TSLab Blackedge vs. Powertek BlackEdge?

[iceman8310 109]

Is there a big difference between the two brands or more or less the same?

http://www.powerteksport.com/en/hockey?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=73&category_id=48

vs.

http://www.blackedgerunner.com/en/

Looks like different graphics on the blades

[jimmy 194]

Powertech has the patent for DLC coated hockey blades. Never heard of TSLab. Perhaps a knockoff like Blademaster did to the Blackstone's FBV. DLC (diamond like Coatings) can be put on many things. If TSlab has copied Powertech with runners, then they would be the same.

[hockeymass 11]

I'm pretty sure you're talking about the same product. TSLab is a Canadian surface engineering consulting company. As far as I can tell, they worked with Powertek to design the Blackedge runner, which Powertek markets and sells.

[malcb33 100]

I've been testing the new Step Titanium DLC steel, which is supposed to be released in September 2012 (along with their carbon coated DLC). After using both the Step coated steel and the Blackedge, I found the Step to be a better product.

[iceman8310 109]

http://www.powerteksport.com/en/hockey?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=73&category_id=48

vs.

http://www.blackedgerunner.com/en/

Looks like different graphics on the blades

[hockeymass 11]

Look at the addresses and phone numbers on the two websites. They're the same,

[jimmy 194]

I've been testing the new Step Titanium DLC steel, which is supposed to be released in September 2012 (along with their carbon coated DLC). After using both the Step coated steel and the Blackedge, I found the Step to be a better product.

Step was suspose to release the TI-SS a year ago as well. I'm waiting with baited breath for that. Nevertheless, Step has a titanium runner coated with DLC? WTF? Kind of defeats the purpose of having titanium. Titanium is better than DLC, why cover it. On the other hand, DLC carbon coated over stainless make sense.

[IPv6Freely 2100]

do these take special equipment to sharpen? I was thinking about getting a set, but if any old LHS cant sharpen them, then theres no point.

[jimmy 194]

do these take special equipment to sharpen? I was thinking about getting a set, but if any old LHS cant sharpen them, then theres no point.

A DLC coated stainless runner can be sharpened by anyone. If it's titanium, then that would require special stones.

[malcb33 100]

No special stones required to sharpen the titanium coated steel, I'll dig back through my emails for the exact specs but the titanium is bonded to the steel the same way the carbon is on blackedge. They also have carbon bonded steel coming too. I have a pair of the ti-ss (fusion) steel which I'm hoping to use this week. I'll post some picture when I get home tonight.

The new coated step steel was shown at the equipment managers conference and is supposed to be released for the coming season. The ti-as I'm not sure about.

[mojo122 541]

Interested into the 'titanium bonding process' and why that might be better than the carbon coated blades? Is Step now just flooding the market with product since they are fairly late to the party?

[jimmy 194]

If the titanium alloy is mixed with DLC it might be tougher than just titanium alone. But if titanium alone is sharpened with an incorrect stone, it can lead to chipping. I look forward to see what Step offers, although I can't see them copying the Blackedge patent without some legal issues.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

jimmy - think back to the old titanium coated blades from the late 80s...that's what it most likely is.

Titanium coat on stainless steel blades.

[malcb33 100]

Sorry I posted some info on the Titanium coated steel in the Step thread, so I didn't clog up this one. http://www.modsquadh...l/page__st__200

[jimmy 194]

jimmy - think back to the old titanium coated blades from the late 80s...that's what it most likely is.

Titanium coat on stainless steel blades.

jimmy - think back to the old titanium coated blades from the late 80s...that's what it most likely is.

Titanium coat on stainless steel blades.

Yea that's what they looked like but I thought he said they had the Diamond hardness (with Titanium instead of carbon). Now that would be cool.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

Yea that's what they looked like but I thought he said they had the Diamond hardness (with Titanium instead of carbon). Now that would be cool.

You can claim diamond like hardness without utilizing carbon or diamond-like materials.

You will find many titanium ceramics that are being utilized to attain diamond like hardness.

TiN (titanium nitride) is pretty common, you can find it on plated drill bits. There's a host of other composite materials, with a host of other metals.... some of them have different colors and appearances. They have also been called nano composites, since the composite structure is at the atomic level, and not large granular pieces.... which is what I suspect the ever mysterious nanoglide was.

