Cleaning up DLC...it's easy!

[Evil D]

Like I said, pictures don't do it justice. Keep in mind I never used this knife NOR did I sweat. I was freezing my *** off for the 3-4 days I carried it. It still has a great factory edge.

That's crazy. I think I'd go full on beater mode with it and let it go. Otherwise you can probably sell it for a decent price to someone else who wants it for that reason. Realistically speaking even if the whole blade is covered in rust it's still a usable knife. I would take it apart and grease the heck out of the pivot area though, that's the last place I'd want rust.

[Pelagic]

Like I said, pictures don't do it justice. Keep in mind I never used this knife NOR did I sweat. I was freezing my *** off for the 3-4 days I carried it. It still has a great factory edge.

That's crazy. I think I'd go full on beater mode with it and let it go. Otherwise you can probably sell it for a decent price to someone else who wants it for that reason. Realistically speaking even if the whole blade is covered in rust it's still a usable knife. I would take it apart and grease the heck out of the pivot area though, that's the last place I'd want rust.

Oh I'll be keeping the knife, that's for certain. It has no resale value now. I haven't taken the knife outside since the rust came up. I think I'm going to clean the blade, ospho it (it contains phosphoric acid and transforms rust from iron oxide to iron phosphate), and grease it up good. I'm not a complainer, but it's certainly disappointing to find out about spyderco's DLC this way, on such an expensive knife that I've never had the chance to use (not to mention I lost my s30v Shaman). It must be a porous coating that's extremely thin.

[Evil D]

Like I said, pictures don't do it justice. Keep in mind I never used this knife NOR did I sweat. I was freezing my *** off for the 3-4 days I carried it. It still has a great factory edge.

That's crazy. I think I'd go full on beater mode with it and let it go. Otherwise you can probably sell it for a decent price to someone else who wants it for that reason. Realistically speaking even if the whole blade is covered in rust it's still a usable knife. I would take it apart and grease the heck out of the pivot area though, that's the last place I'd want rust.

Oh I'll be keeping the knife, that's for certain. It has no resale value now. I haven't taken the knife outside since the rust came up. I think I'm going to clean the blade, ospho it (it contains phosphoric acid and transforms rust from iron oxide to iron phosphate), and grease it up good. I'm not a complainer, but it's certainly disappointing to find out about spyderco's DLC this way, on such an expensive knife that I've never had the chance to use (not to mention I lost my s30v Shaman). It must be a porous coating that's extremely thin.

I still don't know where we stand on DLC and corrosion. It seems the debate has gone both ways. Vivi seems to swear by it and he's another one that can rust practically any steel.

[Doc Dan]

I wish someone had some bars of 1095, 52100, etc. they could get DLC coated and do a corrosion test. Some people say it prevents rust and others say their knives still rust with it. I’d like to know.

[Evil D]

I wish someone had some bars of 1095, 52100, etc. they could get DLC coated and do a corrosion test. Some people say it prevents rust and others say their knives still rust with it. I’d like to know.

I'd like to know if issues like this one are on the DLC itself or if the rust goes through to the steel.

[TkoK83Spy]

I'm very surprised at seeing that blade! I wonder the same thing as you David. Thanks for posting that Pelagic, I've never seen DLC looking like that before.

[JonLeBlanc]

Lookin good Rick! I would've though, "oh yeah those are definitely scratches" but you showed otherwise.

[prndltech]

I wish someone had some bars of 1095, 52100, etc. they could get DLC coated and do a corrosion test. Some people say it prevents rust and others say their knives still rust with it. I’d like to know.

I'd like to know if issues like this one are on the DLC itself or if the rust goes through to the steel.

The metal itself under it rusts. It’s more for reducing glare /low light reflection and has a low friction coefficient, good sliding properties for a knife blade to slide through material. It aids in wear reduction in terms of scratching as well...It’s a coating, while it is bonded to the metal, it’s much like paint on a piece of wood (probably a terrible example but roll with it...) It does seal it, while I think DLC can help aid in corrosion resistance, it doesn’t proof it, obviously. But it may help some? Ultimately, corrosion resistance isn’t the goal of it. DLC is slightly porous.

[Enactive]

My understanding is that DLC is at its most corrosion resistant when it is used as a medium to hold oil. The DLC itself doesn't add so much corrosion resistance, but it holds oil much better than bare steel, so adds corrosion resistance primarily as a means of holding oil on the surface.

So, oil your DLC if you want it to be as corrosion resistant as possible?

I have no DLC coated blades, but this is how I understand the material properties. I would be glad to hear from a more authoritative source.

[prndltech]

My understanding is that DLC is at its most corrosion resistant when it is used as a medium to hold oil. The DLC itself doesn't add so much corrosion resistance, but it holds oil much better than bare steel, so adds corrosion resistance primarily as a means of holding oil on the surface.

So, oil your DLC if you want it to be as corrosion resistant as possible?

I have no DLC coated blades, but this is how I understand the material properties. I would be glad to hear from a more authoritative source.

Pretty much spot on. my DLC like to “hold” it. Or “absorb”

[Sharp Guy]

My understanding is that DLC is at its most corrosion resistant when it is used as a medium to hold oil. The DLC itself doesn't add so much corrosion resistance, but it holds oil much better than bare steel, so adds corrosion resistance primarily as a means of holding oil on the surface.

So, oil your DLC if you want it to be as corrosion resistant as possible?

I have no DLC coated blades, but this is how I understand the material properties. I would be glad to hear from a more authoritative source.

Pretty much spot on. my DLC like to “hold” it. Or “absorb”

DLC definitely drinks up oil. So that theory makes sense to me

[JuPaul]

My understanding is that DLC is at its most corrosion resistant when it is used as a medium to hold oil. The DLC itself doesn't add so much corrosion resistance, but it holds oil much better than bare steel, so adds corrosion resistance primarily as a means of holding oil on the surface.

So, oil your DLC if you want it to be as corrosion resistant as possible?

I have no DLC coated blades, but this is how I understand the material properties. I would be glad to hear from a more authoritative source.

Pretty much spot on. my DLC like to “hold” it. Or “absorb”

DLC definitely drinks up oil. So that theory makes sense to me

This would definitely go a long way toward explaining why I have rarely ever had rust issues - I've always coated my dlc blades (and satin) with a thin coat of mineral oil. Thicker before storing. And the dlc definitely absorbs it.

[Evil D]

I wish someone had some bars of 1095, 52100, etc. they could get DLC coated and do a corrosion test. Some people say it prevents rust and others say their knives still rust with it. I’d like to know.

I'd like to know if issues like this one are on the DLC itself or if the rust goes through to the steel.

The metal itself under it rusts. It’s more for reducing glare /low light reflection and has a low friction coefficient, good sliding properties for a knife blade to slide through material. It aids in wear reduction in terms of scratching as well...It’s a coating, while it is bonded to the metal, it’s much like paint on a piece of wood (probably a terrible example but roll with it...) It does seal it, while I think DLC can help aid in corrosion resistance, it doesn’t proof it, obviously. But it may help some? Ultimately, corrosion resistance isn’t the goal of it. DLC is slightly porous.

It has been said that it binds to the metal, so on theory moisture shouldn't be able to get through. I wonder if cases like this one are due to a thinner than optimal coating.

[prndltech]

It has been said that it binds to the metal, so on theory moisture shouldn't be able to get through. I wonder if cases like this one are due to a thinner than optimal coating.

Electricity is used to “bind” it to the metal, sort of like anodizing, but it is still “microscopically” porous

[Pelagic]

I'm very surprised at seeing that blade! I wonder the same thing as you David. Thanks for posting that Pelagic, I've never seen DLC looking like that before.

No problem. And I am not exaggerating whatsoever. 3 or 4 days of carry in cold weather. Didn't cut anything.

[vivi]

I'm very surprised at seeing that blade! I wonder the same thing as you David. Thanks for posting that Pelagic, I've never seen DLC looking like that before.

No problem. And I am not exaggerating whatsoever. 3 or 4 days of carry in cold weather. Didn't cut anything.

Thanks for the photos. I agree that's a wild experience. Never seen anything like it. I treat my Manix XL DLC like a Salt. If I treat my Police 3 VG10 or a bare S30V knife the same way it'd look like your shaman. Carrying any uncoated knife IWB during the summer is begging for rust for me, so the fact the Manix can swing that no sweat tells me DLC is working for me in that model at least.

Tempted to ship the Manix to ya for test purposes!

[Pelagic]

I'm very surprised at seeing that blade! I wonder the same thing as you David. Thanks for posting that Pelagic, I've never seen DLC looking like that before.

No problem. And I am not exaggerating whatsoever. 3 or 4 days of carry in cold weather. Didn't cut anything.

Thanks for the photos. I agree that's a wild experience. Never seen anything like it. I treat my Manix XL DLC like a Salt. If I treat my Police 3 VG10 or a bare S30V knife the same way it'd look like your shaman. Carrying any uncoated knife IWB during the summer is begging for rust for me, so the fact the Manix can swing that no sweat tells me DLC is working for me in that model at least.

Tempted to ship the Manix to ya for test purposes!

I have one. Even some of the coating is worn off near the spine of the blade (purchased used). It saw approximately one week of the same carry (same environment, minimal use). No rust issues. But this isn't conclusive, because I can carry uncoated s30v for a week and not see any rust (it'll rust eventually, but it may take a while). Thinking about starting a thread on DLC and rust since I'm clogging up this one.

[vivi]

I'm very surprised at seeing that blade! I wonder the same thing as you David. Thanks for posting that Pelagic, I've never seen DLC looking like that before.

No problem. And I am not exaggerating whatsoever. 3 or 4 days of carry in cold weather. Didn't cut anything.

Thanks for the photos. I agree that's a wild experience. Never seen anything like it. I treat my Manix XL DLC like a Salt. If I treat my Police 3 VG10 or a bare S30V knife the same way it'd look like your shaman. Carrying any uncoated knife IWB during the summer is begging for rust for me, so the fact the Manix can swing that no sweat tells me DLC is working for me in that model at least.

Tempted to ship the Manix to ya for test purposes!

I have one. Even some of the coating is worn off near the spine of the blade (purchased used). It saw approximately one week of the same carry (same environment, minimal use). No rust issues. But this isn't conclusive, because I can carry uncoated s30v for a week and not see any rust (it'll rust eventually, but it may take a while). Thinking about starting a thread on DLC and rust since I'm clogging up this one.

Sounds like a good idea.

Back on topic, I've always used hot water, soap and a toothbrush. Never used oil of any sort on DLC.

[fkmtb07]

Unpopular opinion: I actually really like the look of scratches and wear on my blades, DLC or not. It's cool that you can clean them off for resale or just to pretty them up tho!

[Evil D]

I wonder if this could be caused by contamination or corrosion already forming on the blade before the DLC is applied? Do blades go through any kind of cleaning process before the coating? If a steel is super prone to rust it may form on a very small level before the coating and then rust through from underneath.


I could swear we had this discussion once and I think it was Michael Janich who said something about DLC bonding on a molecular level and the steel couldn't rust underneath. I know we've had this same kind of discussion many times.