need some buffing help

T

TexasWade

Joined
Sep 8, 2015
Messages
132
My friend got this old bowie knife that had a pretty messed up finish. Was badly stained and looked like it had tree sap or something that had been on it for years and years. I got the heavy stuff off with acetone but I had to bust out the sandpaper to get the spots where it looked like the steel had some surface corrosion. Got it all sanded out to a nice clear 2000 grit finish but have had a terrible time trying to buff it out. Honestly my friend will probably love it just like it is but it's not up to my standards so I want to make it better if possible.

Some pics here to ID the knife in case anyone knows what kind of steel it is, and one to show the finish. The pic probably make it look a bit worse than it really is. It mostly looks pretty decent but when you get a bright light at a low angle it looks like maybe the grain of the steel is showing. I've tried a red and a green buffing compound but I don't know if I need a lighter touch, heavier touch, different compound or what to get this thing right.

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Try squirting WD 40 on your buffing wheel with green compound. Use medium pressure and buff at slight angles to your sanding marks. You can't see the "grain" in steel.
 
Some steels tend to show orange peel like yours. Do like Bill suggested and finish with pink scratchless compound.
 
The WD-40 was funny stuff. Looked like it instantly flung off the wheel but when I put the knife on the wheel I could really tell the lube was there. It brought the luster up a little brighter than it had been but I still have that grainy look.

I thought maybe I just hadn't buffed enough but after spending about 15 minutes on just the swage edge with almost no difference I don't think that's the case. If I have some kind of orange peel going on, can that ever be buffed out or will I need to block sand it with the 2000 grit and go again? Or do I maybe need to hit it with a coarser cutting compound?
 
The orange peel likely wont buff out. Some steels show it more than others. You probably would have to sand it back down to 220-400 or so and that might not do it either.
 
Got it all sanded back down and looking good again at 2000 grit. I almost hate to try the wheel on it again though. Is there any kind of hand polishing technique that works well on blades?
 
If you use a clean buff and go from green compound to pink scratchless compound you will be fine. A new or clean buff for each.
 
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