Vibratory tumbler media for refinishing steel and titanium, recommendation?

[SACBALLZ]

I bought a cheap vibratory tumbler to experiment with refinishing used knives. im just trying to semi-stonewash or remove light scratches and scuffs, from titanium scales and pocket clips, and blades. for instance when you lean against the counter with a knife in your pocket and scuff the pocket clip, that type of thing. am i even on the right track here, in using a vibratory tumbler to remove(even partially remove) those types of marks and/or stonewash? currently i am using cheap ceramic media and it is taking days, but i may be expecting too much so im just looking for a dose of reality and media recommendation

 

[Bill DeShivs]

That's how tumblers work.
Ceramic media is very hard, cheap or not.

 

[Diemaker]

Cheap vibratory tumblers are dreadfully slow because they lack the hp. I have used river rock as a cheap replacement for ceramic media. It worked just fine and is generally coarser.

 

[SACBALLZ]

Cheap vibratory tumblers are dreadfully slow because they lack the hp. I have used river rock as a cheap replacement for ceramic media. It worked just fine and is generally coarser.

I might try some of that. So far I am happy with the result, it took a long time(or I at least left it running for a long time), but it definitely removed 90% of the scuffs and scratches on the titanium handle, and same with the blade. The blade has more visible scratches left behind but I imagine they are deeper. There was a pretty noticeable dent in the spine of the blade from the previous owner, and it almost completely deburred it and is now hardly noticeable.

 

[Tensaw]

I reload pistol ammo and have a rotary tumbler for cleaning brass cases. I've used it a couple of times to stonewash blades. It does a good job and is pretty fast (less than a minute).

 

[SACBALLZ]

I reload pistol ammo and have a rotary tumbler for cleaning brass cases. I've used it a couple of times to stonewash blades. It does a good job and is pretty fast (less than a minute).

What type of media do you use? And can you post a picture(s) of your results? Less than a minute sounds really nice lol I thought I was being smart by getting the vibratory, maybe I should have gotten a rotary instead

 

[Mk-211]

A rotary tumbler will work better as they lay horizontal. This will help heavy objects to move around, in whatever media you use.

A standard tumbler for cartridge brass, works on light material. Anything that's heavy, will sink to the bottom of the bowl.

It will move around, but only at the bottom and you need the motion through the media, to do the work.

I think Harbor Freight sells both types pretty cheap.

 

[Tensaw]

What type of media do you use? And can you post a picture(s) of your results? Less than a minute sounds really nice lol I thought I was being smart by getting the vibratory, maybe I should have gotten a rotary instead

Full disclosure: My experience with this is very limited.
Both knives came with satin blades but were acid etched before tumbling. I think one is 154CM and the other is NC28N(?). I used gravel out of the driveway which may be pretty aggressive, I guess. I timed the tumbling on the Miguron at 30 seconds. Having no experience, I just took it out to check it and was ok with it. I've wanted to try the ceramic media from Harbor Freight, but haven't yet. The tumbler came with 5 lbs. of stainless pins that are used to clean and polish the brass. I've wondered what the pins would do to a knife blade.