I've always been a big fan of the stone wash look, and the darker finishes. I decided to pick up a cheap Sanremu 710 to try my hand at it. The photos make it look darker than it really is, but I think it came out pretty nice. I used a cheap Harbor Freight style tumbler with their ceramic media (lid off while tumbling). Liquid wrench for a lubricant, and I put a few nails in there to add some more scuffs. The acid bath was in Radio Shack PCB etchant (maybe 30 minutes total).
I stone washed the blade before and after the bath (maybe 40 minutes total), and as a result the engagement between the lock bar and blade is now a little loose. Not so much that the knife won't work well anymore, but there is a slight up/down movement. Live and learn! Next time I will make sure to protect those two engagement surfaces before tumbling. I'm guessing maybe some sort of tape would work.
Here are the results:
Before:
After:
I stone washed the blade before and after the bath (maybe 40 minutes total), and as a result the engagement between the lock bar and blade is now a little loose. Not so much that the knife won't work well anymore, but there is a slight up/down movement. Live and learn! Next time I will make sure to protect those two engagement surfaces before tumbling. I'm guessing maybe some sort of tape would work.
Here are the results:
Before:
After: