How do you get scratches out?

[JMAN86]

I used sandpaper to strip the coating off one of my outdoor knives. Now I'm left with lots of little scratches on the blade. Is there an inexpensive way to polish those out by hand? Should I just get the finest grit sandpaper I can find?

On another note, what do you use to clean them after a day in the woods? I've been using a little soap and water followed by drying and a light oiling.

Thank you for the replies.

 

[grizzled gizzard]

Do you mean they were plated blades? The best way to polish them would be a buffer, if you know any one who has one. If they were plated carbon blades, and you wanted to make them cool looking, I would probably use a vibratory sander to give them a stone washed look, then use 44-40 cold gun bluing, which would make the blades look a lot like a regular blued firearm.

 

[rpttrsn]

I used sandpaper to strip the coating off one of my outdoor knives. Now I'm left with lots of little scratches on the blade. Is there an inexpensive way to polish those out by hand? Should I just get the finest grit sandpaper I can find?

On another note, what do you use to clean them after a day in the woods? I've been using a little soap and water followed by drying and a light oiling.

Thank you for the replies.

Keep going finner with the sandpaper (wet/dry ) removing the scratch made by the last coarsest paper until you get the finish you want. Scotch-brite ( green ) also adds a nice finish to the blade. Take your time and don't jump too many grits between the removal of the scratches. Remember that you are removing the steel around the scratch and not the scratch as that is cut into the blade.
You cleaning method sound fine.