Stripping DLC off the blade

Art_vandeley · #1

Hey,

I have an extra DLC blade for my Para 2, and I want to strip off the coating for some variety. How would one do that to get the best result?

Sandpaper?

jackknifeh · #2

Have you tried stabbing car hoods? Cold Steel's black (not DLC) seems to come off pretty easy when doing that. lol

I've been impressed with how durable DLC is. For a nice job you may need to send it to the guy people here send blades to to get re-ground. Saber grind to FFG for instance. That should do it.

Jack

Leatherneck · #3

I was able to strip the coating off of a Benchmade with a scotchbrite pad and steel wool. That isn't going to happen with Spyderco's DLC at least not before your arm is in a sling! It is some tough stuff.
I'm sure there is a way though but I am assuming it won't look like a pristine satin blade at first.

jackknifeh · #4

Art_vandeley wrote:Hey,

I have an extra DLC blade for my Para 2, and I want to strip off the coating for some variety. How would one do that to get the best result?

Sandpaper?

Just curious, how did you end up with an extra blade?

Jack

Art_vandeley · #5

jackknifeh wrote:Just curious, how did you end up with an extra blade?

Jack

I bought a Para 2 from a guy on Youtube for 20$. Unfortunately the lock is shot to pieces, and it has extreme blade play no matter how hard I tighten it up. So I swapped the gray scales it came with my black on my edc Para, and keep the screws and other parts as spares for it. So now I have a spare blade with some chips and dings in it, and I`d like to see if I can strip the coating to see how it`ll look.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I tried with some sandpaper, but it`ll take some elbow grease to make it nice.

Stefan Roth · #6

I offer you a deal. Send me the black one, I send you a regular one.

Art_vandeley · #7

Stefan Roth wrote:I offer you a deal. Send me the black one, I send you a regular one.

You want a black & black one? How is the lock on yours? Any sticking?

jackknifeh · #8

Art_vandeley wrote:I bought a Para 2 from a guy on Youtube for 20$. Unfortunately the lock is shot to pieces, and it has extreme blade play no matter how hard I tighten it up. So I swapped the gray scales it came with my black on my edc Para, and keep the screws and other parts as spares for it. So now I have a spare blade with some chips and dings in it, and I`d like to see if I can strip the coating to see how it`ll look.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I tried with some sandpaper, but it`ll take some elbow grease to make it nice.

Sounds like a good deal. Do you have, or have access to a Dremel? I'd love to see how a Dremel with good sanding accessories does on DLC. If the Dremel wouldn't do a good job that would speak VERY highly of DLC. I imagine if you had a Dremel you would have tried it. Dumb question probably.

Has anyone reading this ever tried a Dremel or equivalent on DLC?

Jack

jackknifeh · #9

Stefan Roth wrote:I offer you a deal. Send me the black one, I send you a regular one.

Art_vandeley wrote:You want a black & black one? How is the lock on yours? Any sticking?

FYI: You both are pretty new here. There's a rule against buying or trading on the forum. Not sure why but that's Spyderco's policy. You might want to communicate some other way. Good luck on a trade.

Jack

Art_vandeley · #10

jackknifeh wrote:Sounds like a good deal. Do you have, or have access to a Dremel? I'd love to see how a Dremel with good sanding accessories does on DLC. If the Dremel wouldn't do a good job that would speak VERY highly of DLC. I imagine if you had a Dremel you would have tried it. Dumb question probably.

Has anyone reading this ever tried a Dremel or equivalent on DLC?

Jack

I have a cheap Dremel ripoff, that probably sets itself on fire the next time I turn it on. But I`m interested as well on how a dremel fairs against the DLC. From what I can observe the DLC is really really tough. Mayb if I can get a dremel at a nice price (one day) I`ll try it out on the spare blade.

Thanks Jack. Didn`t know about the no trade rule. I`m in the chat right now btw.

Also here is a pic of both the locks before I switched scales:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

jackknifeh · #11

Art_vandeley wrote:I have a cheap Dremel ripoff, that probably sets itself on fire the next time I turn it on. But I`m interested as well on how a dremel fairs against the DLC. From what I can observe the DLC is really really tough. Mayb if I can get a dremel at a nice price (one day) I`ll try it out on the spare blade.

Thanks Jack. Didn`t know about the no trade rule. I`m in the chat right now btw.

Also here is a pic of both the locks before I switched scales:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

For the price of a new Dremel 4000 and different accessories and attachments you can get one or two really nice Spyderco's. I got one a couple of years ago and now I wonder how I got along without it. I don't use it very often like one would for a hobby but for some things it makes the job 100 times easier. I have used it to make scales and wouldn't try it I don't think if I didn't have the Dremel (or something else). The Dremel is one of those things you can live without until after you have had one for a while. I can only think of one tool that is more important than a Dremel. What is that tool? I'm having a hard time remembering now. Oh yeah, a Spyderco knife. lol (still can't find smilies)

Jack

Slash · #12

Try soaking it in vinegar for about a week. Check it every couple days to see if you're making any progress.

jackknifeh · #13

Slash wrote:Try soaking it in vinegar for about a week. Check it every couple days to see if you're making any progress.

I have to ask. Why do you think vinegar would work? Were you joking but couldn't find a smilie (like me) to indicate a joke?

Jack

Brock O Lee · #14

Be careful with that Dremel - overheating the blade could affect your heat treat.

darkstar29 · #15

Brock O Lee wrote:Be careful with that Dremel - overheating the blade could affect your heat treat.

Very true.. I'd try the brass wire bit.. Or some stiffer wire. Then polish the heck outta it.

PARATOM · #16

just wondering...did you buy that one off they guy who did the torture test on the comp. lock?

i watched that video and it hurt to watch it, but it looks like the same knife, same jacked up comp. lock and everything, link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEH2erOh5Zw

Jay_Ev · #17

Yikes, it hurt to watch that video.

phillipsted · #18

I was thinking the same thing.

FYI. When Neptune disassembled the Para2 after beating the cr@p out of it - he voided the warranty. :eek:

TedP

Brock O Lee · #19

phillipsted wrote: FYI. When Neptune disassembled the Para2 after beating the cr@p out of it - he voided the warranty. :eek:

LOL! Thats the funniest thing I heard all day!

Art_vandeley · #20

PARATOM wrote:just wondering...did you buy that one off they guy who did the torture test on the comp. lock?

i watched that video and it hurt to watch it, but it looks like the same knife, same jacked up comp. lock and everything, link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEH2erOh5Zw

Yeah that`s the one :P

20 bucks was a good deal, and the grey scales are pretty fine.
He also cut S30V with CTS20CP. Don`t watch if you love your spydies.
http://youtu.be/buHwSusTHBE

I made a small vid once I got it tho. I sharpened out the dings the sawing made, and it`s fine now.

http://youtu.be/86sdAbL_ABg

Btw. I take apart all my Spydercos. Once done you can really appreciate the engineering that went into them. Especially the Para 2 is a joy to disassemble.