So I bought me a tumbler

ericb445

ericb445

Joined
Jan 29, 2006
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I bought the type that vibrate and several different types of media, I am getting close to making my test knife blades look as good as a Microtech or Strider, Any one have any tips for me? I have searched my butt off looking on how to achieve the results I am looking for.
-Eric
 
Tumbling is not a fine finish, it is a cheap production finish. Why would you want to reproduce it?
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Tumbling is not a fine finish, it is a cheap production finish. Why would you want to reproduce it?
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Because I think it looks cool, and it seems to me a pretty tough finish on the few knives I have with a stonewashed blade really seem to resist rust.
-Eric
 
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I don't tell people what they should like. I did want him to understand that tumbling is a time-saving measure that manufacturers use. It's kind of like putting a plywood stock on a rifle.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
I don't tell people what they should like. I did want him to understand that tumbling is a time-saving measure that manufacturers use.
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What the heck does that have to do with anything.
Customers sometimes ask for and prefer stone wash finish on products that I make...
Arguably.. Many other finishes are short cuts too...
Stop with the useless fact fest...
 
Tumbled finishes regularly outsold other ones for us with Microtech knives by a wide margin. Personally I love it.
 
Generally, a bright polish finish is considered a premium finish. It takes more time and shows pride of workmanship.
As far as "useless facts," someone needs to explain what true high-end cutlery is. I wouldn't want the young guys to think that an aluminum handled, sandblasted blade knife is the end-all of fine cutlery. ;^)
Not that there is anything wrong with new knives, and it's not that I'm opinionated or anything. I just don't understand the desire to tumble polish knives. To each his own.
Spark- Did M/T even offer a polished finish, and if so, how much was the price difference?
 
Bill,

So long as the popular production knives in premium steel are finished with tumbling (which helps reduce corrosion at least compared to most bead-blasted finishes) and the below entry level knives feature mirrory finishes, tumbling will remain more popular.
 
From what I read in the post on another forum linked, The guys where getting highly polished finish from tumbling with corn cobb media loaded with polishing compound.
-Eric
 
ericb445 said:
From what I read in the post on another forum linked, The guys where getting highly polished finish from tumbling with corn cobb media loaded with polishing compound.
-Eric
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Now that sounds pretty cool:thumbup: I love my stonewash finished knives, wether high end or medium quality. I don't think it matters as long as the end user likes it, and I think it looks fantastic. Sure, my all time favorite finish is satin, but stonewashed is great too!

Bill, you really have been around long enough to know that people buy what they want, and I think lots of people like stonewash. Cheap shortcut or not, you can't deny it's appeal. If people all bought what they were told to buy, nobody would have a Chevy Tahoe and we'd all be driving around in Toyota Priuses;) I gotta tell ya, there are still a whole bunch of big trucks in my neighborhood.:)

Jonny
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Generally, a bright polish finish is considered a premium finish. It takes more ti
Spark- Did M/T even offer a polished finish, and if so, how much was the price difference?
Click to expand...

Microtech typically offered 3 "standard" finishes and a variety of other ones. The standard ones were Stonewashed, Satin Polished, and Black. We typically charged $10 more for the Satin & Black ones, which on a $350+ knife isn't a huge difference. The guys who were going to use their knives, got stonewashed.
 
I use my tumbler for cleaning up brass for reloading ammunition, and it does a great job of getting the brass super shiny like new ammo.

Mike
 
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