Disk Grinder with pastes

F

FunkCoaster

Joined
Nov 2, 2010
Messages
172
Just got a disk grinder.
I may want to put a mirror polish on blade flats.

After using 2500 grit paper on the disk grinder, if I wanted to use green/white/other-color compound for the polishing, how might I go about that?

Interested in any advice that might be out there, such as order of operations, disk medium, rpm, problems that you've seen, etc.

My current thought is to make leather disks loaded with 6 micron, then 1 micron diamond compounds. Sane?
 
I don't know. It sounds grabby and horrible to combine buffing dope, blade flats, and a disc sander. I'd just finish up to 2000 by disc or by hand, then buff on a 10" buffing wheel like normal, with some green chrome compound. If you're really at a clean 2000 grit the buffing won't take long or wipe out detail/mess up the flats.
 
Go to an automotive supply and get a bonnet of say sheep skin you can place over the disc and apply the polish to this.
Frank
 
As someone who buffs things for a living, I think using a disk sander to buff a knife is a bad idea.

The discs used in industrial polishing are slower speed and much larger. Most are 24" or larger. They often have a wet slurry of polish on them.

I run my 8" discs around 100 RPM when polishing stones and lapping things. Long ago, I had an Imahashi 12" unit that maxed at 500 RPM. I rarely ran it at even half speed.
 
Makes sense. For buffing, I have a bench grinder which is way too fast and scary.

It makes sense that the compounds won't wash out any details when buffing. Meanwhile I'll try my dremel for the buffing until I can set up a better configuration.

Thanks all!
 
While a Dremel may be better than nothing for buffing a blade, it isn't very much better.

I would suggest you set up a dedicated buffer with a 6" buff. An old 1750 RPM 1/4 to 1/3HP motor, an arbor adapter, and a 6" treated muslin buff will do just fine.

If you have the chance to get a 3Ph motor around 3/4HP and a cheap VFD, it will make the best biuffer you could want. It will easily spin an 8" buff and you can run it at slower speeds.

Next best system is a buffing arbor ( about $50) and a regular 1/2Hp motor with a three step sheave. This will spin two 8" buffs.
 
Do you have a 2x72" belt grinder? if so, you could build a buffing attachment like mine or Patrice's. Best option, in my book.
 
Also, you can get several types of belts to use with compound for mirror polishing on the 2X72.
 
I apologize for that BAD idea. It was passed to me by someone who should have known better. What can be used for flat ground blades is a thin piece of cork on the disc with the compound applied to this . I hope you have a VFD. Start with a slow speed .
Frank
 
When the edge gets really thin, using either the belt or the disc, I have polished a few edge down. I started doing that after catching a couple belts on the grinder. Brand new dang A30 gaters too!
 
I'm sorry I've never done pictures here even of finished knives. I went to a Lord Co automotive shop and got a sheet of cork 1/8"thick by 10 " or so wide.I put this on with the 3M feathering disc cement and then used the green compound. There needs to be a build up IN the cork of the polish. It isn't any more dangerous than doing the sanding, and it does work. I do like Salem. I go to the buffing wheel.
Frank
 
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