polished cutting edge

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skidmark72

Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Messages
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I have seen people showing off a knife with a mirrow polished cutting edge. How do they do it? Does it make the knife sharper?
 
I have heard of people using a Edge Pro Apex. I use really fine emery boards (get them at a Woodcraft store) and a strop with green compound.
 
Many do it with a guided system (Edge Pro, Wicked Edge, etc.) though it's also fairly easy to do by hand with graduated grits of sandpaper and a soft--but not TOO soft--stropping backing like leather or a mouse pad, turning the edge into a convex edge if it wasn't already. I can actually do it free hand with my ceramic stones, but that takes LOTS of practice; not that I'm recommending against lots of practice, but just throwing that out there. It's all about consistency of angle and finer and finer abrasives, not moving on to the next grit until achieving an even finish with the current grit.

For what it's worth, there are some types of cutting (push-cutting, shaving, impact/chopping/batoning) where a super smooth, polished edge really excels. For slicing, however, or just general utility, a toothier edge will cut more aggressively and for longer. Most knife edges top out at about a 6 micron finish for me, though I can go down to 0.1 micron if I have need of it, or, more likely, if I just want to show off. ;)
 
Edgepicofsouthard_zps495a7cde.jpg


Sandpaper to 2k grit, then diamond paste at 5 microns, 2.5 microns and 0.5 microns will do it
 
skidmark72 said:
Where do you get the green coumpound
Click to expand...

I found it at Northern Tools. For 1/4 pound stick it was cheaper than a Monster Energy Drink.
PM me your address and I'll send you a piece. 1 stick will last me the rest of my life!
 
I cut a few chunks of different colors for you. If you would rather have your very own new tubes I can do that too. I believe they are $1.97 +tax for 1/4 pound stick. Plus shipping to you.
 
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