How bloody long...

Geektechnica

Geektechnica

Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
320
Does it take to get a mirror polish on this damn thing?

I feel like I've been sanding my BK12 for days. I started out with 220, then 320, then 400, 600, 1200, 2000, then a buffing wheel. It looks better, but damn, there are still tool marks and fine scratches. I sanded for hours last night, and I'm back at it again tonight.

Is there something I'm missing?
 
I've heard lots of different directions. One is that you have to alternate direction that your sanding each time. I don't know how exactly to describe it, once towards the point, the next time towards the belly.

I've also read that you have to do the base level as long as you can otherwise you will have the nicks and marks forever.

Hope that helps.
 
The most important thing I've found is that you need to remove the tooling marks with the low grit.
If you're seeing marks and scratches when you get to the finer grits, then you need to go back through the lower grits and remove them.
It seems like anything thats 400 grit and above are more for polishing and have a lot harder time removing scratches.
The low grit is where the work gets done imo. Spend a little extra time there and you should be fine.
 
Yeah, I stuck to the lower grits for a couple hours last night, then brought it up through the higher grits just to see how it was coming along. I'm back at the lower ones again for a while. On the plus side, I'm completely caught up with Game of Thrones now... lol
 
Thank you for posting this -- and your frustration! Because I've done a few and posted photos, lately I've been getting PMs and emails that read, "How much if I send you my [blah-blah] and you polish the blade to a mirror finish???"

I won't do it. Couldn't possibly charge enough to make my hours and sore muscles worthwhile.
 
I've done one, and it's the only one I would ever do. Just takes entirely too long to do.
 
As posted above, get the tool marks out with the lower grit - more aggressive sandpaper. Then step up through the higher grits to get to desired polish.
 
Can I recommend something more along the lines of 80 grit for a low grit? It took most of the tool marks out when I stripped my 2 with it.
 
Geektechnica said:
Yeah, I stuck to the lower grits for a couple hours last night, then brought it up through the higher grits just to see how it was coming along. I'm back at the lower ones again for a while. On the plus side, I'm completely caught up with Game of Thrones now... lol
Click to expand...

lol...yeah it takes awhile.
On the plus side, you'll end up with a really cool looking blade...and some Popeye forearms when you're done!
 
Jonny1280 said:
lol...yeah it takes awhile.
On the plus side, you'll end up with a really cool looking blade...and some Popeye forearms when you're done!
Click to expand...

and arthritis.

I'm not a big fan of the mirror, but I DO like a nice brushed finish. I've yet to go beyond 1000 grit.
 
I am not doing this to any of my beckers but i am working on a mirror polish on my norlund hatchet...that is tedious as heck!!
8b32942f.jpg
 
Well, I went to bed at like 4 am last night, but it is much much closer now, at least on one side. I think part of the problem is the lower grit sandpaper I have is cheap aluminum oxide paper, whereas the higher grit (600/1200/2000) is a better grade silicon carbide. I'm going to keep at it, and I'll post pics when I'm done. I can also guarantee that I won't be doing this again! At least not on anything bigger than a BK14!!
 
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