maraging blade question

[gatorjosh]

alright, I love my maraging FIE foil, but the purple/blue maraging coating is really coming off after extensive use... I am wondering if there is a way to get the material they use and somehow put another coating on the blade?

or is that even how it works? possible?

[noodle]

the material they use is added in the process of making the blade.

if you want to replace it, you might just be able to find a rustproofer to use. it won't look nice and blue though

[Purple Fencer]

Keep in mind that the coloring serves a very specific purpose....to protect the blade against rust (even a maraging one) whilein the controilled storage environment of a warehouse after manufacture.

Once the blade gets sold and gets shoved into a bag with wet clothing, all bets are off...and by that time the coating's only real purpose is to look nice...which stops once you start using it.

[gatorjosh]

Well I take quite good care of the blade, in fact all of my gear, and I know the purpose it serves... I like the way it looks, but I would much rather be able to add another coating to help preserve it more if the cost was reasonable.

[remise]

I think I know what he means. I have a few foils that are maraging, but they have aged, and even though I've babied them, they've lost their coating. Now, because I live in a VERY humid state, I have to scrub my old maraging blades every week, or they will look like part of King Tut's exhibit.

[rsy]

You can buy a product at spoting goods shops or where ever you buy firearms in your state (in Florida that would be at the local Piggly Wiggly wouldn't it?) called a gun blueing kit. I don't know if it would do what you are looking for, but better you should try it out on your FIE blades rather than mine.

-r

[shango]

btw, what kinds of foils do you have gatorjosh?

[gatorjosh]

I have 1 prieur maraging and 2 backup JL#5;s from fencing post. Need to figure out how to get my zivkovsky grips on them. I probably have to get new blades though.

[Chafunkta]

Originally Posted by remise

I have to scrub my old maraging blades every week, or they will look like part of King Tut's exhibit.

You mean they become pure gold?!?!?! WOW! I want to live in that state!

[fencinman89]

Originally Posted by gatorjosh

I have 1 prieur maraging and 2 backup JL#5;s from fencing post. Need to figure out how to get my zivkovsky grips on them. I probably have to get new blades though.

Why cant you put your grips form Ziv on thses blades?
-Tre'

[gatorjosh]

Check the other thread I just created. I have a diagram of my problem in there.

[vraptor]

I'm pretty sure that the blue/yellow colors for a lot of blades these days come from the process of anodizing with niobium. The anodizing process coates the blade with niobium oxide and this can be varied to produce a wide variety of colors. Much of the mulitcolored jewelry at ren-faires and the like are made by this process. The coating inhibits rust formation as long as it lasts on the blade. However, heavy use can knock the coating off, as you've evidently found out.

Niobium andodizing requires a high voltage (ca. 120 V DC) anodizing machine and its possible to re-anodize a blade that has lost its coating. However, it's probably not worth the expense, assuming you could find an anodizing company that could re-coat something as oddly shaped as a foil blade.

If you could find a place that would do it, you could get them to put the full rainbow of colors that niobium can produce on your blade. That could be very cool.

[jm_f]

As someone suggested gun blueing kit would put color on your blade but you'd need an (or have access to one) electric furnace. Knifemakers like Chris Reeves uses a certain brand which I forgot (sorry) and if it holds up to the wear and tear a real knife undergoes, it would work in a fencing blade. But unless you have a friend who'se a knifemaker who has a big enough furnace for a fencing blade, all I've said would be pretty much useless.

[great bowyer]

i do not think i would put a $100+ blade in a heat source. i think that would change the temper of the steel and ruin the blade.

[SafetyLefty]

The most the rules allow you to do is use a solding gun or iron, you dont wanna go putting huge amounts of heat that could affect the temper of you blade. I'd say just try to keep them clean and remember that no blade lasts forever and ever.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by gatorjosh

alright, I love my maraging FIE foil, but the purple/blue maraging coating is really coming off after extensive use... I am wondering if there is a way to get the material they use and somehow put another coating on the blade?

or is that even how it works? possible?

The blue/gold/green coating on the blades isn't what makes it "maraging", and as far as i'm aware has no effect on durability. Despite this, there is a predictable difference in flexibility that i've found in different coloured blade.

StM produce non-maraging coloured blades.

[jm_f]

The gun coloring "bake on" products don't affect the temper, they're different from the color change you get from changing the temper of the steel. Relatively it won't get hot enough to affect the temper.