Thoughts on Expanding Black Oxide Offerings

Discussion in 'ESEE® Knives and Gear' started by shaneadams90, Feb 15, 2018.

  1. TuffPossumGear

    TuffPossumGear Member

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    Nope, I am on the same page.
     
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  2. JHansenAK47

    JHansenAK47 Member

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    I don't like the heavy epoxy powder coating. It always scrapes off and seems to drag more while cutting some material types. The black oxide vs epoxy powder coating doesn't really apply to me though as I prefer stainless which doesn't need coatings to retard rust. I also don't have a need to reduce reflections of my gear in a tactical sense.

    It does make sense on a 1095 knife and would be preferable to epoxy powder coating IMO. I think a nitride coating would be better than black oxide. Black oxide is usually Fe3O4 which is magnetite. As a mineral magnetite is typically not found in surface rocks under low temperature surface oxidizing conditions because it readily changes to hematite (red rust) or the hydrous mineraloid limonite (yellow rust) with a little activation energy. Magnetite is technically semi-stable because it requires energy to undergo the oxidation process. Interestingly you can convert hematite to magnetite by adding heat, but it will revert back to hematite as it cools unless it is quenched or cooled in an anoxic environment.

    http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/98393-rust-testing-results-black-oxide-vs-black-nitride/

    Nitride for the win. Seriously though black oxide works pretty good.
     
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  3. StrawBunyan

    StrawBunyan Member

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    Wow. Whippin out the chemistry. Good post.
     
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  4. Se7eN

    Se7eN Member

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    The logo on the knife was my favourite

    0D48EEAF-7366-4161-91C6-7393E723F60C.jpeg
     
  5. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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  6. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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  7. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    you know how hard it is for me to refrain from making jokes about your love of black stuff....your killing me man! :D
     
  8. Se7eN

    Se7eN Member

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    :D
     
  9. StrawBunyan

    StrawBunyan Member

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    Is it removable? If notnit may upset the "forced patina" crowd. I like that the powder coat strips away with use.... Shows its a tool and not a decoration.
     
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  10. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    I appreciate it.

    If the coating cant hurt the heat treat and reduce drag id add it to my barn. Especially in a four.
     
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  11. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Behave yourself Bushy, besides you have to BLACK house Panthers so don't tell me you don't like BLACK :p
    Is that nitride coating applied before or after the laser etched logo?
     
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  12. Jacob Peterson

    Jacob Peterson Member

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    I think I would prefer the black nitride over the black oxide finish, not in looks, but in performance. Nitride is AWESOME. But I prefer both, or no coating, over powder coat.
    And yet my heart still yearns for a hi viz esee. Someday... someday
     
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  13. Hammer

    Hammer Member

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    I hear what you're saying, but all I can think is..... :D

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2019
  14. JHansenAK47

    JHansenAK47 Member

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    There are multiple types of nitride coatings. I am pretty sure it does affect the heat treat and hasn't been widely adopted because of that. It may be possible to integrate a nitride coating into a temper cycle, but that is pure speculation on my part.
     
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  15. Stray Round

    Stray Round Member

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    I must be the only one that likes the epoxy coating and the tumble finish.

    The sand colored epoxy finish and to a lesser degree the tumble finish allow me to see to use the blade in much lower light conditions than the BO or dark coating.

    The epoxy is very durable for me as I'm not much on batoning and it's easy to maintain and keeps the blade rust free.
     
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  16. Black5

    Black5 Member

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    Two schools of thought from my house:

    I like 'em stripped, with patina, and smooth.

    The wife thinks the coating is a godsend because I only bitch about the edge being rusted on hers as opposed to the whole danged blade.
     
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  17. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    Why not a choice of all 5 ?

    - nitride
    - black oxide
    - uncoated
    - powder coated
    - cerakote
     
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  18. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Too many sku#'s to keep up with.
    I personally don't have a problem with the original powder coat finish when it comes to ESEE's warranty, you can etch, strip, patina to your liking and it's still covered by the warranty.
     
  19. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    Ya but the then the collectors will have to buy one of each........more moola for Esee :D
     
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  20. Josh

    Josh Member

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    Can you do a black oxide in the venom green please? maybe call it green toxide ***

    Really though I like BO better than a coating. I have a PR4 and I like it. I have a few knives with coated blades. It just falls off after awhile

    *** The above is joke but I like colorful gear. It’s easier to find.
     

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