Mirror polish

M

mitch_mckee

Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
96
I've worked my Western W49 until I can about shave in the reflection. It still seems a little milky. What do you Gurus of the blade suggest for a final polish. I am hand polishing only. No electric tools.

Thanks in advance.
 
For anything I want a mirror polish on I use the following progression of strop compounds. 14,10,5,3.5,1.0,0.5, and 0.25. This may be a little extreme for what you are doing but maybe not?!
For knife edges or flat things I like to strop them with balsa (far better than leather in my experience--way more feedback) but for blades, bolsters, ect I use flexible leather from an old leather jacket with some compound on them. This is a lot of work by hand so sometimes I just a dremal with a polishing tip.....okay this is mainly what I use but the leather is nice for touch up.

This is great if you have these compounds and strops but if you don't I know you can use filtz or even auto polishing compounds. I have never tired to get a mirrorpolish with those before b/c I use the above, but it may work. You could also go to a grocery store and look at the silver or brass polishing products (make sure to check if you can use them for stainless steel). I remember I had to polish my Mom's silver sets as a kid and I def got a mirror finish on those bc I made funny faces in the spoons!!!

Good Luck!
 
This old knife is, I think, 1095. I have a good strop. will look into compounds. I have some kind of buffing compounds my kids gave me with the (so far unused) buffer. They must be kept refrigerated. Might that be what you are refering t\o>
 
'They' say a buffer is the most dangerous tool in the shop.
Especially with a sharp knife.
Take care.

I've come darn close to mirror with finer and finer sandpaper, ending in 2500 grit.
Followed by Mother's mag polish and then flitz.

Close.
 
u can just sand away starting at 220 up to 1500 and then use mothers polishing compound. . thats how i did my bk2 wich is also 1095 its a mirror now
 
mitch_mckee said:
This old knife is, I think, 1095. I have a good strop. will look into compounds. I have some kind of buffing compounds my kids gave me with the (so far unused) buffer. They must be kept refrigerated. Might that be what you are refering t\o>
Click to expand...

The compounds I am talking about are stropping compounds and have diamond particles in them. The numbers are the size of the particles in microns, I got mine from wicked edge bc I have that sharpening system. I am sorry I do not know if your knife is worth anything or how old it is, I know little about that kinfe. There is someone on this forums that is an expert for sure and could help you out if you post pictures.

However, if it is worth something then it will be worth more with the patina (the "rust" that builds on the blade naturally over time) that is already on it compared to if you reinish it. This is general advice: if it's old and worth something don't try to restore it unless you are a professional, even then it may go down in value!

Oh yea the 1095 is probably referring to the type of steel the blade is made of not the date, I am not sure if you were thinking that but just in case....
 
When a mirror finish is done right it will reflect black as black.

JCBmirror.jpg
 
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