I've always wanted to etch/strip a Team Gemini, and after seeing a few pictures in this thread ( http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1293037-Original-Team-Gemini-pic-request ), I made up my mind. It was time to find a TGLB and make it happen. So I picked up this TGLB in the exchange. After tracing it back through previous sales, I found it was originally owned by Bill Siegle. He thinned down the edge and hand smoothed out the handles, which feel great in my hand.
Okay, the first thing to do is etch the Busse logo.
After etching previous knives, I've found that "sticky tack" works best for building a wall to hold the etchant in place.
Place a paper plate or something similar under the knife in case you spill the etchant. Then use a Q-tip to dap in the etchant.
After letting the etchant sit for 2.5 hours, take it outside and hose it off. Scrub the logo with an old tooth brush and some dish soap. Spray it off again and then dry it off. I used a compressor to dry it off before starting the next etching session.
Here is what the logo looks like after 2.5 hours of etching.
I won't bore you with more pictures of the etching process. Here's the logo after another 2 hour soak.
And here it is after an additional 5.5 hour soak (10 hours total).
Okay enough with that, on to stripping. This is the first blade I've ever stripped the coating on. It was actually a pretty easy process.
I decided to use Citristrip. Make sure you wear some good chemical resistant gloves. Pour some of the Citristrip on to a paper plate and use a paint brush to apply it on the knife.
After letting it sit for about 30 minutes, grab some plastic utensils (you will break a few) and go to town scrubbing off the coating. Again, make sure you wear chemical resistant gloves. The coating scrubs off pretty easy, kind of like peeling sunburned skin.
Here is what it will look like after removing all of the coating.
Etched logo.
Let's see if it still works.
Yup, splits wood just fine!
And here it is after wiping it down and oiling it up. I'm going to leave the finish like this. I love the heavily used look, like Rob's TG in the thread mentioned above.
I'm sure I forgot to mention something, or left a step out. Feel free to ask any questions :thumbup:
Okay, the first thing to do is etch the Busse logo.
After etching previous knives, I've found that "sticky tack" works best for building a wall to hold the etchant in place.
Place a paper plate or something similar under the knife in case you spill the etchant. Then use a Q-tip to dap in the etchant.
After letting the etchant sit for 2.5 hours, take it outside and hose it off. Scrub the logo with an old tooth brush and some dish soap. Spray it off again and then dry it off. I used a compressor to dry it off before starting the next etching session.
Here is what the logo looks like after 2.5 hours of etching.
I won't bore you with more pictures of the etching process. Here's the logo after another 2 hour soak.
And here it is after an additional 5.5 hour soak (10 hours total).
Okay enough with that, on to stripping. This is the first blade I've ever stripped the coating on. It was actually a pretty easy process.
I decided to use Citristrip. Make sure you wear some good chemical resistant gloves. Pour some of the Citristrip on to a paper plate and use a paint brush to apply it on the knife.
After letting it sit for about 30 minutes, grab some plastic utensils (you will break a few) and go to town scrubbing off the coating. Again, make sure you wear chemical resistant gloves. The coating scrubs off pretty easy, kind of like peeling sunburned skin.
Here is what it will look like after removing all of the coating.
Etched logo.
Let's see if it still works.
Yup, splits wood just fine!
And here it is after wiping it down and oiling it up. I'm going to leave the finish like this. I love the heavily used look, like Rob's TG in the thread mentioned above.
I'm sure I forgot to mention something, or left a step out. Feel free to ask any questions :thumbup:
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