DLC Maxamet?

[Josh Crutchley]

Would anyone be interested in Maxamet with DLC? It seems I can't carry it without small black spots showing up after a few hours. Bar keepers friend takes off most of what's visible but it always shows back up. My PM2 hasn't spotted since I polished it so I may have to go that route with the Manix 2.

[Fly Fishing Rick]

I haven't had any trouble at all with my Sage 1 and am really enjoying the patina it's forming, strange that you're having trouble.

[weeping minora]

Not really interested in DLC-coated blades myself, however the "small black spots showing up" caught my attention. I have found in my carry of the Native 5, Maxamet forms this type of rusting no matter how I treat the blade. Black rust is supposedly caused from an environment with limited oxygen and low moisture.. I coat all of my stainable blades in mineral oil (and oftentimes, stainless blades, too) and Maxamet is the only steel so far in my carry that corrodes in this manner. It seems to cling longer, or more stubbornly, even after a BKF scrub than the typical brown or red rust on other low Cr steels, including brown or red rust on Maxamet itself, in my experience. It begs the idea that perhaps the, in my case, mineral oil coating is not allowing oxygen to reach the surface to mitigate this type of corrosion; which makes me wonder if coating the blade would do much good to prevent any corrosion under the DLC coating.

Then there's the cost.

FWIW, my Maxamet Sage has no such issues with this corrosiveness; which could either mean the stonewashing of the N5 is a potential suspect, and/or the heat-treatment.

[Fireman]

Off work. I carry usually in my knives in my waistband and the k390 endura regularly patinas and gets corrosion but it gets so much use that the corrosion does not last long. With these non stainless tool steels, I would love DLC especially if it is on a fairly polished steel as a means of preventing rust from getting a foothold. I know DLC is not impervious, but it helps. I have not yet carried my DLC M4 Shaman enough to speak anecdotally on it but it seems to keep rust at bay. I want to see DLC become more common with these high performance non stainless steels.

[WilliamMunny]

Off work. I carry usually in my knives in my waistband and the k390 endura regularly patinas and gets corrosion but it gets so much use that the corrosion does not last long. With these non stainless tool steels, I would love DLC especially if it is on a fairly polished steel as a means of preventing rust from getting a foothold. I know DLC is not impervious, but it helps. I have not yet carried my DLC M4 Shaman enough to speak anecdotally on it but it seems to keep rust at bay. I want to see DLC become more common with these high performance non stainless steels.

I don’t like DLC generally but a DLC 10V is on my buy list. I don’t want to always worry about rust on some of these tool steels.

[rycen]

DLC does not itself help prevent corrosion. It is porous.

[yablanowitz]

DLC does not itself help prevent corrosion. It is porous.

And it makes it almost impossible to get to the corrosion to clean it off. At least the black oxidation is close to the same color so it doesn't trigger your OCD while the pits are forming.

Stonewash finish is great for starting corrosion, by the way. On a microscopic level it is Colorado next to Kansas compared to a polished surface. Lots of places to trap moisture and other things that can lead to corrosion. Lots of extra surface area exposed to the elements.

[phaust]

DLC does not itself help prevent corrosion. It is porous.

True, but going off your "itself" qualifier, because it is porous, it holds oil well and thereby helps prevent corrosion.

[Rymanz]

DLC does not itself help prevent corrosion. It is porous.

True, but going off your "itself" qualifier, because it is porous, it holds oil well and thereby helps prevent corrosion.

That's assuming the individual continues to oil the blade. Which they might not if they think the DLC is what is inhibiting rust.

[Josh Crutchley]

DLC does not itself help prevent corrosion. It is porous.

What % of steel is left exposed with DLC coatings?