A video from the winner of the previous ESEE-5/Maxped contest:
Sep
05
Tag Archives: esee knives
Sep
05
laser strike project step two: removing the powder coat
Last night I attacked the Laser Strike with a can of Kleen Strip. In about five minutes the powder coat lifted off the blade and came off like a banana peel. Underneath the powder coat is some sort of grey primer or other coating that is not affected by the paint stripper.
Notice the ‘ESEE-LS’ engraving color versus the round logo color. The ‘ESEE-LS’ was not etched with the etching solution and is the same as it was from the factory. In time this will become very faint.
As you can see in the photo above the grey coating makes the blade look a little worn and dull. We want worn and shiny. Out came the sandpaper and scotch brite pads and I sanded the entire piece of steel.
You can see some of the color coming out of the engraving. I am guessing the dark color is gunk and/or oxidation from the etching process. Over time the engraved areas will likely darken again as a natural patina takes effect. You’ll also notice here the lines in the steel from the factory grinding.
After the sanding was done, I put the handles back on and set the knife to the stone and strop for a while. The steel needs some further preparation for use, mainly grinding a square edge on the spine of the knife so that it will reliable spark a ferrocerium rod. As it is right now the corners of the spine are too round to get a spark.
It is starting to look like a proper woods knife, it just needs some wood handles.
Sep
04
laser strike project step one: etching
Over the weekend I spent some time with my Laser Strike and some chemicals. The solution basically eats away at metal. By dropping it on the laser engraving on the blade of the knife, it deepens the etching further into the metal.
As it does this it also turns the engraving a darker grey/black color, so against the black powder coating of the blade it is hard to photograph. Below is the results of the same process, done on my ESEE-5.
Even against the green coating, it’s hard to see the depth of the etching.
The next step is to use paint stripper to remove the black coating from the Laser Strike. That will get done within the next few days!
Aug
21
esee-5 / maxped contest winner
This morning, random.org picked the winner of the ESEE-5/Maxped Kit Contest.
Out of all the entries, there was a total of 58 disqualified entries, either because of getting the trivia wrong or duplicate entries. Once these were removed from the spreadsheet I went to Random.org
The generator made it’s choice and we have a winner! The winner has been contacted and the package will be on it’s way as soon as a shipping address is received!
Aug
11
esee laser strike video and pictures
Aug
09
esee laser strike project
This morning I ordered an ESEE Laser Strike, and I have some plans for it. The total plan will probably take a few months to complete, as I need to acquire or find access to some tools I don’t have.
First up is using some etchant solution to deepen some of the laser engraving on the blade (mainly the skull and crossing knives). Once that is complete I am going to get some stripper and take all the powder coat off the blade, and give it a good sanding/polish.
At that point, depending on what it looks like, I may or may not give it a hot apple cider vinegar bath to darken the steel.
Then the hard (for me) part. New scales. I want to replace the micarta scales with wood. Most likely will be some nice desert ironwood, or something similar. I will also use some blaze orange G10 liners.
Then lastly some custom leather pants for it, and a matching ferro rod.
Jul
17
esee-5 contest
Enter to win a black ESEE-5 and kit here!
Jul
12
esee-5 initial thoughts
Jul
11
opening a package from esee
Jun
29
contests and stuff
ESEE Knives is having a contest on twitter that might result in someone winning an ESEE-5P. The stipulations are that they first hit 3000 followers before the July 5th deadline, and that you be following their twitter account and retweet the entry tweet.
If the goal is reached and a 5P is awarded, I will be throwing in a small accessory prize for the winner: a ferrocerium firesteel.
Also, remember that I am giving away a Buck Pak Lite, and if I receive 200 valid entries for that contest, I will add a firesteel to that giveaway as well.
And finally, stay tuned to this blog for future giveaways, got some neat loot coming up.