Taking Scratches Out of Mirror Finish Blades

Stumps

Stumps

Joined
Feb 9, 2011
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Anyone have any thoughts or experience with taking minor scratches out of a mirror finish blade??

I've had a couple of knives for a year or two that need minor scratches taken out and I kept putting it off, but just recently received another used Buck with a mirror finish blade. It has a few small scratch marks on both sides of the blade...nothing deep though.

I would like to try doing it myself if I can and not sending them to Idaho. I don't want to buff or polish and take a chance on dulling the finish until I know for sure.

Any help is appreciated. :)
 
I know mirror polishing is a difficult task for the most experienced knife makers. It takes allot of time and finesse. I recommend you send it to a pro if it is important to you.
 
I've gotten ok results by hand with no power tools. Ok but perfect.

The tricks are to use wet/dry paper working up in grit. Start with the largest grit that take out the scratches. Bigger scratches demand courser grit.

With each grit, make two passes working strokes in perpendicular directions. Spine to edge then tang to point.

After finish with 3000 grit, I use rubbing compound and then stropping.

This is for carbon steel and 420hc. Harder steel might be harder.

Like Matt said, I wouldn't start with a prized knife. I started with cheap Opinels.
 
It's not difficult with equipment. A lot of elbow grease by hand. Start with a wet/dry grit just high enough to take out the scratches (600 grit). Then progressively higher to 2-3000 grit and then rubbing compound on denim and on to softer cloth until it looks good. DM
 
For a first attempt I'd would use a old blade and practice first no sense destroying a good knife . Lots of luck .
 
Matt...I figured I could always send it in to the pros if I messed it up more. :p

pinnah...I would have given your suggestion a try, but 1200 grit was the finest paper I have right now. I did give that 1200 grit a quick try, but ended up having to buff out the marks left by that. Guess I should try and find some 3000 to have on hand. :thumbup:

D-RIG...this was the worst blade I had, so I just had to try. :)

Okay...I took a chance after what David posted and put the mirror finish blade to my buffer.
It took a while and I had to work it at different angles, but I have a knife I can display without scratches now. :thumbup::thumbup:

Like I said earlier....the scratches weren't deep, but they did show up.

MirrorBladerestore007_zps8b67bd22.jpg


Hard to see for sure, but the scratches are mostly gone and I have to work hard to see any now.

MirrorBladerestore012_zpse441ddd3.jpg


Thanks everyone!! :)
 
Stumps said:
Anyone have any thoughts or experience with taking minor scratches out of a mirror finish blade??

I've had a couple of knives for a year or two that need minor scratches taken out and I kept putting it off, but just recently received another used Buck with a mirror finish blade. It has a few small scratch marks on both sides of the blade...nothing deep though.

I would like to try doing it myself if I can and not sending them to Idaho. I don't want to buff or polish and take a chance on dulling the finish until I know for sure.

Any help is appreciated. :)
Click to expand...

You need a full set of Micromesh sheets and a sheet of glass.
 
Looks good, Stumps. It is satisfying to do it yourself. Nice job!!

parbajtor, will have to look for Micromesh sheets. Thanks
 
Looks great.

Stumps, I guess this means you're off the trail now?

Remind which trail? You going to post updates to the Wildernss sub-forum? Would love to hear more about the trip.
 
pinnah said:
Looks great.

Stumps, I guess this means you're off the trail now?

Remind which trail? You going to post updates to the Wildernss sub-forum? Would love to hear more about the trip.
Click to expand...

Thanks!! I was afraid I would mess it up. I do pretty well cleaning up satin finish blades, bolsters and scales, but had never messed around with a mirror finish blade before. I think the buffer worked because they were light scratches like you might get on a car finish that can be buffed out. I can see where anything more than the light scratches would take the gradual sanding with wet/dry paper.

Yep...off this trail, but I have at least two more long walks planned later this year and maybe a third one if I can squeeze it in. Some in the mountains of NY, CT, MA and VT, then out to Continental Divide in MT, WY and CO after Post Falls. It all depends on time. I am working everything around the BCCI event in Post Falls. :)

There is a wilderness sub-forum here?? I will have to search that one out and take a look.

Look on last Sunday's SPS and you will see the highlight of my walk.
 
Last edited:
Welcome back Stumps!
That blade looks great:thumbup:

I've EDC'd knives with mirrored blades, after the unsightly scratches started I took the opposite approach and put a satin finish on them ;)
 
Good work Stumps. I really like a mirror finished blade as it speaks of a level of craftsmanship and enhances it's stainless qualities. Not to mention assists in cutting abilities. It's drawbacks are maintaining that level. DM
 
sitflyer said:
Welcome back Stumps!
That blade looks great:thumbup:

I've EDC'd knives with mirrored blades, after the unsightly scratches started I took the opposite approach and put a satin finish on them ;)
Click to expand...

AND....you probably put new scales on them AND thinned them down for pocket carry. ;)


Thanks edbeau, David, sitflyer and parbajtor. :thumbup:

This one has stag and I already have a stag user, so I'll just look at this one for now.
 
Stumps, drifting slightly...

That is an incredible journal.

I rode Seattle/Boston many, many years ago and have been hiking/ski touring in VT and NH for many years. Enough to have a small glimpse into what your journal represents.

Words utterly fail me with respect. Wow. Just wow.
 
Stumps said:
Thanks!! I was afraid I would mess it up. I do pretty well cleaning up satin finish blades, bolsters and scales, but had never messed around with a mirror finish blade before. I think the buffer worked because they were light scratches like you might get on a car finish that can be buffed out. I can see where anything more than the light scratches would take the gradual sanding with wet/dry paper.

Yep...off this trail, but I have at least two more long walks planned later this year and maybe a third one if I can squeeze it in. Some in the mountains of NY, CT, MA and VT, then out to Continental Divide in MT, WY and CO after Post Falls. It all depends on time. I am working everything around the BCCI event in Post Falls. :)

There is a wilderness sub-forum here?? I will have to search that one out and take a look.

Look on last Sunday's SPS and you will see the highlight of my walk.
Click to expand...

well I hope that when you start another walk you post of it here in hopes of another
blade forum buddy would want to meet you for a lunch or dinner along the way!!
I know it made my day to have you take a break from your walk to have lunch with me !!
 
110 Dave said:
well I hope that when you start another walk you post of it here in hopes of another
blade forum buddy would want to meet you for a lunch or dinner along the way!!
I know it made my day to have you take a break from your walk to have lunch with me !!
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave. I shoulda tried getting in touch with sitflyer last fall. I think I walked fairly close to where he lives when I walked the Mountains To Sea Trail then.

I still can't believe we ended up talking for about four or five hours over lunch.

Lucky for me I only had another 5 or 6 miles left to walk that day. :)
 
Use a 3m headlight polishing kit any auto body shop should sell it and hand polish dont use a drill or you get circle patterns on the finish
 
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