How to put a mirror polish on 3V?

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

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Mar 19, 2007
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I have a Koster's Bushcraft in 3V. It is shaving sharp - but it could be sharper if I could get a mirror polish / hone on the blade. I am using a DMT Extra Fine to get a good polish - (9 micron).

I don't want to drop 70 plus on an extra extra fine 10 inch stone - is there another way?

TF
 
lapping film glued to a piece of glass, both can be bought at leevalley...

total of around $30 probably.
 
1600 to 2000 grit sandpaper, may give you the polish that you want. also some jewelers rouge on a leather strap may get it done for you.

alex
 
Wet/dry sandpaper

use it dry first, then wet it down.

Polished my Bear MGC Fethermate drop point to a MIRROR finish.

I use it to strop some of my knives at this point. Keep a piece of it in my knife box at all times.
 
I dont think Jewlers rouge is hard enough to polish 3v. The white diamond paste or green chromium oxide would be better, and are the same price at the store I go to.
 
I also use the Lee Valley lapping film or compound mentioned by siguy.

DancesWithKnives
 
Talfuchre said:
I have a Koster's Bushcraft in 3V. It is shaving sharp - but it could be sharper if I could get a mirror polish / hone on the blade. I am using a DMT Extra Fine to get a good polish - (9 micron).

I don't want to drop 70 plus on an extra extra fine 10 inch stone - is there another way?

TF
Click to expand...

Instead of shaving hair, take some old jean material, secure one end, roll it up as tight as you can, like a rope. Then take two knives, one with a polished , well honed shaving edge and one with an edge shaving sharp but done with a fine india stone (not polished). Make cuts in the material with both knives and tell us what you find out....;)
 
I put a mirror edge on my Koster 3V nessmuk with Bark River's green stopping compound on a Bark River strop. I did start with wet/dry sandpaper, but only up to 600 grit.
 
Masochist - one who tries to get a mirror polish on blades of CPM 3V , S30V etc.
 
mete said:
Masochist - one who tries to get a mirror polish on blades of CPM 3V , S30V etc.
Click to expand...

Those 2 blade steels are very hard to get a mirror polish on. And keep in mind that I love Crucible Powder Metallurgy Steels.
I have a Spyderco Dodo with S30V and it is as dull looking as a plow that has been in a junkyard for a year. It literally looks as though it has a patina on it's surface :o
However when it comes to survival and function I could care less what it looks like just so it performs well. But I would be interested if some of you have found a proficient way to shine up either blade steel. I would love to know which allow element makes them look that dull :D
 
I am thinking this is not worth it - some have argued it makes no difference - others have argued it is impossible to do - or very silly! ;)

Thanks for EVERY post.

TF
 
I am not giving up - I have a kind of obsessive personality - and if it is not needed - I am not going to freak out about it. I need to know when to draw my lines.

That link I posted above is simply a single sided verion on your Simon. Thanks.

TF
 
i polish all my edges on either a sheet of paper, or thin leather, clipped to a sheet of glass, and covered with Mothers Mag/Aluminum Polish (try looking in an auto parts store, in with all the car wash/polish stuff)
i dont own any 3V knives, but it seems to work ok on my S30v and vg10 blades
 
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TF,
If you'd like to try some of the 1500 and 2000 grit wet-or-dry sand paper, drop me a line and I'll send a few sheets your way. I'll toss in a padded 3000 grit disk as a thanks for the buckles. Not the best for scandi's but it maks a nice pack strop.
cs
 
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