Is it possible to polish G-10 to the point where it's really shiny?

[Folderguy]

Is it possible to polish G-10 to the point where it's really shiny?

Just looking to expand my options. I have a few knives where I'd like to try that, if it's feasible.

Thanks,

Folderguy

 

[unit]

In a word, yes.

Though you may define "really shiny" differently, I have seen it as shiny as I would ever want for a knife I intend to hold. At some point it becomes a show piece that will scratch and cloud if you do much with it because G-10 is not hard enough to support a durable polish (IMO).

As always, have fun and post photos!

 

[Folderguy]

In a word, yes.

Though you may define "really shiny" differently, I have seen it as shiny as I would ever want for a knife I intend to hold. At some point it becomes a show piece that will scratch and cloud if you do much with it because G-10 is not hard enough to support a durable polish (IMO).

As always, have fun and post photos!

Oh I'm having plenty of fun already!

First of all, I have plenty of stuff to do, and the pics will come in due time!

 

[Tostig]

Hey , if your going to polish G10 I assume you will be using various grits of sandpaper , use caution !
The dust is quite hazardous.

A second yes , G10 can be polished nicely and unit is right it will scratch easily.

Tostig

 

[Folderguy]

Hey , if your going to polish G10 I assume you will be using various grits of sandpaper , use caution !
The dust is quite hazardous.

A second yes , G10 can be polished nicely and unit is right it will scratch easily.

Tostig

My idea was to sand it with wet-or-dry sandpaper, wet, of course. And after that to use some of this stuff on it...

Venetian Shoe Cream is used to create a mirror polish on shoes. I think it will probably do alright on G10, but won't really know until I try it. The other possibility is to polish it using a soft cloth wheel.

 

[Tostig]

My idea was to sand it with wet-or-dry sandpaper, wet, of course. And after that to use some of this stuff on it...

Venetian Shoe Cream is used to create a mirror polish on shoes. I think it will probably do alright on G10, but won't really know until I try it. The other possibility is to polish it using a soft cloth wheel.

I would use something like Flitz or Wenol. You can find them at a good hardware store.

Tostig

 

[Folderguy]

I would use something like Flitz or Wenol. You can find them at a good hardware store.

Tostig

It looks like Flitz and Wenol are metal polishers. Is that the stuff you refer to? Or is it one of those floppy polishers to put on a drill?

 

[Tostig]

It looks like Flitz and Wenol are metal polishers. Is that the stuff you refer to? Or is it one of those floppy polishers to put on a drill?

Both polish far more than metal. fiberglass ,some plastics , metal , I've even used it springly on real hardwoods and of course G10 , the G10 on my Kershaw OD-1.

The stuff is a necessity IMO for any serious knife dude

Tostig

 

[Folderguy]

Both polish far more than metal. fiberglass ,some plastics , metal , I've even used it springly on real hardwoods and of course G10 , the G10 on my Kershaw OD-1.

The stuff is a necessity IMO for any serious knife dude

Tostig

Thanks for the info.

 

[Tostig]

No problemo.

Tostig

 

[nevermind35]

I polished the scales of my Skyline last year. It looks really good, almost like carbon fiber. I set it on a cut piece of 2x4 inside a sink and sanded it vertically with wet/dry sandpaper. I started with 220 grit and used it until I got rid of all the texture. Make sure you get it completely flat with no texture before you move up in grit or you'll have to start over later. After its perfectly flat, remove the scratch patter from the 220 grit with 400 grit. Then you'll move to 600 (which looks like the smooth machined g10 that you see on some production knives like the Benchmade dejavoo). After that move to 800, then 1000. At 1000 it will be nice and shiny and slick. At this point its up to you whether you want to take it to 2000. 2000 will leave it looking similar to carbon fiber without the white reflections from the carbon fiber strands.

I'd take pics of my Skyline but I have dial up and anything I do takes a day and a half. Good luck!

 

[Folderguy]

I polished the scales of my Skyline last year. It looks really good, almost like carbon fiber. I set it on a cut piece of 2x4 inside a sink and sanded it vertically with wet/dry sandpaper. I started with 220 grit and used it until I got rid of all the texture. Make sure you get it completely flat with no texture before you move up in grit or you'll have to start over later. After its perfectly flat, remove the scratch patter from the 220 grit with 400 grit. Then you'll move to 600 (which looks like the smooth machined g10 that you see on some production knives like the Benchmade dejavoo). After that move to 800, then 1000. At 1000 it will be nice and shiny and slick. At this point its up to you whether you want to take it to 2000. 2000 will leave it looking similar to carbon fiber without the white reflections from the carbon fiber strands.

I'd take pics of my Skyline but I have dial up and anything I do takes a day and a half. Good luck!

Thanks for the tutorial! I'm liking it!