Blasting Media To Match CRK Finish

TTTis

TTTis

Joined
Mar 8, 2010
Messages
856
To those that reblast their own CRK's. What media have you used that matches the stock finish the best?

I was going to blast a few small items (and maybe some bigger one) to match the crk finish.

Something like black oxide do the trick?

Thanks for any assistance.
 
I am not sure what CRK uses but I use glass beads and am really pleased with the finish I get with them. Run the compressor at about 70psi. It gives it more of a scratch resistance also.
 
atony said:
I am not sure what CRK uses but I use glass beads and am really pleased with the finish I get with them. Run the compressor at about 70psi. It gives it more of a scratch resistance also.
Click to expand...

Thanks atony.

Do the glass beads give a more silver finish as opposed to the grey sand blast?

archieblue said:
I believe it's aluminum oxide grit?
Click to expand...

Thanks.... that is what I was thinking. I believe that is what the majority of people use.... that or glass beads.
 
Here is a pic of one after I blasted it.
004-16.jpg
 
Looks good! Would you say it leaves a slightly smoother finish than the factory blast or about the same?

Do you mask off the micarta and screw holes or just blast it all?
 
Nice job man that looks great! Another good modification thread to refer back to. Thanks smi for starting and Antony for contributing!
 
SMI said:
Looks good! Would you say it leaves a slightly smoother finish than the factory blast or about the same?

Do you mask off the micarta and screw holes or just blast it all?
Click to expand...

I mask the micarta out probably do not have to, but I like the way it looks so I don't want to alter it. The screws are done with a Dremmel and scotch-brite wheel.

The finish is a little smoother than CRK's sandblast but that is to be expected, not really a concern with the micarta. The glass beads basically just peen the surface. I have reblasted just about every Seb that I have owned, and some for members here. I think it gives the knife a much more finished look. Dying to do a 25.
 
Atony
Do you smooth out the original finish before you bead blast, or just blast over it? I have some with light scotchbrite finish I am thinking about bead blasting. I have very fine glass beads that I am going to use. Also, do you cover up the detent ball and lock surface of the handle when you blast yours?
Thanks for any info.
 
red1965 said:
Atony
Do you smooth out the original finish before you bead blast, or just blast over it? I have some with light scotchbrite finish I am thinking about bead blasting. I have very fine glass beads that I am going to use. Also, do you cover up the detent ball and lock surface of the handle when you blast yours?
Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...

I use the smallest beads I can find. I blast over the original finish, if it has been scotchbrited it will have a more silvery look to it. I did one for RiverRat a little while back where he scotchbrited to a really high finish, I think it turned out alright. I prefer to just go over the original finish if I had a choice.

I only do the outside and sides of the scales so not really a need to tape anything else out, but it can be done if that is how you want to do it.
 
Thanks for the info atony. I think I will give it a try this week. I may tape up the detent just to be safe though.
I have sandblasted a few of the front scales and got a good match before, but never have tried to beadblast one.
Thought I would like the scotchbrite finish, but its just not my cup of tea.
 
For reference it would be cool if someone had a pic with a few different sebenzas with all different finishes sitting side by side. I'm interested in seeing a stonewashed sebenza next to a blasted one.
 
Thanks for all the info atony. What kind of tape do you usually mask off with... if you do use tape? Didn't know if painters tape could withstand the blast.
 
When I have done sandblasting on other items, I either use electrical tape or duct tape depending on what is being blasted. I'm gonna use electrical tape on my Sebenza tomorrow.
 
Here is something to compare to..Umnumzaan bead basted @ 60 psi with ceramic grade glass bead and a Lg Sebenza with a factory finish. (just before I bead blasted it)

100_1245 (2500x1879) (2400x1804) (2200x1654).jpg 100_1246 (2500x1861) (2400x1787) (2200x1638).jpg 100_1248 (2500x1878) (2400x1803) (2200x1653).jpg 100_1249 (2500x1879) (2400x1804) (2200x1654).jpg
 
Last edited:
red1965 said:
When I have done sandblasting on other items, I either use electrical tape or duct tape depending on what is being blasted. I'm gonna use electrical tape on my Sebenza tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Let me know how it turns out. I think I only have some duct tape, but may have some electrical laying around. Let me know how the electrical works on the Seb.

What pressure do you usually set your compressor at when you sand blast? I know atony uses around 70. Just trying to get a good few data points before I start.

Oh and what abrasive were you using when you sandblast? I dig the crk sandblast finish.


1SHOT1KILL said:
Here is something to compare to..Umnumzaan bead basted @ 60 psi with ceramic grade glass bead and a Lg Sebenza with a factory finish. (just before I bead blasted it)
Click to expand...

Ok that is what I expected the glass bead blast to look like, more of a silver than a darker grey. There you can really see the difference.

Do results change at all the higher pressure you go or is there really any benefit?
 
Looks similar to the factory finish on my G10/Ti Military, which I really like a lot. :thumbup:
 
Just finished beadblasting 3 of my Sebenzas and they came out great. All three had received a light scotchbrite treatment. Now they are a uniform silver color with a smooth finish. The texture is different from the factory finish, being more smooth than grippy. It took me longer to set up my equipment than it did to complete all three. I will try to post pictures when I have time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top