finish sanding problems!

W

willy m

Joined
Nov 27, 2007
Messages
255
im having a problem trying to keep the ricasso's pronounced when i finish a blade. there nice and straight with a clean ridge after grinding, but as i finish up with the sand paper they get sanded down till im done. how can i get the scratches out up close to it without removing. how do i change sanding direction that close? one more question,how can i get a nice satin finish on my blade? i can get a mirror finish but i cant seem to get a nice uniform satin. any ideas would be great. thanks,willy:confused:
 
I use a brass wire wheel for satin look, or rub it down with 0000 steel wool

Have to do the small stuff by hand bro. also try a needle file with very little pressure
 
Use sand paper wrapped around a dowel of appropriate size for the plunge. Use a flat, hard block for the rest. To satin finish, you first must bring your finish to the finish grit that you have chosen, and be sure all scratches from previous grits are gone. I never go under 600 grit for this, and most often do it with 400 grit, and even 220 grit. With a semi-hard, rectangular artist eraser as a sanding block, start at the grip, or guard, and pull in a straight line, all the way to the point. Do not stop your motion. One long pull until it clears the point. Start the same way the same in your plunge. Just keep going until you have a nice even finish. It takes a little time, but is worth the effort, if you want a nice soft finish. If you have a grind line, do it first with a hard block, then stay just a tad shy of it with the eraser block. Change paper often, and the job will go faster, and more even.
 
i have a buffer but im not sure what a hard wheel is? i use sewed muslin wheels and white or yellow compound to buff but dont have any grey.
 
Finish the area where the ricasso will be, on the completed knife, as early as possible. Mic it and make sure it is at 400 grit and no less. I will go as far as covering the area with tape so it does not get scratched. Now start on the plunge cuts and the tang, you hardly have to touch the area at the ricasso, when you finish these, because its already at 400.. A little light touch up and you are ready for a handle. In simplest terms; build the ricasso and then add the blade and tang features.
Doing something at the rite time in constructing a knife will save you loads of time and effort. And aggravation:(


Fred.
 
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