How To Tumble DLC

I haven't tried to change the DLC on a Hinderer specifically, but DLC is pretty tough stuff and penetrates metal more than most coatings.

If you are going to try and tumble it, I would suggest using a fairly aggressive media and keep an eye on it so it doesn't start eating into the blade too much.
 
berserker26 said:
Hey all, I have a DLC Full Track, this one:

www.knivesandtools.com

Rick Hinderer Fulltrack Spanto Black DLC S35VN Black/Blue G10 pocket knife

Handle/blade: titanium and G10/CPM S35VN Blade length: 9.5 cm Weight: 200 grams
www.knivesandtools.com www.knivesandtools.com

I want to give it a worn look, bit like what Hinderer call their 'battle worn' look.

Has anybody done this before that can give any tips or is DLC too hard to do it on?
Click to expand...

Knives&Lint Knives&Lint might be able to give you some insight to that idea. I’ve tagged him for you.
 
Sorry it took so long to respond, there's been alot going on around my way lately. While I do appreciate the shoutout, I must say that I honestly don't have any particular skill, I just get these ideas in my head and can't rest until I hack my way through them mad scientist style, with the majority of my information coming from old threads here and YouTube. There are some real pros here that actually know what they are doing.

Blades (and hardware for that matter) are pretty EZ-PZ. I simply tape off the pivot area (or any areas I don't want stonewashed), and throw them in a plastic container with the triangle shaped ceramic tumbling media that you can pick up from Harbor Freight. You can pick up the tumbler as well and save yourself a forearm workout, but as I said I pretty much just hack my way through these mods, so I've always just went with the poor man's method. I'm not certain about Hinderer's DLC, but I have little doubt that it could be done given enough time and effort.

Frames are a different beast altogether. You have to be concerned with where everything interfaces, detent balls, lockbar stabilizers, etc. I'm not really comftorble offering any advice there with my experience level, only to say that I think it could probably be done given you do your homework and plan accordingly. I've only done one frame, and that was on my Sebenza. For that one I taped off the areas of concern, and stonewashed the entire frame assembled with the hardware in it (sans the blade), and used a LEGO (told you I was a hack at this, but it actually worked 🤪 ) to engage the lock. Also, this wasn't DLC, but only a bronze ano that I applied myself, so It only took a few minutes of shaking to get the desired look.

I will add that I wouldn't hesitate to take sandpaper to the edges and corners of the knife to knock the finish down a bit and highlight he lines of the knife. That might just give you the worn look you're going for without the need for stonewashing.


I'm not sure if the finish on this CS is actually DLC, but here you can see the results (I obviously put a two-tone finish on this one as well by sanding the flats)

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And the aforementioned Sebenza, with a stonewashed bronze ano

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Wow thanks for the detailed response Knives&Lint Knives&Lint - you've given me things to think about. Certainly feel like it is possible now, the only thing that I hesitate on is that i'd be doing this first go on a really expensive knife! I'm thinking maybe a good halfway until I can practise on something first is to do the hardware - I've seen some with an almost rusted/aged look that I think would go well on all black. Then perhaps I'll grab a cheapo and get the process down. Thanks again.
 
Another easy way to stone wash is to throw the parts with the tumbling media into a Powerade bottle, wrap bottle in a towel, then throw in the dryer on no heat.
 
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