Recommendation? Need help with Mirror Polish

Tennessee Mike B · Feb 2, 2018

What's up everybody? I have a quick question regarding bringing out that perfect mirror edge. First off let me say I use the Edge Pro Apex and I have 140 diamond to hog it off for reprofiling , the rest are regular EP stones in 220, 400, 600, 1000 and the 3000 and 6000 polishing tapes to finish. I then typically strop on a KP strop block with green compound. Now that I've lined out what I have, my question is, if I have an already sharp as heck knife like a PM2 factory edge and I want to put a mirror on it, is starting with the 1000 grit too fine? I know it's best to work up through the grits but with it being that sharp I hate to go down to far. I'm really struggling pulling a mirror edge out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also for perfect mirror edge quality will I need higher grit tapes and maybe diamond paste on a strop? Help me out guys.

Thanks in advance, Tennessee Mike

Aquaholicc · Feb 2, 2018

Never go lower than you have to. Most knives come from the factory at around 600 grit for a nice toothy bite. I’d start there on your EP system. As a former EP user I’d highly suggest picking up their 2300 ceramic stone as well! You’ll see amazing results following up the ceramic stone with the polishing tapes.

Tennessee Mike B · Feb 2, 2018

Aquaholicc said:
Never go lower than you have to. Most knives come from the factory at around 600 grit for a nice toothy bite. I’d start there on your EP system. As a former EP user I’d highly suggest picking up their 2300 ceramic stone as well! You’ll see amazing results following up the ceramic stone with the polishing tapes.

I'll definitely look into that. Did you work 600 til burr then 1000 to burr also or basically just focus on removing previous scratch pattern on each?

Aquaholicc · Feb 2, 2018

Tennessee Mike B said:
I'll definitely look into that. Did you work 600 til burr then 1000 to burr also or basically just focus on removing previous scratch pattern on each?

Well..once I raised a burr on my “starting grit” I knew I have reached the apex so I normally don’t check for a burr in the higher grits. That’s when you focus on removing the previous scratch pattern.