DLC Coating

wmhammond

Well-Known Member
Morning. Saw a knife this morning on Facebook from either Europe or South America that the blade has been coated with Diamond Like Coating (DLC) - it looked pretty good. Does anyone have any experience with this process. Things like, Who does it, How much does it cost, does it improve the useability of the blade, etc. Appreciate any info. Thanks,

Wallace
 
Morning. Saw a knife this morning on Facebook from either Europe or South America that the blade has been coated with Diamond Like Coating (DLC) - it looked pretty good. Does anyone have any experience with this process. Things like, Who does it, How much does it cost, does it improve the useability of the blade, etc. Appreciate any info. Thanks,

Wallace

Hey Wallace, I don't have any experience but have seen Gough knives sell their blades with DLC coatings. Here is a video he made about coatings...it's not much but may answer some of your questions..

-Matt
 
I use KG Gun Kote because I like the protection it gives carbon steel. It resists finger prints, fat does not effectively stick to it, and the areas coated will not rust. I do not use it on every knife I make but most get it. As far as cost I think I have $35 ish in the bottle of satin clear I use and $12 in the harbor freight airbrush (a must) I apply it with. The shelf life will expire before I use up the bottle as it takes very little to coat a knife. There is a learning curve and surface prep is everything. It is also heat cured so you need to use an oven but I have noticed no noxious ordor in the process. I use a toaster oven to cure mine in the shop. Past that Ed is the expert and has been using it far longer than I.
 
Hey Wallace, I don't have any experience but have seen Gough knives sell their blades with DLC coatings. Here is a video he made about coatings...it's not much but may answer some of your questions..

-Matt
good video.
 
Years ago when I started making knives I watched Aaron’s videos on beveling with files and a guide. He is committed to quality.
 
I use KG Gun Kote because I like the protection it gives carbon steel. It resists finger prints, fat does not effectively stick to it, and the areas coated will not rust. I do not use it on every knife I make but most get it. As far as cost I think I have $35 ish in the bottle of satin clear I use and $12 in the harbor freight airbrush (a must) I apply it with. The shelf life will expire before I use up the bottle as it takes very little to coat a knife. There is a learning curve and surface prep is everything. It is also heat cured so you need to use an oven but I have noticed no noxious ordor in the process. I use a toaster oven to cure mine in the shop. Past that Ed is the expert and has been using it far longer than I.

I really want to try some of that, do you have to dand blast it before airbrushing like Cerakote?
 
No but I am sure it would help. I do not blast before coating. I have my OCD process of cleaning first with rubbing alcohol, second with acetone and third I fog it with Gun Kote’s degreaser and let if return to room temp on its own. I wipe the blade down during the first two steps but the third is strictly a fog. Of course wear gloves because even a finger print will cause adhesion issues. Look back in older posts there is one where Ed explains his process to me.
 
No but I am sure it would help. I do not blast before coating. I have my OCD process of cleaning first with rubbing alcohol, second with acetone and third I fog it with Gun Kote’s degreaser and let if return to room temp on its own. I wipe the blade down during the first two steps but the third is strictly a fog. Of course wear gloves because even a finger print will cause adhesion issues. Look back in older posts there is one where Ed explains his process to me.
Thanks for the info, which gunkote are you using?
 
Morning. Saw a knife this morning on Facebook from either Europe or South America that the blade has been coated with Diamond Like Coating (DLC) - it looked pretty good. Does anyone have any experience with this process. Things like, Who does it, How much does it cost, does it improve the useability of the blade, etc. Appreciate any info. Thanks,

Wallace

I looked into DLC but it is extremely expensive. A lot of the high volume heat treating companies will do it, companies who do aviation and oil company heat treating would be good places to contact.
 
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