CRK Blasted Handles

[Maprik]

Does anyone know exactly how the Ti on CRK handles is blasted? I'm curious about what media they use and if they also use some kind of oxidizing process to darken the metal.

 

[dttomcat]

There is some kind of coating on the scales. I have handled a Sebbie with this coating removed and it was perfectly smooth.

 

[franzdom]

It's blasted, not coated.

 

[braillediver]

Probably just bead blasted with a glass bead media.

 

[dinokay]

Sand Blasted and the Ti coming with slight color variations. They used to bead blast them in the early days but now they sand blast them for a better grip.

 

[blade man]

Sand Blasted and the Ti coming with slight color variations. They used to bead blast them in the early days but now they sand blast them for a better grip.

This. I've blasted Ti with both different bead media and with sand, and if you've seen the two first hand, the difference is apparent. Judging by how the scales feel, I'd wager they are blasted at a pretty high PSI.

 

[1SHOT1KILL]

This. I've blasted Ti with both different bead media and with sand, and if you've seen the two first hand, the difference is apparent. Judging by how the scales feel, I'd wager they are blasted at a pretty high PSI.

They are blasted with an aggressive media...not nec. high psi. I glass bead all of my CR Knives and they look visibly different. I'll see if I can get some pics up to show this.

 

[blade man]

They are blasted with an aggressive media...not nec. high psi. I glass bead all of my CR Knives and they look visibly different. I'll see if I can get some pics up to show this.

I'd love to see pics of your knives, but CRK does sandblast them...it's in the DVD. I'm saying, in order to get the texture that Sebenzas have by blasting with sand, the pressure has to be pretty high. IIRC, around 80-100 PSI gave me a similar finish.

 

[1SHOT1KILL]

I'd love to see pics of your knives, but CRK does sandblast them...it's in the DVD. I'm saying, in order to get the texture that Sebenzas have by blasting with sand, the pressure has to be pretty high. IIRC, around 80-100 PSI gave me a similar finish.

Yes, you are correct. I didn't mean to insinuate that they didn't sand blast their knives. I just meant that they didn't nec. use high pressure. I guess 80-100 psi could be described as high pressure...I'm not trying to sound snotty...I'm just use to high pressure starting at 120 psi and going up. I've included a pic of my Umnumzaan that I glass bead blasted at 60 psi. The picture on the left is of my two CRKs that I carry...the pic on the right is a factory finish. The 3rd pic is of my Umnumzaan now. (better pic?) The last 2 pics are of the factory finish on my Umnumzaan.

 

[Maprik]

Great info guys. I really appreciate it!

 

[blade man]

Thanks for the pics, man. Good to see.

 

[Haze]

They have changed it over time but for now it seesm to be a quite coarse medium they use. I sent a knife back to be fixed up a few months ago and it came back with a heavy blast finish, almost like a micro glitter coating. The knives I have had previously have had a much finer blast finish and have that smooth matte gray. The other thing to consider is that Ti takes a different hue when blasted, even when cut from the same bar. Some pieces/sides will be darker and some will be lighter. I think CRK have mentioned before they take the time to match the two scales for colour after blasting. That is also why some knives will look darker than others. I have seen it my self on the Titanium alloys I use.

 

[Barry H]

I used to use a very expensive French ceramic media that Kit Carson told me about, that peend the titanium, gave it an iridescent finish. If you've ever held a Carson or a JW Smith custom, you know what I mean.

Now days, I bead blast with an aluminum oxide media. And if I want to take it one step further, I drop the scales into my ceramic tumbler for the stone washed effect.
I flamed this one, for a bronze look:

 

[Maprik]

That's a very cool handle Barry!!!!:thumbup:

 

[atony]

I always use a glass beads at about 70psi.

 

[Maprik]

Does that come out pretty close to the CRK finish?