Stonewash--to polish or not?

MORIMOTOM · Oct 11, 2009

ive done some polishing and sanding on blades by hand. lots of work with little result.

ive also had blades turn out poorly, or at least not as good as i would have hoped. on a couple occassions i ended up sending them to someone to complete the mods.

i dont recommend using a sebenza to experiment on.

shike · Oct 11, 2009

RobME said:
fwiw... I never questioned that some here have real skills, and aren't afraid to use them. And personally, I never claimed any great talent. My own blade was badly scuffed. All I did was remove them and shine the blade up a bit. It was all that I intended to do. I know there's a broad range of experience and talent on this board, but often I'll read (something like), 'leave it alone, it's perfect how it is, or... don't do anything, just send it in to CRK', etc. I was only trying to be encouraging to the OP. It's just a knife. I did put a wink () next to the 'discouraging souls' part. Didn't mean to offend or challenge anyone.

No offense taken at least on my part but I just wanted to point out that as a retired custom knife maker I do know a bit of what I am talking about

Kind regards

Shike

65535 · Oct 11, 2009

Personally I recommended having CRk do the polish as hand polishing a sharp blade can be dangerous, hard to know a users skill level based on typed word.

RICKSTER · Oct 12, 2009

65535 said:
Personally I recommended having CRk do the polish as hand polishing a sharp blade can be dangerous, hard to know a users skill level based on typed word.

I just talked to Heather at CRK last thursday on this subject. CRK will NOT polish a stonewashed blade or bead blasted handles. They will only redo the configuration in which the knife left the factory. You can buy a polished blade for your Sebenza for $129.00. Handles on a polished Sebenza are pre-picked from many others in the pale for there Luster before machining starts. Titanium has a high level of inconstancy in colors being light and dark, thats why the lighter handles with more natural luster are used for polished handle Sebenza's. So if it's not shinny when you bought it, your on your own.
Hope this helps...............................

Rickster

bigmark408 · Oct 13, 2009

Make no mistake, it's a pain in the ass...sanding S30V (hardened) is like sanding concrete....It can be done !! I have done it with good results...both hand satin and high polish.

every time i say ill never do another...getting ready to do a tanto zaan.

ExMachina · Oct 13, 2009

RICKSTER said:
I just talked to Heather at CRK last thursday on this subject. CRK will NOT polish a stonewashed blade or bead blasted handles. They will only redo the configuration in which the knife left the factory. You can buy a polished blade for your Sebenza for $129.00. Handles on a polished Sebenza are pre-picked from many others in the pale for there Luster before machining starts. Titanium has a high level of inconstancy in colors being light and dark, thats why the lighter handles with more natural luster are used for polished handle Sebenza's. So if it's not shinny when you bought it, your on your own.
Hope this helps...............................

Rickster

thanks. that does help.

i have decided not to touch the stonewash since i've decided that i don't like the hollow grind enough to invest the effort. sometime in the future, i'm just going to ask CRK for a FFG satin blade. heck, it's a good enough knife to warrant two blades, right?

ExMachina · Oct 13, 2009

bigmark408 said:
Make no mistake, it's a pain in the ass...sanding S30V (hardened) is like sanding concrete....It can be done !! I have done it with good results...both hand satin and high polish.

every time i say ill never do another...getting ready to do a tanto zaan.

<gulp>

beautiful...just beautifully done :thumbup:

richstag · Oct 13, 2009

bigmark408 said:
Make no mistake, it's a pain in the ass...sanding S30V (hardened) is like sanding concrete....It can be done !! I have done it with good results...both hand satin and high polish.

every time i say ill never do another...getting ready to do a tanto zaan.

That is beautiful:thumbup:

RICKSTER · Oct 13, 2009

bigmark408 said:
Make no mistake, it's a pain in the ass...sanding S30V (hardened) is like sanding concrete....It can be done !! I have done it with good results...both hand satin and high polish.

every time i say ill never do another...getting ready to do a tanto zaan.

Mark can I send you my 2, That is one SWEET knife, Im impressed !!!!!!!!!!!!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Rickster :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

TimmyBoston · Oct 16, 2009

I just ordered a Large 21 Seb with a polished blade.

The retailer didn't have any of the stonewashed and I didn't think there would be much difference. Am I going to be in for a big surprise?

I don't want the knife for a safe queen, it will be used. Will the knife end up looking terrible?

RICKSTER · Oct 16, 2009

TimmyBoston said:
I just ordered a Large 21 Seb with a polished blade.

The retailer didn't have any of the stonewashed and I didn't think there would be much difference. Am I going to be in for a big surprise?

I don't want the knife for a safe queen, it will be used. Will the knife end up looking terrible?

You will like the polished blade, Its not a mirror polished so its very easy to maintain, Plus it dresses the knife up a little. Any new knives I order from CRK will have polished blades. JMO

Rickster

DBH · Oct 16, 2009

TimmyBoston said:
I just ordered a Large 21 Seb with a polished blade.

The retailer didn't have any of the stonewashed and I didn't think there would be much difference. Am I going to be in for a big surprise?

I don't want the knife for a safe queen, it will be used. Will the knife end up looking terrible?

Tommy, I have a large regular with a polished blade, and it is carried EDC. I think I need to bling my handles like Mark did, that looks bada$$