Sorry I posted some info on the Titanium coated steel in the Step thread, so I didn't clog up this one. http://www.modsquadh...l/page__st__200

His post is good.

I wanted to do a ti-nitride coating on already sharpened steel, but I don't have access to a sputtering system anymore. I might be able to make some calls though :ninja:

jimmy - think back to the old titanium coated blades from the late 80s...that's what it most likely is.

Titanium coat on stainless steel blades.

Jr... I'd be hesitant to call it a titanium coating... its a ceramic coating, that is based on titanium material... but it is very different from say..... putting a gold plating on something, or chrome bumpers. (Dr nano got yo back)

[hunterphfr 12]

jimmy - think back to the old titanium coated blades from the late 80s...that's what it most likely is.

Titanium coat on stainless steel blades.

Damn, you beat me to it. I had an old pair of CCM OHL Tacks that had the "Titanium Blades" back in the mid 80s. Like you said normal blade with a titanium coating. Coating was gold in color. I think they're still kicking around somewhere in the attic or garage.

[jimmy 194]

I get my pure titanium blades from a NASA vendor and they are emphatic about using the proper stone to sharpen them. Titaniun if overheated by sharpening with wrong stone is very prone to chiping and rapid loss of edges. I'll have to ask about the titanium coatings, e.g, like drill bits. If they are enhanced with some other additive, then perhaps they can be sharpened normally without adverse effect. From with my experiece with gun companies that use both DLC and ceramic, the DLC beats ceramic hands down in regards to toughness. I can't wait to test all these new technologies. The Black Edges are awesome. My manager (wife) doesn't want me to sell them because we lose so much sharpening revinue. Me, I'm a proponent of whatever is better for the customer and I love new technolgy, so anxious to get nands on the new offerings from STEP.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

I get my pure titanium blades from a NASA vendor and they are emphatic about using the proper stone to sharpen them. Titaniun if overheated by sharpening with wrong stone is very prone to chiping and rapid loss of edges. I'll have to ask about the titanium coatings, e.g, like drill bits. If they are enhanced with some other additive, then perhaps they can be sharpened normally without adverse effect. From with my experiece with gun companies that use both DLC and ceramic, the DLC beats ceramic hands down in regards to toughness. I can't wait to test all these new technologies. The Black Edges are awesome. My manager (wife) doesn't want me to sell them because we lose so much sharpening revinue. Me, I'm a proponent of whatever is better for the customer and I love new technolgy, so anxious to get nands on the new offerings from STEP.

You should be able to sharpen the ti-nitride coated steel just the same, the layer is like.... micrometers or less (thousandths of a mm)... its possible to maybe chip pieces off the steel, idk what kind of adhereance they get... its not like you are grinding the face of the material,then you'd have issues.

As for dlc or ceramics like ti-nitride.... there's trade off with choosing one over the other.

Honestly, I'm not sure what gain having the sides of steel coated would do. I'd be more intrigued to see a sharpened, then coated blade... but you won't eliminate blade damage from like... goal posts. Lol... so they'd be single use. Hmmmm ti-nitride tblades might be worth a shot

[vince57 4]

we use a commercial process called tufftride on sliding wear components at work http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tufftride

been thinking about leaving my blades in with a batch of stuff going for treatment, comes back black in colour, according to my boss its a 'cheap' process

i can testify that modifying components that have been treated is difficult due to its extreme surface hardness, all info i have read says coating is microns thick but when machining it you still struggle up til about 0.15mm deep, After a recent ebay purchase i now have an excess of ccm steel and can spare a pair to try so will try and get them done this week, will report back

i know grinding the stuff will be no problem.

[vince57 4]

Update,

had the process done , it was cheap most things we send dont hit minimum order weight so my stuff went in for free,

polished them before hand came black a lovely smooth black , look almost like high quality plastic

interestingly hardness had dropped from 60rc to 45rc, however i cannot measure the surface hardness with our equipment,

sharpened nice sparks had changed to more orange and seemed more freecutting on 80 grit pure white wheel

coached one u12s session tonight didnt feel different but they look fantastic

will monitor how long the grind remains consistent

[squat 5]

I have blackedge nano and HATE it. I dont know why but it lasts maybe one sharpening. Really a bad call on my part.

[squat 5]

Ok need to update this. went to a 1/2 or 100/50 FBV and there is a huge difference. I would recommend trying that on the blackedge.