When will Spyderco offer stonewashed blades?

Whaa? Stonewashing a cost cutting measure? How would that cut costs? It's an extra step after the blade grinding is finished.

I love a proper stonewash (See CRK) where it looks slightly polished. In fact, I loved the finish on the manix 2 I used to own, but not so much the serrations :p

I think it would be nice to offer the option of stonewashed or satin.
 
I like stonewashed finish on working knives, two-toned finish on 'aggresive' grinds and handrubbed satin on higher end dressy knives.

Beadblast is nice for certain knives, but beadblasted and stonewashed it AWESOME.

The finish on militaries and paramilitaries is ok, but on certain VG10 models, the finish is too polished for me. It's nice, more corrosion resistant and theoretically cuts better, but it's too bright for me :D YMMV
 
I really don't care what the finish is as long as it's not bead blasted.

Sometimes I think they should just leave the finish as is after grinding. My knives always get all scratched up anyway.
 
Wow, I didnt realize that this would be such a polarizing subject. I love the stonewashing on my sebbie and I thought it would be great to get that on some Spydercos I didnt realize it was already offered. And if it costs less, then maybe we can get our Spydie fix for even cheaper!
 
Well, if stonewashing or beadblasting makes the blade appear like Gerber, CRKT and some Kershaw blades then NO THANK YOU.
 
Heiheit said:
Whaa? Stonewashing a cost cutting measure? How would that cut costs? It's an extra step after the blade grinding is finished.

I love a proper stonewash (See CRK) where it looks slightly polished. In fact, I loved the finish on the manix 2 I used to own, but not so much the serrations :p

I think it would be nice to offer the option of stonewashed or satin.
Click to expand...

It's a lot cheaper to tumble the blades than to polish them, even to the satin finish common on Spydercos. The random scratch pattern of stonewashing can cover a multitude of sins, much like texture on drywall. It's just one of the things that put me off about CRK.
 
Spyderco does an amazing job at thieir satin finished and DLC coated blade..
I think that it keeps these amazing knives surprisingly well priced..
Matt
 
It is a preference thing. I have some stone washed, some satin, some blasted, some patina'ed, some coated, some polished, and some rusted up.

I have never given any thought to wanting a stone washed Spyderco...If they are not currently doing this finish, it would require an investment to start offering it (for their USA models)...and I would not want to help fund it.

Satin finish looks fine to me.
 
I like stonewashed finish simply for looks. The swick has a regular stonewashed finish. Now that I think further though, I can't really see any of the current lineup with a stonewashed blade looking better. Maybe the lum? hmmm maybe not.
 
A stonewashed finish is not my first choice, probably to the consternation of most knife makers, manufacturers, and perhaps even fellow forum members I like mirror polished.

How about a blued mirror polished finish with the looks of blue chrome that is food safe ? For a work knife despite scratches showing more wouldn't a mirror polished blade be more rust resistant due to the lack of nooks and cranies.
 
keep in mind that tumbling can yield quite a lot of different finishes.you can get a perfect mirror polish like this. victorinox sak blades are stonewashed... it all depend on what abrasive you choose and how long you let the blade in the tumbler.

check the finish on this blade. fantoni's stonewash looks awesome. mirror polished background with a rather coarse stonewash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33IV_q0EfqM&feature=related

and you can also get a very dull finish from stonewashing.
 
pwet said:
keep in mind that tumbling can yield quite a lot of different finishes.you can get a perfect mirror polish like this. victorinox sak blades are stonewashed... it all depend on what abrasive you choose and how long you let the blade in the tumbler.

check the finish on this blade. fantoni's stonewash looks awesome. mirror polished background with a rather coarse stonewash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33IV_q0EfqM&feature=related

and you can also get a very dull finish from stonewashing.
Click to expand...


Those are beauties.
 
I was going to comment that I dislike stonewashed blades. I guess now I'm going to have to say that I hate them unless they have a mirror finish. LOL

Gordon
 
I really like the stone-washed finish if done correctly.
It covers up alot of annoying scratches from use.
It doesn't rust easily at all.
It doesn't show fingerprints the way a stupidly shiny blade does.

I think some people get it confused with bead-blast, which does suck the big one.
 
yablanowitz said:
It's a lot cheaper to tumble the blades than to polish them, even to the satin finish common on Spydercos. The random scratch pattern of stonewashing can cover a multitude of sins, much like texture on drywall. It's just one of the things that put me off about CRK.
Click to expand...

The satin finish is already there from the grinding. I'm sure there's a finishing step after the grinding such as another higher grit grinding or a buffing. The tumbling is done after this so if you wouldn't be happy with the stone washing you probably wouldn't be happy with the original satin.

I think you're thinking of bead or sandblasting, stonewashing really wont cover up any finish issues as it is generally the last step in finishing.

I'm not attempting to change your opinion, I just don't want someone to be misguided. I'd like to see a blade with a stonewashed finish that has the issues you speak of because I've never come across one.
 
stabman said:
I really like the stone-washed finish if done correctly.
It covers up alot of annoying scratches from use.
It doesn't rust easily at all.
It doesn't show fingerprints the way a stupidly shiny blade does.

I think some people get it confused with bead-blast, which does suck the big one.
Click to expand...

Essentially what I said, just more succinct. Thanks. :thumbup:
 
A good bead blast job can look amazing and be durable. Like when I do it:D
otherwise it does suck the big one....
Depends on the media that is used.


stabman said:
I think some people get it confused with bead-blast, which does suck the big one.
Click to expand...
 
trimcut123 said:
A good bead blast job can look amazing and be durable. Like when I do it:D
otherwise it does suck the big one....
Depends on the media that is used.
Click to expand...

Some people also beadblast then stonewash. I think the three sisters forge beast is like that and the ZT 0551 sure looks like it.
 
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