ZT0350SW with a StoneWashed CLIP!

[Ares1307]

I will start out by saying/admitting I have NEVER customized or modified any of my knives... until now. I recently had a post about which ZT0350 finish would be best for my EDC. I chose the ZT0350SW, StoneWashed, version which is an amazing knife. It is also my very first stonewashed knife. I love the knife but was wondering if anyone had tried to stonewash the clip to match. I would like to thank Chester22 for posting a picture of his ZT0350SW with a skyline clip that matched the blade pretty well in his picture. After seeing his ZT with its new clip I thought I would try my hand at stonewashing my clip. This is my FIRST attempt at stonewashing.. and customizing/modding. It came out a bit more shiny than the blade, but I think it matches pretty well.

The process I chose to try was one I read about a few times on different posts here on BladeForums. I used a Gatorade bottle, WD-40, Aqua Rocks, and smaller round smooth rocks I found in my yard. Capped it, wrapped it in two towels (well taped), and threw it in my dryer for two hours.

I would like to thank Chester22 again for posting his sweet ZT0350SW with the Skyline clip. I would also like to thank everybody else on BF for your information on this site. I was only able to attempt this after reading a few posts about different DIY stonewashing processes.

 

[A.Dragg]

Looking very nice man!

 

[Ares1307]

Thank you very much. I forgot to add how I took the paint off the ZT clip. I tried to sand it off by hand, but that took too long.. I tried paint stripper, but that didnt work.. So I used a hand held drill with a grinding tip, which worked like a charm.

I was actually surprized the ZT logo is still there and still easily legible.

 

[Ares1307]

Over 100 views.. but only one comment? Id love some feedback guys. I have two more clips Im going to stonewash to try to get a closer match to the blade. The blade seems to be smoother with smaller, lighter scratches. It is also a lighter grey than my clip came out. Any advice to help me get a closer match?

Thank you for checking out my knife and please let me know what you think.

ARES

 

[A.Dragg]

Over 100 views.. but only one comment? Id love some feedback guys. I have two more clips Im going to stonewash to try to get a closer match to the blade. The blade seems to be smoother with smaller, lighter scratches. It is also a lighter grey than my clip came out. Any advice to help me get a closer match?

Thank you for checking out my knife and please let me know what you think.

ARES

I think you may have stonewashed it a bit too much so now it has a deeper stonewash than the lighter blade's stonewash. I also thing you probably used too sharp of rocks so it has deeper, heavier scratches. You might try doing it again with less sharp rocks. Don't use anything too small or sharp, go for more rounded rocks. You might also try polishing out the old scratches a bit, or sanding them off some to start with a clean "slate", although the second stonewash should smoothen those deeper scratches anyway. However, you might actually try just metal-polishing over the existing stonewash first anyway, and see if that doesn't lighten up the stonewash as well as brighten up the color some. Good luck.

 

[beau007]

I think the clip looks great. I have a ZT0350SW as well and I wish that the blade had deeper, longer scratches. The blade looks more like a satin finish to me than a stonewash. I may try tumbling the blade myself.

 

[Ares1307]

Thank you for the advice. I have two spare clips so I will try again... and again if need be. I also wish the blade was stonewashed a bit more but I wont dare try to do that myself... I dont have a good enough sharpener to bring the edge back. I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker which is only good if the blade is somewhat sharp already. I may get a lansky diamond system or small belt sander and then Ill be able to bring an edge back from the dead, but I baby my ZT0350SW..

Im going to get better stones strip another clip and only tumble for an hour and see where that gets me. I will post pictures side by side after Im done with the next clip, which wont be until tomorrow, I have a day off tomorrow.