stonewashing: order of operations?

[daizee]

Hi All, long time no type (here).

I have a question for the veteran stonewashers:

Do you tumble the blade after sanding, but BEFORE heat-treat and then again after heat, or only after heat-treat?

And when doing it after, do you tumble it as a last pre-edge step after you have the scales shaped and everything?

Thanks!

-Daizee

 

[J. Rosa]

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After ht. I etch, tumble for 3-6 min, epoxy scales. I've also used vinegar and lemon juice to etch A2 after the scales were attached and shaped and then tumbled for 3-6 min... I'm not a vet at it though so others may have different methods. I also use the hf large tumbler with the lid off... I included pics. Blade was wiped down with tuff cloth before.

 

[jawilder]

I stonewash most of my knives... After HT and taken to the final edge thickness before sharpening. Sand to at least 400 grit. Any courser grits will be visible after tumbling.

I stonewash in my large HF tumbler with quality coarse ceramic media and I'll stonewash the blades for about 3 or 4 hours to get a uniform finish. Then I personally add just a touch of "Evapo-Rust" to the tumbler and let them etch while tumbling for about 5 minutes. This process also cleans up and darkens your maker's mark. Then assemble your handle and you're good to go. If needed, you can tumble after micarta or G10 handles are put on but I'd clean any acids out of the tumbler first.

This one has stonewashed and etched flats then machine finish bevels

 

[daizee]

Hmm, interesting. Thanks.

Jason, how does sanded/polished micarta come out after stonewashing? Presumably I'd like to have the tang with the same finish as the rest of the blade.

 

[jawilder]

It makes it a tiny bit more grippy but can be polished again with pink compound to brink back the luster