STRIA IN MY KNIVES?

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
I KNOW THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN COVERED BEFORE, BUT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SOMEONE GIVING A COMPLETE RUNDOWN ON IT. I USE MOSTLY OLD SAW BLADE STEEL, L6. WHEN I START, ITS RUSTED AND PITTED VERY BADLY, AND I HAVE TO SAND IT SLICK. I GO THROUGH 320 GRIT, THEN I HOLLOW GRIND THE BLADE. SAND WITH 320, AND THEN 500 GRIT, AND THEN POLISH WITH 600 GRIT GREASELESS. ASSEMBLE THE KNIFE, LIGHTLY BUFF WITH 600 GRIT AGAIN AND THEN FINISH IT WITH WHITE ROUGE. SOMETIMES, PROBABLY MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, I GET STRIA IN THE BLADE. I NOTICED IN ANOTHER THREAD SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT OVER BUFFING WILL CAUSE THIS DUE TO REMOVAL OF THE SOFTER GRAINS IN THE STEEL.
WHAT GRIT BELTS SHOULD I GO THROUGH BEFORE BUFFING WHICH WOULD LET ME STOP HAVING TO BUFF SO MUCH AND CAUSING THE STRIA?? THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME!! TAKE CARE! MICHAEL



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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
 
Stria show up more pronounced when soft buffing wheels are used near the end of the process for a long period.

I would suggest that you use a 400 grit cork belt coated with buffing compound(I use a green stainless steel cut and colour compound) instead of the 600 greaseless compound before final buffing. The reasoning is that the belt does less digging than the softer wheels.


the previous step allows me to buff a large bowie blade to mirror in 5 minutes or less per side thus reducing the occurance of stria marks. I use the green stainless steel cut and colour compound for buffing because it is more aggressive than the white available locally.

I do not attempt to remove scratches at the buffing stage, it any show up I go back to the belt to remove them then continue buffing.

Good luck

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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com

 
Thanks George!!!!!! I just got my first cork belt in. At $10, I was shying away from them, but if it helps me make a better blade, its worth it. Take care! Michael
 
George, L6,
I don't do much mirror polishing. My favorite D2 doesn't take to it all that well! You guys have sparked my interest to do some mirror finishing on my A2 knives!! Do either one of you know where I could get the cork belts made for my 108" grinders??
Neil

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Just updated!!!!
http://members.aol.com/blademakr/BlackwoodWP.html

 
Thanks George!
If these belts will mirror polish D2 quickly,I will...... be a happy camper!
Using my felt and other wheels I can get good mirror polishes on most materials. D2 is always a pain. I use mostly D2, thats probably why I don't mirror polish much. I beleive, hunting knives should have a mirror polish for ease of cutting and corrosion resistance. Thanks for the Hermes lead, I WILL order a couple of belts,
Neil
 
dr. lathe, i'm making a d-2 hunting set for my neighbor, how should i finish it, and do you have any specific directions. i've may plans on using d-2, alot. thanks in advance.
 
I finish my D2 blades, three different ways.
I handrub most of them to 30mic 3M sheet with Cool Tool 2 cutting fluid. I also do a handrub on the flats with a fine scotchbrite belt finish on the hollow grinds. Third, I had rub to 400 grit with wet or dry paper. Then I etch the surface with Ferric Chloride. This turns the blade a dull gray and brings out the grain patern in the steel. After that I hand rub to give a "streak" pattern with green scotchbrite pads.
If you look on my webpage you will see all of these finishes on different blades!! Oh, ya, there is a bead blasted one there too..
Neil

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Lots of Pics!!Please be patient......Moving to a faster server soon!
http://hometown.aol.com//blademakr/Update2.html


 
Lets try that Website thing again!!

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Lots of Pics!!Please be patient......Moving to a faster server soon!
http://hometown.aol.com//blademakr/Update2.html

 
WOW DR. LATHE!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY IMPRESSIVE KNIVES AND WEB SITE!!

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
 
thanks for the tips. i'll try a satin finish. what does 30mic convert to in european scale (P)forsandpaper.
 
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