Found a Kershaw groove, but blade has some kind of oxidation - rescue done!

Knife came in today - in decent condition but needed a lot of cleaning! Let the spa treatment begin!

Here is another closeup of the blade as it started.


So first I disassembled the thing:


Then I tried various things on the rust. WD40, and gun cleaning solvents worked with everything from copper brush, nylon brush, 1500grit sandpaper (sorta worked but very inconsistent), and a microfiber towel. No luck. Finally, I tried some polishing compound on a polishing wheel on my dremel tool - bam:



Great - but now the thing gleams in the sun. I decided I didnt want a glossy finish, and I had heard about DIY stonewashing. After some trial and error using things I had on hand in my garage, i came up with this!
[video=youtube;r0pV_w-wNbs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0pV_w-wNbs[/video]

It is still running now. I will have the only stonewash groove perhaps. I was trying to decide whether or not to stonewash the frame or leave it satin/bead blast. What do you guys think?
 
Thinking outside the box for stonewashing, I like it! Just about anyone could set that up in a few minutes.

On a side note. It is hard to tell in the video but it doesn't look like there is anything protecting the pivot area in the stonewash. If you didn't cover the pivot area and lock face you may have some blade play when you are done depending on if/how much metal is removed during the process.
 
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dr_fosg8 said:
Thinking outside the box for stonewashing, I like it! Just about anyone could set that up in a few minutes.

On a side note. It is hard to tell in the video but it doesn't look like there is anything protecting the pivot area in the stonewash. If you didn't cover the pivot area and lock face you may have some blade play when you are done depending on if/how much metal is removed during the process.
Click to expand...

Hmm good point. I dont think I am removing much - so far i have a bit of stonewash look but i can still clearly see the brushed metal look that the groove started with.
 
I think stonewashed will look very cool. It warms my otherwise cold, bitter heart to see it already much improved.

In semi-related news, I see that Cabela's is now selling an exclusive Groove Tanto, but of course it doesn't actually have the namesake grooves on the blade . . . and is made in China from 8CrXXMoV.
 
What do you guys think about the frame pieces? leave the finish or stonewash as well?
 
jprime84 said:
What do you guys think about the frame pieces? leave the finish or stonewash as well?
Click to expand...

I would wait to see how they look how they are with the knife reassembled after you get the blade done. You can always do them later if you want.
 
So the drill ran out of batteries after about an hour to an hour and a half of tumbling. Here is the result in two different angles of light.

In this angle, it looks stonewashed


However if you catch the light slightly differently it still looks satin


I bet I would have to remove a lot of material to get rid of the brushed satin look. Like wet sand it to a smooth finish first, and I dont think I want to do that.
 
What type of rocks were you using? Did you have any type of lubricant in with the rocks and blade?

Could maybe and some more or more aggressive media and up the rpms on the drill a bit more might help. I would protect the pivot and lock face next go round it you decide too.

I am wondering what it would look like in the sun. Might be a cool 2 tone finish. Stone washed grinder satin!
 
Use your dryer. Works better as a tumbler.

IMG_20130728_184412.jpg
 
I think it looks awesome like that. Seems like it got rid of the bling look, so I'd say mission accomplished.
 
I was using aquarium rocks that I am pretty sure are painted quartz. They should be plenty hard to mark the steel. There is WD40 in there as well.

I tried the dryer first actually but it did not like the heavy weight flopping around in it.
 
jprime84 said:
I was using aquarium rocks that I am pretty sure are painted quartz. They should be plenty hard to mark the steel. There is WD40 in there as well.

I tried the dryer first actually but it did not like the heavy weight flopping around in it.
Click to expand...

I got a bag of.river rock from home depot. I pulled out a few handfuls of small smooth rocks and used them inside a Gatorade bottle with WD 40.

Wrap the botlle in a thick towel and duct tape it. That way it protects the dryer. Run on air tumble obviously.
 
Looks great! I'd just put it back together and see how it looks. If you want to match the liners to the blade, just give em the same treatment.

Great job so far, and at least you got the rust off! When you decide what to do with the liners, etc, post up a pic of it all back together.
 
I finished it this morning, but my internet is out and the pics I took are on the pc

I didn't do anything further on the blade finish, but I did decide to give the frame and clip a light stonewash. Finally, I sanded the g10 scales and polished them smooth.

I then took it from 120 to 6k on the edge pro and now it means business. Pics to come when my internet outage is over.
 
Here we go - back online! I think the stonewash gives the frame slabs a titanium look








 
Came out awesome! Looks great. I'm glad you took the chance and bought it, and fixed it up right.

Great job man.
 
Looks amazing, man! Very unique, and what makes it even better is that you did all the modding yourself.

I really like how it came out. I may just have to ask to borrow it one day ;)
 
Looks amazing, man! Very unique, and what makes it even better is that you did all the modding yourself.

I really like how it came out. I may just have to ask to borrow it one day ;)
 
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