Getting a Nice Shine on Bone Scales?

[AFAustin]

I mainly have traditional folders, and of course trads often have jigged (or smooth) bone scales. On occasion I need to sand the scales a bit for one reason or the other, and afterwards I have difficulty restoring the same high gloss shine on the sanded portion that it had from the factory.

So what do manufacturers use to get that nice shine on bone scales? And what's available that might replicate it?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Not sure what mfrs. do, aside from buffing on powered wheels (no idea what abrasive/polish they use). But, I've found that sanding up through 1000-2000 grit or so, and then rubbing/buffing by hand with aluminum oxide polishing paste like Flitz or Simichrome works very well on bone scales. Sanding up through 2000 will begin to produce some gloss by itself, after which the polishing paste is the icing on the cake and makes it pop. If they're just a bit dull and no previous sanding has been done to the factory finish, just the polishing paste & buffing alone is usually enough to bring them back to a glossy shine. This also works on stag as well; I've done it with one of my stag-handled fixed blades that looked a little too flat & dull for my tastes.

Just be careful on lighter bone or stag, to minimize contact with adjacent nickel/metal bolsters & pins, with the polishing paste buffing. Dark swarf coming off the metal can get rubbed into the adjacent bone/stag, leaving darkened areas which can be an annoyance to clean up (also done with the polishing paste). Might be good to cover the bolsters with some tape first, and use a CLEAN rag or cloth. Don't ask me how I know this...


David

 

[AFAustin]

Thanks, David. I appreciate the advice.

Andrew