Polished v Hand Rubbed (Satin) Blade Finish?

joe90

joe90

Joined
Aug 17, 2001
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Was wondering whether anyone had deliberately changed a previously polished (mirror finish) blade to a hand rubbed satin look one using fine waterpaper.

Have thought about doing this myself but have not totally made up my mind.

Would it make any difference to the stain 'resistance'?
I seem to recall a discussion wrapped around bead blasted vs other finishes etc.

I guess another question would be - are you more attracted to the mirror or dull look finish on a knife blade ... exceptions being the coated blades of course :D

Joe
 
Everything else being equal, bead blasted blades are the least stain resistant, as the microscopically textured surface creates little pores that moisture can cling to. This in turn will lead to oxidation of the steel.

Mirror finish blades are the most stain resistant as there are fewer, or smaller pores for moisture to adhere to. Satin finish blades fall somewhere in between this spectrum based on the finish, whether is is smoother, or rougher.

For aesthetic purposes, I favor the mirror polish myself, although I do own blades with other finishes.
 
Putting a nice, even satin finish on a knife is not as easy as it sounds, so I recommend trying it on a cheap knife first.

Its stain resistance should be slightly lower than a polished blade's, because the tiny "scratches" that create the subdued shine can trap moisture (like a bead-blast finish, just not as bad).
 
I have tried to put a satin finish on a knife that had a polished finish to start with. Rust didn't become a promblem and it did hide the scratches very well. I didn't do a great job though so it still wasn't great.
I tried it on a cheap blade mostly to see if I could. The stamped makers mark looks very odd after I'd sanded it though. I would suggest 1200grit. I've used worn 600 which was ok but new 600 left it a bit too scratched for my liking.
 
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