Stonewash finish on a BWM

[grnamin]

I had been putting very amateur stonewash finishes on folder blades and decided to step up to a much bigger challenge... my BWM. I went to Home Depot this morning and picked up the following:
1) paint stripper
2) metal tray
3) wide PVC tube, about 2' long
4) end caps for the PVC tube
5) silicone sealant

Here are some pictures and videos:

Preparing to strip the BWM

Stripping in progress

Assembling the stonewashing "chamber"

Can't stonewash without stones. Collected these from several beach trips. I think aquarium supplies have them too. The dishwashing liquid acts as a lubricant & cleanser.

"Basting" the stripping gel onto the blade

Blade stripped

I taped some bubble wrap around the handle to keep the stones from shifting up the handle section.

Filled the tube with stones

Added dishwashing liquid and water

Whew! This is labor-intensive!!!
[video=youtube;dp0iujKo45g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp0iujKo45g[/video]

I think this is a better method...
[video=youtube;LkvHPrmK1XY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkvHPrmK1XY[/video]

End product...

Still needs more time in the stonewashing chamber

Hmmm... I think I'll sandblast the blade and re-apply the stonewash finish. More pictures later.

 

[AddictedToGear]

Very innovative, I have not seen a homemade stonewash done on a knife this big yet. Definitely needs more time in the stone wash and I think you need some different motions added in to so maybe it is more even. It shows some horizontal lines at the moment. Very cool though and it gives it the survival look.

 

[grnamin]

Thank you! The horizontal lines are from the screwdriver I used to scrape off the coating.

 

[Tom Kanik]

If you could rig that up like an idler pulley it would make the job easier; especially against a worn belt-sander belt.

Nice work!:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[M67]

I've been wanting to stonewash my Assault Shaker, I think I'm bored enough and motivated enough to do it now.

Good thing though I have a Thumlers Tumbler though


The stones do anything to the scales?

 

[grnamin]

Thank you, all. M67, the bubble wrap served double duty of keeping the stones concentrated on the blade section and protecting the handle scales.

 

[Hindsight]

Looks good. Might have to try that sometime.

 

[M67]

Thank you, all. M67, the bubble wrap served double duty of keeping the stones concentrated on the blade section and protecting the handle scales.

Yup, just now noticed that

And I may have to strip another day, the gel stripper I have is so old it's clumped and brown. Looked like someone dookied on my knife

 

[grnamin]

Broke out the sandblasting box

After sandblasting

30 minutes of continuous stonewashing produced this
[video=youtube;Lf1B9mwytnY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf1B9mwytnY[/video]

The blade actually looks better than in the video now after wiping it down with FIREClean.

Still can't quite capture the stonewash finish on video:
[video=youtube;rSbGDWvEQnU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSbGDWvEQnU[/video]

 

[Lora7]

I never would have thought of stonewashing a knife. Whenever I hear "stonewash" I think of jeans. Very innovative.