Hand rubbed?

[NGK-Webmaster]

Been wondering: I see sometimes a maker says the blade is "hand rubbed" Now i understand the theory but was wondering exactly what this means and what is used to accomplish this? ona knife blade? and what are the pluses or the minuses to it. Also where can the materials that are used be bought and what is recommended.

 

[ddavelarsen]

This means hand sanding the blade, using progressively finer grits of paper, usually ending at somewhere between 1000 and 2000 grit, the final "rub" along the axis of the blade making an even satin finish.

There are no minuses to it as far as I can tell, it is beautiful done right. You can get the finer grits of paper from supply places like Pop's or Tru Grit. A good hand finish adds a lot of value to a knife.

Dave

 

[RHINOKNIVES]

lots of elbow grease

 

[rlinger]

I am still learning (trying to) this knife stuff.

The way I have been doing it is sanding by hand from spine to edge, using a small sanding block to keep the paper relatively flat. I will use a flat piece of wood or a flat gum eraser as the sanding block. The blade has already been sanded to 600 grit on the belt sander. By hand I start again with 600 grit. I then proceed in order from 600 to 2000 grit. That means by hand: 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000. I then (very causiously) buff it using an 8 inch buffing wheel coated with buffing compound. I have always sanded and buffed from spine to edge. Very important to me is that I never make the cutting edge untill all sanding and buffing is complete. Otherwise can be extreme danger.

I find my finer grit papers (those grit papers smaller than 600) at auto parts stores such as NAPA. Eight hundred seems to be the least likely to find for me.

Roger

 

[Guy Thomas]

Roger mentioned that as a final step he buffs his finish. In my mind a "hand rubbed" finish would end in just the final grit choice in just the paper and no buffing at all. It's not a bad idea to go one grit size higher than you want and then drop back down to your finish choice in grit.

(Roger, I meant to mention that you have been getting some fantastic finishes on your knives. You've done an incredible job for someone who has only been making knives as long as you have!)