Scotchbrite Finish Questions- Help

raylaconico

raylaconico

Joined
Jan 30, 2004
Messages
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So far I've been doing all hand sanded finishes on my knives but now I'd like to try doing a scotchbrite finish on some of them. What grit do you guys grind before using a scotchbrite belt? I was thinking of grinding up to about 180 (what I use before handsanding) grit then using a scotchbrite. Will it work or do I need to get higher grit belts? I thought it would be easier to just ask than to learn by experimenting:) Thanks!
-Ray Laconico
 
I could also use a word or 2 on this. I just ordered medium and fine "scotchbrite-type" belts yesterday and was wondering the same thing.

Regards,

Dave
 
I grind to about 120 and from there I will go through all the SB belt colors. Brown= Rough, Maroon = medium, Blue = fine and grey = Very fine.

That will usually produce an excellent user friendly finish. I've sometimes only ground with a 60 grit and with brand new SB belts went through all the grits as well, worked very well also. But usually at least a 120.

Sometimes I will go as high as 220 or 320 and from there just use the fine and very fine belts to give a nice satin finish.

SB belts are great for removing grind lines and and flubbs or waves in your grinds. They work real hard for you but don't last as long as their price tags are high.

Good luck!
 
I t doesn't take a lot of pressure to make the finish. Just make sure you're perpendicular to the belt.
Sometimes the finish looks good hit with the buffer after the SB.
 
Thanks to Ray for asking, and the otheres for replying. I just picked up a scotchbright belt yesterday at Batson's Hammer In. I didn't know how the heck to use it until now!
 
birdog4 said:
I t doesn't take a lot of pressure to make the finish. Just make sure you're perpendicular to the belt.
Sometimes the finish looks good hit with the buffer after the SB.
Click to expand...

Definately buff with white rouge afterward!
 
i use wheels made by 3m to put a satin finish on most of my knives. the finish on my leather washer handle knife was put on with a new 120 grit belt that terry mickley sent me. i used no downward pressure other than the blades own weight. i posted picks on my website of the wheels if anyone wants to see what they look like. http://mysite.verizon.net/ress6fq6/id22.html
 
I go to 220 with a Norton ceramic belt, and then finish with the medium SB belt.. Its a very functional, good looking finish that is easy to refinish.

Take care
Trace Rinaldi
www.THRblades.com
 
I've found that using the grit progression from brown through grey on the SB belts still doesn't take off enough material to leave a "good" finish in the lower grits. At 60 or 80 grit, you can feel the scratches. I like the scotch-brite finish if a blade is taken to 600 grit and then hit with a fine or very fine (blue/green or grey) SB belt. I now go straight from 60 grit to 400, so it's not too much trouble for me. I've found that I really like to go from the 400 to a 15 micron belt and then a 9 micron belt. From the 15 micron I could go straight to the SB belt, or continue up to 9 micron, cork with green chrome, buff etc. Much like a hand rubbed finish, I think the scotch-brite finishes look better if you take your knife up to a higher belt finish first.

All of that is how I do it on a hollow grind. Things might work differently on a flat grind, but I doubt I'd do an SB finish on a flat grind unless I'd hand rubbed to at least 320 or 400.

That's just how I do it, probably making too much work for myself ;)
 
Thanks for the replies. I was about to buy a belt (they're expensive!) and I didn't really know for sure how to use it. This leads me to another question. I don't have a buffer so will it work if I just leave the SB finish as is? Thanks again. This forum is great!
 
I think a plain SB finish is fine without buffing.

I don't know where you're looking for belts, but talk to James Poplin from Pop's Knife Supplies. He charges $15 for legit 3M SB belts and that's the best price I've seen on them. I got some $12 belts from SuperGrit once and you can definitely tell the difference on some. It's a crap shoot.

http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/
 
I have been done some blades with the same method Trace described and agree 100% with what he said.

I think my favorite finish of this type, at this point (I'm still hard pressed to NOT hand sand them! lol) is to finish at a Norton 220X and then follow that with a worn out 220X cork belt loaded with 220X Polish-O-Ray buffing compound from Brownell's (it's a compound you have to refrigerate but it's awesome).


Let's see some pics Ray! :)
 
Ray, I finish with a 120 grit 3M gator then go to a coarse scothbrite. My finial finish is with a fine scotchbrite loaded with 600 grit compound. I use this to sharpen with also.
Scott
 
Thanks again to everyone for all the help. I'm going to give it a try. I'll post pics when I have something done.
-Ray
 
raylaconico said:
Thanks for the replies. I was about to buy a belt (they're expensive!) and I didn't really know for sure how to use it. This leads me to another question. I don't have a buffer so will it work if I just leave the SB finish as is? Thanks again. This forum is great!
Click to expand...
Expensive, but they last FOREVER! :D :thumbup:
 
I'm thinking of building a shrine to these things. Took blade from 220 to 400 grit post HT and then used medium (Maroon) and then fine (black) non-woven belts from Tracy. 15 minutes vs. hours of hand sanding is nothing short of amazing. And touch ups will be a breeze. Thanks guys!

Dave
 
FWIW, I've had good luck going to 400 grit, then 400 cork, then sb. What others have said, the higher grit you go to beforehand, the nicer the sb finish will look.


Rick
 
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