Stonewahing question

[KCorn]

Two quick questions: can you submerge an entire completed knife with G-10 Handles attached into Ferric chloride? How would tumbling with ceramic pyramids affect the G-10 handle scales? Thanks for any input!

 

[Drew Riley]

You can submerge anything you want into ferric chloride if the container is big enough...

In all seriousness, it shouldn't affect the G10 in any noticeable way. Just make sure you thoroughly neutralize and clean the knife afterwards. My biggest concern would be getting some of the ferric chloride under the handle scales and not getting it cleaned out all the way, causing it to rust. If you thoroughly clean it afterwards, you should be ok.

As for stonewashing/tumbling with the scales on: you'll probably have a little bit of scoring/scratching and polishing from the media, similar to what you'll have on the blade, although, the G10 is softer than the steel, so it may be just a little more pronounced.

You might try throwing a scrap piece of G10 in the tumbler first and seeing what it looks like after a few hours. I personally do not think it will be too bad.

 

[KCorn]

Thanks for the info Andrew. I hadn't thought of the rust issue under the scales. I think I'll skip it on this knife and try it on my 2nd before installing the scales. Ill throw a piece of G-10 in the tumbler and do a little experimenting anyway. Thanks again!