Thoughts on DLC Coating...

P_Meticulous

P_Meticulous

Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
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What are your thoughts, impressions, and experiences with black DLC coatings on blades and other materials? How has it held up over time? How would you compare it to other non-DLC coatings on the market today? Pictures of actual DLC coated users would be much appreciated as well.

From what I've gathered (past threads, other boards, various online non-knife sites), user feedback is mostly positive. Just trying to gain more information on what to expect in terms of how it will perform as a blade coating.


Thanks!
 
I have a custom K390 steel flipper with just about every piece of metal on it coated with DLC. They did a fantastic job!! It has stayed on through heavy use. As good if not better than my production coated blades, mostly non-DLC coated. I am curious if there is any difference in holding up over time on high Cromium steels. I have been told there isn't a difference.
 
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I have a Manix 2 DLC and I've cut beer cans to make an ashtray when needed. What looks like scratches at first is really just aluminum on the blade and the coating is unscathed. I've sprayed WD-40 on the blade to clean it and it looks perfect.
 
My Spyderco Para2 dlc is one of my main users, and it barely has any wear at all! It has cut through hella cardboard, made a lot of carvings, batoned through some wood, I've even stabbed through a few soda cans. Like Slacker180 said, if you clean it with some wd-40, it will likely be left spotless. Definitely one of my favorite coatings..
 
I do not see the point of it, other than making a knife black. I purchased a DLC Spyder knife years back, thinking it would be a good wet weather/environment option, only to learn that DLC has no corrosion resistance properties. Sold the knife and got something with a useful coating instead.

Here is a link from this site regarding corrosion resistance properties of DLC. The cursory reading I did outside of this site was enlightening as to its application in high wear tooling but I cannot imagine a scenario where the sides of my knife blade would benefit from such a material.
 
I'll take a mirror polished DLC coating on any knife, any day. It makes a mirror nearly unscratchable under normal use.

Unfortunately, I think only Rockstead offers such a thing:(

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Great pic BB!! That coating reminds me of a nice bluing job on a rifle.
Gorgeous knife!
Joe
 
Love DLC coating... It has shrugged off some serious use(abuse! :eek::thumbup:) on my old 0300 & 0100... Would like to get a Rockstead someday as the mirror DLC is incredible looking; thanks Blues Bender... ;):thumbup:

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Slacker180 said:
I have a Manix 2 DLC and I've cut beer cans to make an ashtray when needed. What looks like scratches at first is really just aluminum on the blade and the coating is unscathed. I've sprayed WD-40 on the blade to clean it and it looks perfect.
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baliflipper02 said:
My Spyderco Para2 dlc is one of my main users, and it barely has any wear at all! It has cut through hella cardboard, made a lot of carvings, batoned through some wood, I've even stabbed through a few soda cans. Like Slacker180 said, if you clean it with some wd-40, it will likely be left spotless. Definitely one of my favorite coatings..
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Czechmate said:
Love DLC coating... It has shrugged off some serious use(abuse! :eek::thumbup:) on my old 0300 & 0100... Would like to get a Rockstead someday as the mirror DLC is incredible looking; thanks Blues Bender... ;):thumbup:

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Awesome! Thanks for reaffirming what I've been reading in past threads. It will be nice to have a knife with a black coating that can actually resist decent wear.. By decent wear, I mean not scuffing off when cutting cardboard :rolleyes:. I've been so turned off from buying coated blades these past few years after my experiences with BM's proprietary BK and cerakoted blades. I guess it's a tradeoff, just like choosing a knife steel that fits your needs. I'd prefer a more wear resistant coating over one that is more corrosion resistant, simply because I've never had a problem with rust on my blades.
 
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I avoid coated blades due to preference but if it has to be coated, I hope for DLC. Very durable in my experience.
 
I bought a Microtech Socom Elite auto with a coated blade off the Exchange. There were quite a few 'scratches' in the coating. I sprayed Ballistol on it, let it sit for a couple hours and then worked it in with an old toothbrush.
The knife was built in 2001. Can't see those 'scratches' any more!!
Joe
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palonej said:
I bought a Microtech Socom Elite auto with a coated blade off the Exchange. There were quite a few 'scratches' in the coating. I sprayed Ballistol on it, let it sit for a couple hours and then worked it in with an old toothbrush.
The knife was built in 2001. Can't see those 'scratches' any more!!
Joe
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^ You did an excellent job on that blade, Joe! :thumbup:
 
Sup big John!!! May I thank you again for parting with this beauty bro!!! I'm loving it!!
Joe


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palonej said:
I bought a Microtech Socom Elite auto with a coated blade off the Exchange. There were quite a few 'scratches' in the coating. I sprayed Ballistol on it, let it sit for a couple hours and then worked it in with an old toothbrush.
The knife was built in 2001. Can't see those 'scratches' any more!!
Joe
055f0a168291fd340b8dd52e034ee27a.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing Joe, awesome score :thumbup:

Good reports from different brands is promising, I'm loving the fact that you can work transfer material off without adverse effects. Also pretty cool that in most cases, the DLC has a higher hardness than the steel itself.
 
Love 'em. My BassPro 110 in CPM154 has some sort of gray coating, titanium aluminum nitride (or something), very slick. I think it's used on artificial hip components. Shows hardly a scratch after some hard use, and doesn't gunk up when cutting sticky stuff. Just as good, or maybe even better is the black DLC coating on my CS American Lawman and Recon 1. I like the look even better, and it just doesn't seem to scratch.
 
jazub said:
I do not see the point of it, other than making a knife black. I purchased a DLC Spyder knife years back, thinking it would be a good wet weather/environment option, only to learn that DLC has no corrosion resistance properties. Sold the knife and got something with a useful coating instead.

Here is a link from this site regarding corrosion resistance properties of DLC. The cursory reading I did outside of this site was enlightening as to its application in high wear tooling but I cannot imagine a scenario where the sides of my knife blade would benefit from such a material.
Click to expand...

DLC has no corrosion resistance properties ? Who told you that ?? I have a bike with DLC coated front fork tube ...quess what ? No rust after several years ? I do not have a knife with DLC but I have HSS knive with TiN coating ....no way that will ever rust ...
 
Natlek said:
DLC has no corrosion resistance properties ? Who told you that ?? I have a bike with DLC coated front fork tube ...quess what ? No rust after several years ? I do not have a knife with DLC but I have HSS knive with TiN coating ....no way that will ever rust ...
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Vapor deposition coatings do not inhibit rust, they are add to increase wear resistance on industrial applications. Similar to a masonry drill bit with a carbide tip.
 
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