durable ZTs DLC is on the 300s/350s.It seem like some pretty tough stuff.As for CS,I like the shiny black finish besides this I have noticed wear on flat corners and other areas
 
Love it. Very durable. Shows some wear and let’s you know it’s working. Adds character too.
8vry.jpg
 
Sharperthansticks said:
I'm sometimes tempted to buy a DLC-coated blade, but I almost never do, because I'm very finicky about how my knives look (since I'm a perfectionist), and I'm afraid that the DLC will look like !@#$ as time goes on. For whatever reason, I'm much less concerned about the look of a satin finish that's slightly scratched -- maybe because I know that I can tumble out the scratches in my rock tumbler. (I rehabbed a scratched Norseman blade using this method.) How durable is DLC? I realize it's hard to quanitfy an answer, but I'm still interested in hearing from people who have put their DLC blades through much use. If you have pictures corresponding to that use, that's even better.
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;) You seem a slight bit OCD / perfectionist about blade steel appearance ? If so then I'd recommend against DLC or any other coating .

I recommend you stay with bare metal that you can polish to your liking . :):thumbsup:

You will not have a perfectly uniform appearance on DLC or other coatings , with any use . I like it , but you can't be too fussy about it ! :rolleyes:

Here's a practically brand new DLC that's only cut some cardboard :

 
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I prefer uncoated blades. But that DLC is some durable stuff.

The DLC Para2 at bottom has seen a fair bit of use. This pic is from a while back, below it is a pic I just took. Sorry for poor lighting/quality, just trying to show the DLC is still pretty much unmarked.

QP8jmjo.jpg


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But it will scratch if you try hard enough.
Here's this from a few years back, for the pics:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/dlc-damage.1309765/
 
I love Spyderco's DLC and own several.

Like others said, most "marks" you see are material rubbing off on the coating which can be removed. I've also seen some tips/tricks on cleaning and maintaining the DLC, I want to say someone used rust eraser.
 
PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coatings are quite thin. Therefore they tend to look like the surface they were applied to. A shiny surface will look shiny after coating and will tend to accumulate less debris than a coat applied over a stone washed surface. Smoother is better if you want to avoid the rustic look.
TDLC/DLC (Tungsten Diamond Like Carbon) is basically Tungsten Carbide at 72 HRC (Hardness Rockwell C scale). This is quite a bit harder than a typical blade. TiN (Titanium Nitride) is a Gold colored coating sometimes seen on drills and tool bits and has an HRC of 82. Zirconium Nitride (ZrN) is Champagne colored and has an HRC of 85. TiAlN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride) is charcoal colored and has an HRC of 92.
So if you want the most scratch resistant coating, go with TiAlN
 
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