Poor man's stonewash

[Flier]

This thread is VERY INTERESTING.
So, besides not wanting to use a flammable substance in an electrical appliance: does this work? Or is there a better way for a DIY stonewashed finish?

 

[Flier]

"Stone Wash" is a conveniently coined name for an industrial mass finishing technique. There is nothing special about it. Its a cheap way to finish metal.

Bill, don't you think it has a nice look though?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Not particularly. It's not satin, and it's not polished.
"Stonewash" is just an industrial vibratory finishing technique.

 

[hatchetjack]

This thread is VERY INTERESTING.
So, besides not wanting to use a flammable substance in an electrical appliance: does this work? Or is there a better way for a DIY stonewashed finish?

It does work. Maybe not as nice as your production blades but I've only done a couple. No, my dryer didn't explode and I don't have petroleum distillates coating the drum. I seal in a plastic bottle and wrap in a towel with several wraps of duct tape and tumble on no heat. My clothes still smell fine. I'm going to do the same this week on a Spyderco Tenacious. It's a fun DIY and I don't see what all the fuss is about. I've also tried it in my Midway tumbler but got better and quicker results with the dryer method.
Spyderco Persistence:

CRKT Hammond Cruiser with RIT dyed scales. Scales were originally desert tan:

 

[Flier]

If a blade had the black coating painted on would you need to sand it off before trying this stonewash method?
Also, how badly does it mess up the edge of the blade?
Would this not be recommended for a serrated blade?

 

[squints]

Do you put it in the drier with clothes, or just as the container itself with the stuff to be stonewashed inside?

 

[Spark]

Oh man, this is such a bad idea.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=tumbler

Harbor freight has very inexpensive rotary tumblers that will do this just fine, without possibly setting your house on fire.

 

[roninelh]

"Stone Wash" is a conveniently coined name for an industrial mass finishing technique. There is nothing special about it. Its a cheap way to finish metal.

It's true that many people like the look of the finish but it is a way to de burr metal in large quantities fairly quickly without deforming specs like a fiber wheel or sanding belt might. That being said, if you feel the need to hobo stonewash, I too would avoid wd40. Stonewashed blades look so cool, I don't understand why( as someone who has professionally stonewashed a lot of steel) knife companies don't do more of it.