Need polishing help please

Mr.Wizard said:
Stop with the angle grinder. Get some good, sharp 80 grit sand paper, and hand sand across the remaining 36-grit scratches until you have completely removed them. Sand only at one angle, do not make circles or scrub randomly. Look for the 36-grit scratches by tilting the workpiece in a bright light, trying to find the particular angle that will reflect light from them. Only when you have completely removed the 36-grit scratches, meaning they are invisible under any and all angles of light, and replaced them with 80-grit scratches (all at approximately the same angle) are you ready to move on to finer paper. Once again sand across the 80-grit scratches, this time using 120 grit paper sanding in a different but consistent direction, and again look for the 80-grit scratches using reflection of bright light. Keep repeating this process of "crossing out" the scratches with each successively finer paper until you reach a finish you are satisfied with.
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Keep in mind I am not new to working with metals. No pressure was applied to the grinder. I have worked metal to the thousandths, but was never trying to achieve a mirror polish.ALSO the grinder was a HAIL MARY and what else have I got to lose attempt . Considering I put the finger grooves on the 112 that is pictured with a grinder then fine tuned , shows I didn't just grab a grinder and start digging.
As for your instructions, I have done a little of your process before posting here with little to no success. HOWEVER I may have not done it long enough for desired results and I DO APPRECIATE all of your information and will definitely proceed per your guidelines.
 
Step away from the angle grinder, I don’t know how you can’t feel the difference in your hands between 36 grit and 320 grit, but that’s neither here nor there at this point.
It’s very salvageable, and it’s also a hatchet, I wouldn’t even worry about scratches on a working tool like that, but if you are, then you are gonna have to do as instructed above, especially the member that said to work your way up through the grits making sure all previous grit scratches are removed before progressing, that is THE answer.
 
At this point.


I'd go over it with 120, then wire wheel the thing, call it a day. It's not going to be mirror. You're gonna need to practice on something else.

A nice brush finish will hide a lot. It won't fingerprint up as bad and any wire brush will clean the tree sap off. Low stress and no worrying about scratches.
 
BJE said:
Step away from the angle grinder, I don’t know how you can’t feel the difference in your hands between 36 grit and 320 grit, but that’s neither here nor there at this point.
It’s very salvageable, and it’s also a hatchet, I wouldn’t even worry about scratches on a working tool like that, but if you are, then you are gonna have to do as instructed above, especially the member that said to work your way up through the grits making sure all previous grit scratches are removed before progressing, that is THE answer.
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I didn't feel the paper, I had too many arbor pads laying out and grabbed the one I thought was right as it was laying beside the 320 pads...like I said , it was a rookie mistake and I kick myself in the ass every time I think about it
 
KOSA549 said:
That includes what I had to do to remove the rust and dings. My NOS Buck is .197
This one is at .184 as of now ta it's thinnest, I really don't consider that to be terrible
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You said just a little a while that you took off around 1/16 of an inch. Now you're saying it's more like1/64th of an inch. There's a pretty big difference between 1/16th and 1/64th. A 64th is 4 times smaller than a 16th.
 
KOSA549 said:
I didn't feel the paper, I had too many arbor pads laying out and grabbed the one I thought was right as it was laying beside the 320 pads...like I said , it was a rookie mistake and I kick myself in the ass every time I think about it
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It happens. You can fix it, it’s not a lost cause at all. Just step away from it for now
and look at it from a fresh start on another day.
 
Don’t worry about taking off metal, your gonna have to you get the scratches out, and it will be negligible, just do what you need to do to be happy with the result.
 
KOSA549 said:
Keep in mind I am not new to working with metals. No pressure was applied to the grinder. I have worked metal to the thousandths, but was never trying to achieve a mirror polish.ALSO the grinder was a HAIL MARY and what else have I got to lose attempt . Considering I put the finger grooves on the 112 that is pictured with a grinder then fine tuned , shows I didn't just grab a grinder and start digging.
As for your instructions, I have done a little of your process before posting here with little to no success. HOWEVER I may have not done it long enough for desired results and I DO APPRECIATE all of your information and will definitely proceed per your guidelines.
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The reason I am suggesting you stop with the grinder is not that I believe you are incompetent in its use. Rather the circular scratches make it harder to see the deeper scratches remaining below them. The fact that you worked your way up the grits but still had scratches is clear indication that you didn't get them out with the 80 grit. "Crossing out" scratches manually is slow but it works. If you've got a belt grinder with a radius platten that should work too I think (I haven't had the pleasure of using one) and it will still let you change orientation to make sure you get all the preceding scratches out at each step.
 
Mr.Wizard said:
The reason I am suggesting you stop with the grinder is not that I believe you are incompetent in its use. Rather the circular scratches make it harder to see the deeper scratches remaining below them. The fact that you worked your way up the grits but still had scratches is clear indication that you didn't get them out with the 80 grit. "Crossing out" scratches manually is slow but it works. If you've got a belt grinder with a radius platten that should work too I think (I haven't had the pleasure of using one) and it will still let you change orientation to make sure you get all the preceding scratches out at each step.
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I understand, but when someone says angle grinder most people jump to worse case. I am currently looking at getting a belt sander for knife making. I have been cheap with my tools because I'm new at this , but I guess it's time to dive in head first and spend some $ to get proper tools since I do enjoy doing this.
Also , wouldn't the radius pattern belt grinder be the same as a grinder as I was using a hook and loop sanding pads on the grinder( also my grinder has adjustable speeds) But I do follow your line of thinking. I was just hoping there was something like diamond paste or something that I wasn't aware of that could save this particular piece. I will definitely use your recommended method and thank you for your time and help.
 
Guy McVer said:
You said just a little a while that you took off around 1/16 of an inch. Now you're saying it's more like1/64th of an inch. There's a pretty big difference between 1/16th and 1/64th. A 64th is 4 times smaller than a 16th.
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The 1/16 was a guestimation , the .184 was an actual measurement .
 
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