Sick of bead blast?

USAFSP

USAFSP

Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Messages
2,357
I bought an Emerson CQC-7A bead blast not too long ago. I really love everything about this knife, except the finish. I thought it would be prone to rust (yes I take care of my knives) due to the deep bead blast. My local knife shop recommended using a super eraser to clean up the finish. I was skeptical at first but the salesman assured me it was easy to use without making your blade look like a scratch fest. The super eraser is like an eraser and a fine grit sand paper, in one. After field stripping my knife, I made an initial pass over the blade with the odd piece of rubber. WOW what a difference! After about 5 min. work the blade looked more like a frost finish than anything else. The finish was smoother and more uniform too. The trick is, stay with the grain of the blade ( no circles ). Now my CQC-7A looks like it came from the factory with frost instead of that deep Emerson bead blast. BTW/ The Emerson logo doesn't fade at all, it's in the steel pretty good. you could rub a little or a lot depending on the effect you are looking for. I was also told that it works on BT, but I have yet to try that. Take it from someone who has no finishing skill whatsoever. It's easy. Check with your local shop, they might know where to get one if they don't already have it. BTW/ It also is great for cleaning ceramic sharpeners, and rust.
 
I don't much care for beadblast finishes on a knife,especially a folder.I'm not saying I wouldn't buy one with that finish,but just not my usual first choice.The thing I don't like most with the one exception being Chris Reeves fixed blades,is those yucky blade coatings.I saw someones BM folder with worn and scratched black coating,not a pretty site.No coatings for me,unless I get a CRK project one or something else in his line,then I guess I have to make an exception
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Very sick of beadblast.
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have a"knife"day
 
I took the bead blast finish off of my MT Socom. Used various grits from 180 to 1200 and have a nearly mirror finish. Looks much better IMHO. I should be getting my order from Texas Knifemaker Supplies and will use the 2000 grit paper to it get that final mirrored finish. In fact, I will be doing this to all my bead blasted knives.



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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
 
I had a Buck Mentor with Bead Blast. My first bead blasted knife. I sanded it off and finished it up with a fine sanding sponge. Left sort of a mirror/satin finish. Not very clean looking, but better than bead blast. I sold it to a friend for $10.


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Chang and the Rebels of the East!
Southern Taiwan Will Rise Again!
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Greg, I'll be doing the same to my BB SOCOM tanto when it arrives for sure. My hatred of BB stems from a Camillus Cyber knife that pitted with rust after 2 months of sitting in a box after a light wipe down with WD40.
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Bead-blast sucks for sure. Unfortunately, it's presence has prompted me to avoid a bunch of otherwise high quality knives.
You can't use it without consequences (scratches) and it is very prone to rusting.
I'll take "stonewashed" or satin anyday over bead-blast.
Bill
 
I personally don't care for beadblasted blades.

Yes, they're anti-glare for that oh-so-tactical look, but the aforementioned rusting problem and the fact that scratches show up so easily turns me off to them...
 
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