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Blade polishing

C_Tanner

C_Tanner

Joined
Feb 21, 2011
Messages
2,139
I've been working on polishing my BK16. It's pretty decent, for a user. But the FFG shows the micro scratches a bit more than a sabre grind would. I've gone up to 2000grit W/D paper, and the micro scratch swirls are still visible. Is it even possible to get this smoothed out by hand, or do you need some sort of rotary tool?
 
I'm no expert, but try to see what the scratches are comparable to. It it is similar to scratches from, let's say, 220 grit, then work it with 320, then 400, and so on. Basically, work your way up. At least that's what I do.
 
muradtexas said:
I'm no expert, but try to see what the scratches are comparable to. It it is similar to scratches from, let's say, 220 grit, then work it with 320, then 400, and so on. Basically, work your way up. At least that's what I do.
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Thats what I had to do with my BK-11. After I finished with 1500 there were still some light scratchs. So I went back to 600 I think and worked my way back up. I polished it with Mothers mag polish and that actually cleaned up some of the fine lines too. I did it all by hand so it did take a while. If it's gonna be a user its gonna get some scratchs anyway right? Mine has user scratchs on it now, but I think it still looks cool.

DSC01876.jpg
 
How many grits are you hitting between your coarsest and finest? I brought my seven up to 2000 but used as many incremental steps as I could find at the hardware store, the higher grits will polish, but won't remove the swirls left by lower grits unless you really spend your time working each one. I used straight forward and backward movements along the length of the blade to reduce the swirl marks and leave a more even finish. When you're as close as you can get, finish with some metal polishing compound and go till your arm falls off again. Hope it helps a bit, get some pics up! Lol
 
You have to start with a more coarse grit, say around 400gt and I always use wet dry, with mineral oil as a lubricant. And always make the same motions with the sand paper.

Once you get to the upper grits, 2000-4000, you should see the tool marks gone, and the polish taking. Then, to get that high mirror, your gonna need to get a polishing compound, and a buffer.

Go slow and watch the heat though, you can "putty" the outer coating of steel, like the do on moras, and it will deform along the edge.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Moose
 
Had an idea.... Put the work sharp in tool mode and put the purple belt on. Since it is FFG, I can hit the whole surface. Took care of it well enough that it doesn't bother me now. Will get some lower grits. Have 1000, 1200, and 2000.
 
C_Tanner said:
Had an idea.... Put the work sharp in tool mode and put the purple belt on. Since it is FFG, I can hit three whole surface. Took care of it well enough that it doesn't bother me now. Will get some lower grits. Have 1000, 1200, and 2000.
Click to expand...

2000 should get you where you want for the buffing compound. I you can find a leather belt for that WS (some guy have made them) and use chromium oxide, or Jewelers Rouge, you'll be able to check you nose hair when your done.

Moose

ETA, be wary of Dremels and their ability to polish, they cause "streaking", and you really won't like the looks of that
 
The worksharp does convex edges so you might get an uneaven polish if you use it. As Meeseaxen (Moose) said, the dremel leaves streaks and actally heats up very quickly. Each person has their own tastes and stuff but why are you polishing it? If its a user I think you should leave a nice satin/matt finnish.
 
I posted a detailed set of steps for hand-sanding success awhile back. Search is your friend.

-Daizee
 
I polish it till its nice and smooth but not to mirror levels. I just like how it looks.
 
I agree, my whole idea with the seven was "Let her be pretty once". So I brought it up to the point where I was ready to put her in a safe...and then I went and jammed her through some seasoned cedar and fir logs, put her through a year of KD duty and turned her into the beautiful beast she is today.
 
C_Tanner said:
Might be yours, but it aint mine. I couldn't even find the right gathering thread the other day.
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Seriously. Sometimes a simple search brings up 800 threads to answer one question and even after finding the right thread what you're really looking for might be on page 30. Good thing we can just spend a few minutes posting a question and everyone can all help out with answer/direction.
 
Jonny1280 said:
Thats what I had to do with my BK-11. After I finished with 1500 there were still some light scratchs. So I went back to 600 I think and worked my way back up. I polished it with Mothers mag polish and that actually cleaned up some of the fine lines too. I did it all by hand so it did take a while. If it's gonna be a user its gonna get some scratchs anyway right? Mine has user scratchs on it now, but I think it still looks cool.

DSC01876.jpg
Click to expand...

WOW! That knife is shiny!
 
I have a Porter-Cable Orbit Sander thats works great!

I got mine for about $100 on Amazon and it came with a polishing pad.


For mine I hit the blade with a 150, 300, 600, 1000, 1500, 3000 and then used some buffing compounds on the polishing pad!
 
Regardless of tools used, the important thing is to remove all scratches from previous grit when moving up.

If you went 150, 200, 320, 600 - and did not sand out all the 200 scratches when you went to 320 - the 600 will never remove those scratches, you'll just wear yourself out. In that case, you have to go back to 320, then 600 - etc...

And yes, to really get a mirror shine, you need a buffer and some compound.

(paperairplane - polished off fingerprints with sandpaper and aluminum motorcycle parts)
 
Went back and re-did the polishing. Got some 300 and 600 grit, then used my 1000, 1200, 2000. Looks MUCH better. Going to try and find some 3000 and then some metal polish. Any suggestions on polish, and where to look for it?

3 hours on a Short....that Potbelly is going to be a bitch.
 
Best polish on the market is flexcut gold! I have every grit imaginable, but nothing gets a mirror better!
 
Bowman1911 said:
Best polish on the market is flexcut gold! I have every grit imaginable, but nothing gets a mirror better!
Click to expand...

And you find that where?

Maybe I should take a trip across town to the knife store tommorrow....I bet they have it, or something similar.
 
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