Cheapest way to get a mirror polish

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Knifenut914

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Dec 21, 2022
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I currently use the work sharp elite knife sharpening solution. The one with the big belts and I can get all of my knives super sharp but not to a mirror polish. Which system offers me the most inexpensive way to get a mirror polish?
 
For me, when I get done sharpening with diamond Stones. Then I switch out to the ceramic. And if you take enough time the ceramic will give it a or polish. As well as Stropping should give it the Polish you're looking for. It works for me, although I do like a little bit of a toothy edge. So mirror polish doesn't really matter much to me. I strop my knives on leather. I'm still learning and I'm not a professional Cutler. And sometimes I get very frustrated. Practice makes perfect I guess.
 
Are you wanting a mirror polish on the entire blade, or just on the edge? If just the edge follow the above advice.
To get a mirror polish on the blade inexpensively, use progressively finer belts or wet dry paper to about 1200 - 2000 grit. Wipe the blade clean with acetone in between stages. At some point you will need to hand sand to remove the grind lines the belts put there. After hand sanding, I use 0000 steel wool with wd40 lubricant, then I use a buffing wheel attachment on a drill, with the knife held in a vise, and work through the grits on the grinding paste and I use metal polish on a cloth by hand. Its relatively inexpensive but takes hours of work.
 
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Abrasive goo, some cardboard, and your own sweat, is the cheapest way.
 
Vlade said:
For me, when I get done sharpening with diamond Stones. Then I switch out to the ceramic. And if you take enough time the ceramic will give it a or polish. As well as Stropping should give it the Polish you're looking for. It works for me, although I do like a little bit of a toothy edge. So mirror polish doesn't really matter much to me. I strop my knives on leather. I'm still learning and I'm not a professional Cutler. And sometimes I get very frustrated. Practice makes perfect I guess.
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For blades I really like and want to really use, I will go thru all the grit progression all the way up to a highly polished (mirror to naked eye) bevel, but then carefully apply a toothy microbevel, sometimes with dual grits, ie 400 (diamond) on the lock side and 1000 on the show side. Makes for a really great performing and aesthetically beautiful edge.
 
Officer's Match said:
For blades I really like and want to really use, I will go thru all the grit progression all the way up to a highly polished (mirror to naked eye) bevel, but then carefully apply a toothy microbevel, sometimes with dual grits, ie 400 (diamond) on the lock side and 1000 on the show side. Makes for a really great performing and aesthetically beautiful edge.
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That's a good idea. Thanks for the tip I'm going to try it when she's ready to be sharpened. Did the op ever tell us that he wanted a polished edge or did he want a polished knife? Because without that this whole conversation is futile. It don't matter though cuz I just learned something. So what was it that the op wanted?
 
use a strop or flat piece of wood coated with buffing compounds (1 black, 2 white, finish with green) and strop the bevel. you can even skip the black and white compounds and go straight to green although the polish will not be as fine as if you had used a progression. I am sure high quality diamond emulsions could get a similar result although I don't have any experience using them.

if you don't already have an assortment of buffing compounds, go buy some, they are reasonable considering they will typically last you a lifetime and you can also use them to polish any metal to a mirror shine.

If you want quicker solution, setup a bench grinder with either paper or linen wheels and use the same buffing compounds previously mentioned.
 
nickycat said:
use a strop or flat piece of wood coated with buffing compounds (1 black, 2 white, finish with green) and strop the bevel. you can even skip the black and white compounds and go straight to green although the polish will not be as fine as if you had used a progression. I am sure high quality diamond emulsions could get a similar result although I don't have any experience using them.

if you don't already have an assortment of buffing compounds, go buy some, they are reasonable considering they will typically last you a lifetime and you can also use them to polish any metal to a mirror shine.

If you want quicker solution, setup a bench grinder with either paper or linen wheels and use the same buffing compounds previously mentioned.
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Where do you guys buy your compounds from? Is that something that home Depot carries? Or Ace?
 
Vlade said:
Where do you guys buy your compounds from? Is that something that home Depot carries? Or Ace?
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I've never seen them at home depot...you may be able to find something at a hardware store but I get it online (like every dang thing these days).

a few choices below:

- https://www.empireabrasives.com/buffing-compounds/ (best value IMO, especially if you meet the free shipping minimum)
- dlt trading
- https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...es/32984-veritas-honing-compound?item=05M0801
 
Cardboard + Autosol ... Works a treat ..

Just work the edge down to 5000 grit or there about and then strop polish till it reflects to your wants ..
 
There are no “systems” that I know of that can get a mirror polish. A 5000-6000 grit water stone and a 10,000 grit strop would get a mirror polish. I would recommend the Shapton glass stones or the Naniwa professional/traditional stones.
 
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