Polishing out old scuffs and scratches

S

Snowman366

Joined
Apr 16, 2006
Messages
27
You can't use a working knife and not scratch up the sides of the blade now and then. Still, it'd be nice to clean it up once in a while during routine maintenance. I'm curious to know if there's any sort of recommended rubbing compound or paste that'll let me buff the scratches out?
 
In my experience, the recommendation would depend entirely on the depth of the scratches. For very minor scratches, Flitz would polish out a lot of them, others (deeper) will require more work and different methods and compounds.
Sorry no more definitive answer, but the question is kinda broad.;)
Jim
 
I use fine sandpaper cut into 1.5 inch squares and then, using my fingertips on the paper, follow the "grain" until the scratches are gone. I use 600 grit for a matt surfaced look or a 1000 or 1500 for a more polished one.
 
James Todd said:
For very minor scratches, Flitz would polish out a lot of them, others (deeper) will require more work and different methods and compounds.
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Sorry for being over-broad. Tried the Flitz...it's not getting the job done. At least not on 1095 carbon steel. I've never tried the various grits of sandpaper. I need to visit the hardware store, I guess.
 
Snowman366 said:
Sorry for being over-broad. Tried the Flitz...it's not getting the job done. At least not on 1095 carbon steel. I've never tried the various grits of sandpaper. I need to visit the hardware store, I guess.
Click to expand...

Take the knife in to a full service automotive paint store, ask the professionals how to take scratches out of metal without bondo. They are the guys who do it for a living . Regardless it will not be a wasted trip as they will certainly carry the fine/ultra-fine grits of decent wet/dry sandpaper you will need to get started.
 
I often have to go to 400 grit and then progress to 800. I usually leave it at 800 though - no mirrors for me cause the just get scratched up again.

Its strange - I don't mind straight scratches (vertical or horizontal) on th eblade, but I really hate it when I get a crooked, or jaggedy scratch. I don't why......
 
Super...! Thanks everybody. I'm trying to deal with one of those crooked, jaggedy scratches on one of my work knives.
 
3M finishing paper works really well. It comes in grits from 400-8000, and handles more like cloth than paper. I like to sand to a higher grit and then go back down to the desired grit. It leaves a very uniform finish.
 
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