Finishing carbon fiber

[bc2573]

Hi i'm kind of new here. I have a question for a few of you experts.

I am finishing up a blade, and I am putting carbon fiber handles on it. So after I get them on and shaped down, how do I finish it. I ordered the scales from a place, and the pics they have on their website doesn't really look like the finish on the pic from their website.

Do I polish and buff it, or just sand it down. I want it to look like this.

 

[JB Knives]

I'm not by any means an expert, but this is usually my process. I hand sand my scales down to 600 or 800 grit- this leaves more "grip" on the handle and still allows a nice pattern to show. I haven't tried buffing them yet, but I would imagine it would simply make it look shinier and make the handles smooth. The carbon fiber pattern will look like it does in the picture after shaping- provided you purchased the same weave pattern that is shown in the picture. Bead blasting also brings out the pattern nicely.

 

[bc2573]

Thank you my friend. I figured that is what I need to do. They arrived in a polished state, and that is not the look I am going for at all.


Yes it is the same weave as in the pic. Those are the same scales I ordered.

Appreciate the info.