Stonewashing anyone?

[bry1975]

Anyone tried the stonewashing process?  it certainly looks cool and probably quite similar to abrasive blasting.

[dickda1]

Could you explain a bit how you stonewash a part?
-Dick

[Brass_Machine]

Almost looks like bead blasted. What is the process?

Eric

[bry1975]

I believe it's tumbling/barrelling.

"Bill Coye from Tulsa does a very nice stone wash finish. He has a vibrator and buys two different media "rocks" from Brownell and spray WD-40 into the mix. His come out a very nice smoothe finish. "

http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=15923

[PTsideshow]

It is an effect called stone washing as it should resemble the effect on the stone washed jeans.  Depending on the size and assortments of shapes and amounts of media a harder type media like ceramic works better. The thin oil is so less rusting rather than if a water based fluid is used.

With a smaller nozzled blaster and media and a light touch one could duplicate the soft bead blasted look.
It is also called matte effect in some circles.

[dickda1]

PTsideshow is quite right.  In the states, stonewashing highlights the mottled appearance.  What we call abrasive tumbling is quite common.

I can barely keep up with modern American terminology.  Lived in England for a number of years, but must admit to still be surprised that I have not mastered the lingo on either side of the Atlantic.

-Dick

[bry1975]

Thanks chaps.

Am hoping to make a very basic tumbler and see if I can replicate the stonewash effect, will run the barrel/tumbler of my father's Myford wood lathe.