Sanding SR101

Shotgun · May 1, 2015

I have a SYKCo 711 that I want to polish up but it has these weird ripples in the steel under the coating on the main bevel. I think this is normal as I've seen it on a couple others. I don't think it's a defect, just rough steel. It seems to be taking too long but I'm a bit stingy with the sandpaper. Any advice on how fast I should be going through sand paper and what grit to start at? I think I've put a couple hours into it and it's getting there but it's slow going.

kjd2121 · May 1, 2015

This is what my Ratmandu looked like after I stripped it. I think I used 100 grit wrapped around a flat file and got after it pretty good. Took about 2 hours for both sides. If you can't feel the paper biting into the metal then you aren't doing much. Don't be Stingy

elof_alv · May 1, 2015

It's slow going so be patient. The 100-120 grit will take you most of the way, but you will need to switch to higher grits as you go. Make sure to use a sanding block of some sort, it makes things easier.

Shotgun · May 1, 2015

Thanks guys. I was thinking I wasn't going through enough sandpaper.

elof_alv · May 1, 2015

It gets less and less efficient the longer you use it. I personally switched to finer grit fairly quickly as it will wor better on steel than the corse one. I got a 311 to a high polish, and R3 to a satin for stonewashing, neither one was quick...

resinguy · May 2, 2015

Shotgun said:
I don't think it's a defect, just rough steel.
.

That's not rough steel, it's the machine tool marks. Most Bussekin blades are 'carved' on CNC machines. Since the knives are going to be coated, Busse doesn't bother to clean up the profiles.

kjd2121 said:
This is what my Ratmandu looked like after I stripped it.

My SY 1311 looks like that; although one side is different than the other, go figure. Some fugly tool marks.

MattinLA · May 2, 2015

resinguy said:
My SY 1311 looks like that; although one side is different than the other, go figure. Some fugly tool marks.

I have stripped some SR101, but the 1311 is so big I'm worried about rust. Did you vinegar patina it?

resinguy · May 2, 2015

No, it seems to be holding up OK.

MattinLA · May 3, 2015

Looks good. The 1311 is my primary yardwork user and I have been thinking of stripping her...