Recommendation? Busse stripping/polish questions

JackTheKnifeGuy · Jun 8, 2018

Birthday is coming up in a few days and Im thinking of treating myself to something off the exchange or one of the Battle grades currently offered and stripping it, polishing it, putting it through the works and making it mine. A perty polished user. Been looking at a lot of stripped photos but most I see have what looks like a matte gray finish (residue?), even after being polished.

Does stripped infi/sr101 take a nice mirror polish?

Ive got sand paper, wool, lots of flitz and paint strippers and an orbital sander and buffers.

Any info would be appreciated. :thumbsup:

Murman · Jun 8, 2018

I'd say both do, infi certainly will. Look at the banned fbm with snakeskin in the exchange.

Murman · Jun 8, 2018

No relation

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/price-lowered-banned-satin-fbm-with-snakeskin-scales.1584776/

JackTheKnifeGuy · Jun 8, 2018

That things a beauty, theres also a huck finn im thinking of getting. Was thinking about the fusion Huck but knowing myself I couldnt resist the bigger one for much longer. Should be able to bite deeper once the coating is gone.
That grey finish i was seeing might have been just lack of further sanding

honorearth · Jun 8, 2018

The gray is the decarb layer and it is a process to get it off. I usually use acetone for stripping and then 220 grit sand paper to get the decarb cleaned up. Then work your way up in grit to get the polish level you are after.

honorearth · Jun 8, 2018

Leonardo63 · Jun 8, 2018

I suggest first starting with how to etch the logo so it's there after stripping. If it's coated it makes a great mask for the parts you don't want to etch. There's a chemical and electrical method. On my next one I'm going to try electro etching in a bucket of solution. It seems this method will keep the engraving the sharpest of all from what I've seen. It's more of a hassle to set up but I think will be worth the extra effort.
Stripping and polishing isn't that hard and starting with a BG is a good choice imo, not so much at risk. I prefer to remove the scales and do the whole blade proper but I've invested in the tools and materials to be able to duplicate the flared tubes, it's a great strong method of attaching them. It's a good feeling knowing no matter how my experiments may turn out I can always take it back to stock, albeit shiny

JackTheKnifeGuy · Jun 9, 2018

Leonardo63 said:
I suggest first starting with how to etch the logo so it's there after stripping. If it's coated it makes a great mask for the parts you don't want to etch. There's a chemical and electrical method. On my next one I'm going to try electro etching in a bucket of solution. It seems this method will keep the engraving the sharpest of all from what I've seen. It's more of a hassle to set up but I think will be worth the extra effort.
Stripping and polishing isn't that hard and starting with a BG is a good choice imo, not so much at risk. I prefer to remove the scales and do the whole blade proper but I've invested in the tools and materials to be able to duplicate the flared tubes, it's a great strong method of attaching them. It's a good feeling knowing no matter how my experiments may turn out I can always take it back to stock, albeit shiny

Ive been looking at a couple techniques but so far the 9volt salt water method seems to be the best working one among people , Although i have never heard of the bucket electro etching, Ill look into it :thumbsup:

For now im fine with screws until I can save up to get better equipment.

How do you remove the scales safely? Dremmel?

I feel like I should be paying for all this valuable information

F'lar · Jun 9, 2018

Here's a link to one of my favorite projects.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-tglb-no-one-wanted.1511383/

Leonardo63 · Jun 9, 2018

F'lar said:
Here's a link to one of my favorite projects.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-tglb-no-one-wanted.1511383/

Flar, you know how much that hurts me and you still stab me with that thing.....one click away, ... I was one click away.... that regert that still stings

Snakebreaker · Jun 9, 2018

Stripped and polished INFI

20180407_203004.jpg
Snakebreaker
LINK
DIRECT
FORUM
ALT
HTML

F'lar · Jun 9, 2018

Leonardo63 said:
Flar, you know how much that hurts me and you still stab me with that thing.....one click away, ... I was one click away.... that regert that still stings

Sorry brother, just trying to show INFI can be used to shave with or in

when polished.

echaraska · Jun 10, 2018

INFI polishes up quite nicely...

Ptac157 · Jun 16, 2018

Infi is by far the easiest steel I've ever polished. The qualities that make it easy to sharpen also make it easy to polish

mainaman · Jun 16, 2018

I use citristrip then sandpaper to remove the decarb layer. Today worked on my NMFBM , the decarb removal git very tedious so I got it on the buffer. So far I used just a scotch brite type of wheel and it is starting to shine up a bit. After I go in the higher grit compounds it will be pretty mirrored although not perfect.

Ptac157 · Jun 16, 2018

mainaman said:
I use citristrip then sandpaper to remove the decarb layer. Today worked on my NMFBM , the decarb removal git very tedious so I got it on the buffer. So far just switch brute type of wheel and it is starting to shine up a bit. After I go in the higher grit compounds it will be pretty mirrored although not perfect.

Nice work mate, I actually find it quite enjoyable for the first 10 minutes. Then i start getting impatient and ticked off