Mirror Finishing

W

warden41272

Joined
Oct 13, 2004
Messages
474
For years now, I've made mirror finished stainless blades. I've recently switched to carbon steel, primarily because I've pretty much stopped making knives and started making razors. I've never had a problem getting a glow in the dark mirror finish on my stainless knives, but carbon steel's killing me. It seems counterintuitive to me, but the carbon steel is MUCH harder to get a mirror polish on that stainless. I'm taking them all the way up to 9 micron on my KMG before taking them to the buffer (1/2hp 3600RPM) where my sequence is (all on spiral sewn muslin buffs) emery, Fabulustre (white), then Otto Frei green chrome. They'll be near mirror off the grinder, then when I buff, I get more scratches, and they look worse than they did off the belt. So, my question is this: would I have better luck using felt wheels than muslin, and if so, what hardness? I've heard hard wheels are the best for knives, but I have no experience with felt wheels. Also, would I do better getting an 1800rpm machine? Thanks in advance. Any ideas at all for mirror finishing carbon steel would be greatly appreciated.
 
Make sure you use different buffing wheels with different compounds.

ie. Don't mix emery with green chrome on the same wheel.

I think 3600 RPM is fine, just be careful!
 
You are still using the compounds that are meant for chrome (stainless)carbon steel needs different compounds.The green and white will scratch and cloud the steel...I hand rub up to 2000 grit and then buff with pink scratchless and a loose buff.Then go back and rub it with the 2000 for a mirrored sati or just leave it off the buff for a mirror....You may be able to just add the pink after the white,but I got rid of the white and green just because of the scratch problem...

Bruce
 
Thanks a bunch. I'm following the green with a Dico blue, meant for plastic. It works like a charm on a loose buff. I did invest in a Baldor 3/4 hp 1800 rpm buffer, and some felt buffs, but it still looks like they're gonna be better for stainless. I will try the pink, though. and probably stick with stitched muslin wheels for carbon, after 1200 grit (9 micron) belting.
 
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