DIY Rock Tumbler - I use it for Stonewashing Knives

**JKeetonKnives** · Sep 14, 2019, 08:42 AM

This is a system that flexes your belt sander to tumble knives in rocks; in order to achieve a stone washed finished like this blade here:

DIY Rock Tumbler:

How to Stone Wash a Knife:

Cheers,
JK

**Spira Knives** · Sep 15, 2019, 01:28 AM

Well done! I‘ve just built myself one, too but I‘m using a drill to power it.
What I like most about stonewashing is how simple it is. You can buy a real tumbler with expensive ceramic media but you could also put the knife in a box with stones you just picked up and shake the hell out of it - results are pretty much the same

**JKeetonKnives** · Sep 15, 2019, 07:23 AM

Aint that the truth!

**DIYer** · Sep 15, 2019, 09:26 PM

Thanks JKeetonKnives! We've added your Rock Tumbler to our Knife Making category,
as well as to your builder page: JKeetonKnives's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Rock Tumbler by JKeetonKnives

tags: tumbler, finish

**high-side** · Sep 17, 2019, 02:12 PM

Nice Job. You could probably cut up a bicycle inner tube and use rubber adhesive if the rubber bands don't hold up long term.

**Philip Davies** · Sep 17, 2019, 03:42 PM

Thanks, J! This is very helpful. I don’t make knives, but forge other items, some of which I polished in a small lapidary tumbler, which broke down after not a lot of use. I certainly like the stonewashed effect! So I am keen to make something similar to yours. Do you find yours noisy? I couldn’t stand it running on my sander, but think I shall use my Tormek.

**JKeetonKnives** · Sep 17, 2019, 05:13 PM

Very good idea! Thanks

**JKeetonKnives** · Sep 17, 2019, 05:14 PM

Hey Philip, It does make some noise. Similar to if you were lightly shaking the container by hand. Almost like a "rain maker". Works best a low speeds. I'm also thinking of adding some baffles to aid mixing.