[al g blenny]

I have a Buck 119 that I've had for about 15 years. I was thinking I would really like to spruce it up a bit. I have a little experience with duracote on firearms and I wanted to see if anyone else has done that on here. Any pics? I can't decide between dark grey, all black, or grey camo. I'll post some pics if and when I do this.

[JShirley]

I've blued one knife, and I've sprayed hard use outdoors knives with paint with spray enamel. Never used duracoat, though. Are you going to coat the edge, too?

[Rupestris]

Cool. I'd like to see that.

Be careful if you have to bake the finish. The handles on the 119 are Phenolic resin. The same resin used to make Micarta without the fabric or paper if I'm not mistaken.

Second, heating the blade to a temp over 200°F for a length of time could damage the heat treat depending on the steel. This could make for a soft edge that is prone to rolling or bending if it is heated enough to aneal the blade or further temper it. Tempering is usually done at higher temps than 200 but better safe than sorry.

If at all possible, let it air dry.

[bikerdoc]

No exp. with duracoat but I did take an old, neglected schrade back to a mirror shine with progressive grits of emory paper, up to 2k the polished with mothers

[TimboKhan]

I don't think Duracoat, or at least all Duracoat, requires curing in an oven.

I think it could look cool, but I have my doubts as to how sturdy it will ultimately prove to be. Whatever. Duracoat is relatively cheap, and if it turns out to be a bust, you haven't lost much. I guess maybe I would try it on a knife you haven't had for 19 years out of simply fear of ruining it, but past that, why not?

[Valkman]

I've used AlumaHyde II on knives and they turned out pretty well, but your problem is the edge. I'd spray the whole thing and sharpen it after, leaving that shiny edge to contrast the coating.

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Valkman/Black_Fighter/left_blackfighter1.jpg

[rcmodel]

If you plan on ever actually using the knife as a knife, I wouldn't bother spray-painting it!

I have had Birdsong Black-Ti come off in less then a 1/2 hour of cutting up old carpet. Looks way worse afterward then if it was just a polished blade that got scratched.

rc

[JShirley]

Well...we also spray-painted E-tools, too. I don't have a problem painting something more than once. I wouldn't do it with a "pretty" knife.

[al g blenny]

Thanks guys for the advice. Like I said I do have some experience with painting metal. I am going to bake it on but I will probably do it at 150 for a long time. I will keep an eye on the handle to make sure it doesn't have any problems. I know that I will need to sharpen it afterwards. From my experience the paint should be pretty durable. If it doesn't come off of my guns even where painted metal rubs on painted metal I'm sure it will be fine on a knife. There are lots of black blade knives out there. They must do something to make it stick.

rcmodel you probably didn't do the paint the right way if it came off that easily.

[Valkman]

You really want to bead or sandblast before coating.

[al g blenny]

Yeah I know. I will also need to degrease it. I think I will start this project today. I'll post pics if I get anything done.