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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1











                                               November 11, 1998



Cohesant Technologies, Inc.
5845 West 82nd Street
Indianapolis, Indiana   46278

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection with the filing by Cohesant Technologies Inc. (the
"Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") with respect to a maximum
of 250,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the "Shares") of the
Company issuable under the Cohesant Technologies Inc. (and Subsidiaries)
Employee 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan"), and the participation
interests to be offered or sold under the Plan, we have examined the following:

                  1. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as
         amended, and the By-Laws of the Company, as amended, each as currently
         in effect;

                  2. The records relating to the organization of the Company and
         such other records of corporate proceedings and such other documents as
         we deemed it necessary to examine as a basis for the opinions
         hereinafter expressed;

                  3. The Registration Statement on Form S-8 (including Exhibits
         thereto); and

                  4. Copies of the Plan, and the records of the proceedings of
         the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company relating to the
         adoption and approval thereof.



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         Based upon that examination, we are of the opinion that:


         A. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing
under the laws of the State of Delaware.

         B. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered
pursuant to the Plan and in the manner contemplated by the Registration
Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this Opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name therein.


                                    Very truly yours,


                               /s/ Kahn, Kleinman, Yanowitz & Arnson Co., L.P.A.
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               KAHN, KLEINMAN, YANOWITZ & ARNSON CO., L.P.A.









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