About mirror edges... again

A

Amestron

Joined
Apr 3, 2015
Messages
44
Hi, mates
The case is that I have aaall the lansky stones (diamond, Arkansas and regular), the KME with 140, 300, 600 and 1500, a Zwilling combo 3000-8000, a Spyderco UF... and yet I don't always get the mirror edge. They cut like hell, but can't avoid many small scratches that spoil the mirror effect. Oh, also have lansky strops charged with DMT Diamond paste 0.5 to 6 microns. The edge shines, but the scratches... still there.
Am I applying too much force with the lower grits? Could you recommend a progression? Is the process any different depending on the steel?
It's driving me nuts!
Thanks for your kind help, as always.


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U should be using very light pressure to none towards the end of each grit. Water will help. thagd about all I can tell u right now
 
I'm not familiar with most the stones your using but it seems like u have too many low grits and need some more higher grits in between that 3k to 8k...I'm sure someone will chime in soon that will give u the advice your looking for though
 
Also you have got to be impeccable at not cross contaminating the coarser grits onto the finer stones.
Don't share "pond" water / keep the stones separate ESPECIALLY the last few stones/tapes/ strops.

Too many grit changes is better than too few so yah a 5,000 in the mix between the 3k and 8k would be a good idea.
Change directions for each grit change so you can see when you have eliminated ALL of the scratches from the previous grit.

Diamonds tend to scratch where as the softer water stones tend to polish out scratches and change enough during use of the same grit to kind of burnish its own scratch pattern a little. Granted, and I think every one here who produces truly clean polishes will agree, I don't get or really go for clean polishes on my edges but these are the things I have learned from going as far as I have gone with it.



PS: and when I have cut a corner price wise to get a "finer" stone I have paid the price by winding up with an inferior product. Two examples: Norton stones made in Mexico are not as good (consistent in grit size) as Old Nortons made in the USA and Ice Bear stones are not as consistent grit wise as Shapton.
 
Great tips! Thanks! I know mirror polishing is not crucial for the functionality. It's a matter of aesthetics and mastering the process.
I still need to find a proper
progression for my stones. I am finding that the grit isn't an absolute value between stones.
Thanks again!


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you want to wipe out the scratch pattern that you just layed down with the next grit. if that makes sense. so once you use one grit, all those scratches need to be gone when using the next grit. This takes some practice and skills and time to do.
 
You have too many different stones, trying to mix and match to many types of abrasive. That's not even factoring in the difference between Natural and synthetic abrasive, stone density, bond strength, or the steel you are trying to polish. In my experience when you have a set of stones from the same maker the progression is smoother and allows for better and more consistent results. Mixing and matching like you are just makes everything more difficult.
 
Jason B. said:
You have too many different stones, trying to mix and match to many types of abrasive. That's not even factoring in the difference between Natural and synthetic abrasive, stone density, bond strength, or the steel you are trying to polish. In my experience when you have a set of stones from the same maker the progression is smoother and allows for better and more consistent results. Mixing and matching like you are just makes everything more difficult.
Click to expand...

You may be right. I have got my best results sticking to one single system. Thanks!


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk
 
Note that as you polish ever finer, any scratches that are left will show up even more. To get a perfectly polished edge requires good technique, uncontaminated stones, and lots of elbow grease.

One of the hardest things to remember is to use less pressure as you reach the finer grits, something I have a hard time with.
 
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