Mirror edges

[theedge13]

How do you guys get your blades to have that mirror edge? Super smooth and shiny.

I would like to know how to get this accomplished.

 

[Buck268]

Try searching or browsing, its been covered ad nauseum (if I even spelled it right).

Short answer, use progressive grits eventually ending on a strop.

 

[siguy]

as was stated, just go through the grits without skipping too many at a time (ie, DO: 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, strop. DONT:200, 800, strop). if you skip too many grits at once then you will leave scratches from the last grit, unless you spend a ton of time working at the high grit.

i suggest green rouge for quick cutting and a fine finish, but if you don't have access you can use something like tripoli (found at almost any hardware store) or red rouge. if you use tripoli or rouge though you should go to a higher sandpaper grit before stropping.

 

[Jason B.]

Like Siguy said, you can't skip to far ahead you won't get the results that are possible. It sounds like a lot to go through but its accually faster because you don't need to spend as much time on one grit. To get a true mirror finish though you will need to go much high than 1000 grit before you hit the strop.

 

[richard j]

if you want an easier and better way the paper wheels will put a mirror finish on in a few seconds compared to hand polishing. here is a thread i started with more information.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578787