How to restore mirror finish

6734

6734

Joined
Nov 4, 2002
Messages
537
Recently I purchased a khukuri for a friend, and it came with some rust on the blade. When I cleaned the rust off, I ended up scratching up the blade pretty good. I was wondering if any of you have any secrets or ideas on what compound or polishing material will help to restore the mirror finish that the blade had originally.

Thanks in advance for any information.

Chris
 
Chris,
Why? You have a great working tool which has acquired some character by having been used for work. Appreciate it and add more character to it with your work. Let it get the patina and finish it was meant to have. ;)
My 2 cents ;)
Now, if you want to learn scratch removal, you've found the right place. Pull up a bar stool and we'll talk sandpaper :D Barkeep, a sarsaparilla for my friend here :D
 
If you're gonna use it, don't worry about the scratches. Like Bri said, let it develop character. It's a little hard at first, but once you do it, you won't regret it. They look way better after some use. :D
 
Josh Feltman said:
If you're gonna use it, don't worry about the scratches.

They look way better after some use. :D
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Everyone is steering you right. Personally I prefer mine with a satin finish anyway. Any of the Scotch-Brite pads will put a nice satin finish on the blade and when you're through chopping the cleanup is quick and easy and makes it appear the blade was never used if you prefer that.:) ;)

If you use the Scotch-Brite or the sandpaper be sure and push towards the edge as running it longitudinally up and down the blade will dull it.:(
 
Ok, I'm buying!!! (The sasparilla / beer). Thanks for the info and the links, this is going to be a gift for a friend, so I want to clean it up a little bit. I know what you mean about it being a tool to be used - none of my knives and guns are "safe queens" - they are meant to be used and enjoyed.

Thanks again for the helpful info and advice. This place is filled with really cool people willing to help a newbie.

Chris
 
i will straighten out the finish for you if you would like--you just pay for shipping to me and back--consider it a gift to a new HI friend :eek: :) :eek:
 
Yvsa said:
Everyone is steering you right. Personally I prefer mine with a satin finish anyway. Any of the Scotch-Brite pads will put a nice satin finish on the blade and when you're through chopping the cleanup is quick and easy and makes it appear the blade was never used if you prefer that.:) ;)

If you use the Scotch-Brite or the sandpaper be sure and push towards the edge as running it longitudinally up and down the blade will dull it.:(
Click to expand...

Sorry Yvsa, you mean run the scotchbrite pad from the spine down to the edge, as opposed to from the tip to the cho? In little 2 to 3" sweeps? That is harder to do with fullers of course.

I'm not doubting you, but why would the sanding / rubbing direction determine the look? You would think it would be all the same either way. I have always copped out and just polished in wide sweeps from the tip to the handle until the scratches and marks were gone, leaving a satin finish as you said.

Thanks for clarifying!

Norm
 
Svashtar said:
Sorry Yvsa, you mean run the scotchbrite pad from the spine down to the edge, as opposed to from the tip to the cho? In little 2 to 3" sweeps? That is harder to do with fullers of course.

I'm not doubting you, but why would the sanding / rubbing direction determine the look? You would think it would be all the same either way. I have always copped out and just polished in wide sweeps from the tip to the handle until the scratches and marks were gone, leaving a satin finish as you said.

Thanks for clarifying!

Norm
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Guess that does need clarifying a bit.;)
I do run it longitudinally down the blade but near the edge you're able to run the pad slightly towards the edge thanks too the curve of the blade.
I like keeping the scratches from the pad going the same way as I just think it looks better than swirling it all around randomly. I also think it looks better that way when blued as it seems too give a more even finish.
It's unbelivaeable just how dull a Scotch-Brite pad can make a knife in just a short time! :eek:
When I'm going too blue a blade I don't worry about getting it dull as it will need a touch up after the bluing procedure anyway.
When I get the bluing satisfactory too me then I will run the blade down a set of fine crock sticks I have and then strop the edge restoring the full convex too it.:D
 
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