Hand Rubing up to 1200 grit now got a cloud

[RICH LITTLE]

I want to thank everyone who help me out on this

I used Ailuminum oxide instead of Sil Car. I live in a big town all I could find in Sil Car Wet & Dry was 150 to 600 grit and then to 1500 grit! 600 to 1500 was asking to much. but I found a supplier 150 to 1500 and then 2000grit GREAT they even sent it out the next day. So I started over the 3rd time. Things where looking good, got too 800 grit and then 1000 still doing good!! got to 1200 and you see this cloud like film? I know it can not be the BEAD BLAST FINISH after all this work!! What can I do next? PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP!! RICH

 

[Chuck Richards]

have you tried the next grit yet? Don't know what is causing it. I will look in a couple of books, might take a day or so though.

 

[Chuck Richards]

Rich;

I took a look at the Craft of the Japanese Sword in the section on polishing. When they get to what is called hazuya polishing the blade takes on a cloudy appearance, but the steel is smooth wihtout any blemishes. Then they go onto finer and finer stones for the final finish. This may be the point you are at so give the finer paper a try and see what happens. Are you trying for a mirror polish or hand rubbed look? I've done a couple of blades to 2000 grit and it takes forever. When you think you are about done another scratch appears and I would have to go back to the last grit again. Hope you can just pick up from 1200 and move on to finer things... by the way what type of steel are you using?

 

[Matt Shade]

Before you go to a finer grit , try this:
take the next grit down from what you are currently useing, or if thats a big step just take a new peice of paper in the grit your using. Start at one end and make one swipe lengthwise all the way to the other end of the blade. Then pick up the paper and go back to the end and do it again.Do this for a while and see if things get better.
I think what your getting is very very small circular scrathes because somehow your not rubbing it straight, or your trying to go back and forth from end to end to fast and making a big oval shape. Its an easy mistake to make, and shouldn't be to difficult to fix as long as the scrathces aren't to deep.
Hope that helps.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !