C-Tek finishing?

[tedtf]

I just recieved my first c-tek handle material for new knife build. Never worked with this stuff before. I ordered the 1/8" thick stuff and and 1/3 of its thickness is a soild blue layer and the remaining 2/3 is the aluminum honeycomb layer. Do you simply sand this stuff like wood and then polish it up with buffing compound? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Elite_KG]

Yes or bead blast it. It takes some effort. More like polishing metal: progressive grits in a single direction.

 

[darks]

You may want to consider backing it some carbon fiber or G10 as well. The stuff can be pretty fragile as it gains the majority of it's strength from the resin.