DLC polished?

[birdave]

Anyone know how to get a polished finish on what is currently a matte DLC finish, on blade and hardware?
Thanks for your time and for any info.

 

[Tensaw]

A DLC finish is determined by how the material is prepped before the application of the DLC. I don't know if a DLC finish can be changed after it's applied.

 

[birdave]

A DLC finish is determined by how the material is prepped before the application of the DLC. I don't know if a DLC finish can be changed after it's applied.

Thanks for weighing in, Tensaw.

 

[SOLEIL]

if your dlc is rougher than you like you can buff it smoother. have done this numerous times with a buffer wheel on grinders or power tools

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I only have one DLC-coated blade, a Kershaw/ZT. I noticed its matte finish, as new, tended to polish or burnish pretty quickly near the edge bevels after stropping the edge with green compound on leather. I came away with the impression that DLC might be hard enough to protect the steel from scuffs & scrapes, but it may not be all that hard as compared to the fine abrasive compounds that might be used to polish it, like chromium oxide (green compound), aluminum oxide and others.

 

[tiguy7]

DLC is around 72 HRC, and the physical vapor deposition coat is quite thin.

 

[edgelion]

If it's for show only, and not a user, I imagine some automotive polish or maybe a few layers of wax would buff up nice and shiny. Never tried it myself. Quick Google search turns up a bunch of similar ideas but no definitive method, and most common wisdom is that the underlying finish is the determinate factor.

 

[SOLEIL]

a little flitz on a clean buffing wheel works. kershaw dlc is good stuff, better than benchmade in my experience

 

[birdave]

Thank you all, for your suggestions, Truly appreciated!
I have lightly buffed a DLC finish with a white 3M finishing pad that was wet.
It gave me a brighter finish, but removed a bit of the DLC.
However, it now has a DLC / used finish. if it can be called that.
I've used the green buffing compound many times on different knife scales, liners, bolsters, blades, etc...great stuff.
I've also used Flitz and Simichrome polish.
Both of those work great to put a shine on and hide very tiny scuffs.
I will close this thread now, but save it for future reference.
Thanks again to everyone for their help.