Best polishing compound?

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NeedItCheaper

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Jun 17, 2012
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For those who simply enjoy a shiny knife, what's your favorite polishing compound? I'm assuming the polishing compound will depend on the steel and the level of finish on it already, include both in your answer please. More than that, this can be a general discussion, polishing knives is stupid/waste, or alternative methods of polishing a blade.
 
Flitz, Simichrome, Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish are some I have used for various items in different hobbies.
 
For mainstream, middle-of-the-road cutlery steels and any brass or nickel bolsters, Simichrome is pretty good overall. And stick-type buffing compounds like grey aluminum oxide and white rouge (also aluminum oxide) work very well on similar steels, especially when used on fabric backing, like denim, canvas or linen.

For more wear-resistant steels like D2, S30V, etc., diamond compounds at 3-micron and smaller work very well on wood strops.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
For mainstream, middle-of-the-road cutlery steels and any brass or nickel bolsters, Simichrome is pretty good overall. And stick-type buffing compounds like grey aluminum oxide and white rouge (also aluminum oxide) work very well on similar steels, especially when used on fabric backing, like denim, canvas or linen.

For more wear-resistant steels like D2, S30V, etc., diamond compounds at 3-micron and smaller work very well on wood strops.
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Would you name a diamond polishing compound. Not for stropping, but for putting a mirror polish on a knife?

I'm thinking of stripping the paint on my TOPS BOB, then putting a mirror polish to reduce rusting. Then coat with something, not sure yet. I'm sure Simichrome will work, but I want to mirror up one or two of my 3V blades.
 
NeedItCheaper said:
Would you name a diamond polishing compound. Not for stropping, but for putting a mirror polish on a knife?

I'm thinking of stripping the paint on my TOPS BOB, then putting a mirror polish to reduce rusting. Then coat with something, not sure yet. I'm sure Simichrome will work, but I want to mirror up one or two of my 3V blades.
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The compound I've used is DMT Dia-Paste (3 micron). I've also used their 6-micron (hazy finish) and 1-micron. Those three can often be found as a set. The 3-micron is where the big jump comes in finish, from hazy to mirror-like, as seen by the naked eye. And on steels like S30V, etc., it does it fast when used on a firm/hard backing like wood (balsa, basswood, etc.).
 
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