Sandblasters - a question regarding turning a coated into a DC knife.

[Dennis in MA]

I've been inspired to see if this is possible after the various "stripped Busse" pix.

It seems on most knives, you don't get INFI-bumps on the primary grind - just near the spine and around the hand.e

Could you "tape off" the primary grind area and just blast the blade near the spine??? Is that even possible? Is it a PITA?

I'd like the blast to smooth out the INFI-bumps, then head down to a DC finish. . . which I guess could be considered TRIPLE-cut finish.

I'd not attempt this myself. I know a gunsmith that has a cabinet. I've been curious regarding doing this to my FBM and a stripped PD I picked up. I didn't know if you could "tape off" sections you DIDN'T want the beads to go.

Thx!

 

[pbubsy]

I believe it's called bead blasting. Glass particles are used in them. You can mask off areas that you don't want to bead blast if that's what you're asking. I'm doubtful you could blast away the INFI dimples though. You would probably want to sand/grind them (DEFINITELY not by hand) down before doing your polishing. I'd suggest a belt sander or a grinding wheel. Grinducci uses a scotchbrite wheel for his knives.

 

[OldPhysics]

I believe it's called bead blasting. Glass particles are used in them. You can mask off areas that you don't want to bead blast if that's what you're asking. I'm doubtful you could blast away the INFI dimples though. You would probably want to sand/grind them (DEFINITELY not by hand) down before doing your polishing. I'd suggest a belt sander or a grinding wheel. Grinducci uses a scotchbrite wheel for his knives.

Essentially correct. I've used a similar process to prepare the interior of ultra-high vacuum chambers. The dimensions of the finish produced are a function of the diameter of the beads themselves. Other bead materials can also be used, such as silicon carbide.

So -- you'll need to use another process to smooth the INFI dimples down first (as suggested by pbubsy).

 

[madhatta]

The member 'Silas' has used a beadblaster on a couple of Busse knives with nice results. I believe he posted some info on it, and you could contact him and ask him about it.

 

[pbubsy]

I've never used a bead blast cabinet on INFI as I don't have one at my immediate disposal, but I have used them when restoring cars and cleaning up old parts. Whatever texture that was on any given part I blasted remained. The only thing I took off was any coating, rust, residue, or scratches. Casting marks never changed from the blast like when I was cleaning up an old intake manifold which kind of relates to the INFI dimples on a Busse. I'd check out Harbor Freight. You could get a decent one for under $100. As soon as I have the space, I think I'll do the same

 

[dialton]

I used a commercial one in the aerospace industry when I was younger. Glass blasting will not remove the dimples. Sand them down and then blast it. You should come out with a nice finished product.