How do I remove the black coating on a knife?

[guajiro]

I guess the title pretty much sums it up, but here is a little more detail.

I bought a used Benchmade mini griptillian a few months back. The knife has a good edge and the handle is in great shape but the black coating is worn.

Is there any way to sand it off or maybe soak in an acid?

I much prefer the look of a bare metal blade and only purchased it because it was a great deal.

That and I have a Benchmade addiction.

 

[Valkman]

The only good way I can think of is to bead blast it. Sanding it is a great way to really cut yourself unless you take the edge off first.

 

[bkjeffrey]

bead blast.

 

[Boba Fett]

My grandfather would use a Dremel to do various work on his knives, but sadly I don't know if he ever used it for taking the finish off a knife.

I don't really know if that would work, so fellow THR knife aficionados please correct me.

 

[HiWayMan]

Tape the edge, then start sanding using 120, 180, 400, 800, 1000, 2000 grit sand paper. Upon removing some finishes on a couple different blades I've found the finish work on the metal underneath to be horrible. The coating covered up the sins of a poorly ground blade.

 

[7X57chilmau]

A wire wheel on a bench grinder may be a viable option too... I've not tried to remove such a coating, but it removes fire scale quite well... More shops are equipped with a wire wheel than a bead blaster...

J

 

[hso]

My first advice is to not try to remove the coating.

If you insist on doing this hand sanding or bead (bead, not grit) is about the only safe way to proceed. Use the 600 or finer grit sand paper and take your time (go slow, be patient).

If you don't have the patience for hand sanding or access to a bead blasting cabinet at least hang carpet behind the wire wheel/grinder so that when the knife is snatched out of your hand and thrown it hits something that will absorb the energy instead of being ricocheted back at you.

 

[guajiro]

I started sanding with 600 grit. The metal looks pretty good underneath. As I gradually progress up in grit will I get to a point where the blade becomes shiny?

 

[7X57chilmau]

As you progress thru the grits, you'll get a progressively shinier, tho still muddy, swirly look. I usually take it to 1500 grit by sandpaper, then use jeweler's rouge.

If you have access to a polishing centre (bench grinder with buffing wheel and compounds), you could probably stop at 800 or 1000 grit.

If you choose to use any rotating machinery, be sure to understand how to use it properly to minimize the risk to you. A buffing wheel is one of the most dangerous tools you can use, but it is the correct tool for polishing the blade. Dull or cover the edge while working the blade.

J

 

[rcmodel]

I have removed Benchmade Black-Ti with my buffing wheels using 240, then 600, then stainless grease stick compounds.

It is tough stuff to remove, and it makes one wonder why it scratches so darned easily?

The blade underneath is not going to have a high shine when you get done without a lot of work, because they already bead-blasted it to get the finish to stick in the first place.

rc

 

[CWL]

I don't think it'll work with teflon & other hi-tech materials, but I've been successful removing black coatings from a couple of knives with spray-on paint stripper from the hardware store.

Spray it on, let it crinkle and scrub it off with steel wool.

 

[Valkman]

Upon removing some finishes on a couple different blades I've found the finish work on the metal underneath to be horrible. The coating covered up the sins of a poorly ground blade.

Another reason not to remove the coating. there's no reason for the maker to make it pretty under there so they don't and it'll look fugly.

 

[hso]

Don,

I suspect the ugly under the coating has more to do with the person doing the removing than the manufacturer.

I've had my nose in the knife industry for over a decade and the manufacturers have told me that it isn't cost effective to pull the blades off the production line too soon since surface finishing is usually done in one step. It's not like they stop the line and pull knives for coating between the 100 and 600 grit finishes. The knives run through the automated production line and then are coated.

 

[Valkman]

Interesting!

 

[rcmodel]

I truly believe Birdsong was taking completely finished & polished Benchmade blades and bead-blasting them before applying the Black-Ti.

At least that is the impression I got when I removed the Black-Ti from mine.

rc

 

[KevinAbbeyTech]

Man, you don't know what your getting into.

It's probably epoxy.

Good luck!