The aftermath of sharpening...........

Recluse

Recluse

Joined
Jan 15, 2000
Messages
429
After some serious effort (and encouragement from Uncle Bill
smile.gif
) I finally got a pretty decent edge on my Kumar Kobra. However, I managed to scratch the mirror finish in more than a few places. This is my first khukuri, and I guess I should have started with something a little less pretty.......Anyway, how can I polish out the scratches? I live in a small apartment so I have no access to any power equipment. Thank you.

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Kevin
 
Well, one way is to apply buffing coumpound to a piece of leather and buff till you hearts content. When I buff, I use stages. First I use tripoli coumpound, then I use the jewler's rouge.

I usually don't put a polish on my kuks until after they have been out working for a while. Then the knife has a myriad of scrathes and tree gunk on it. As a result I usually lightly buff the blade with three grades of scotch brite and a little oil. After that I move on to the sharpening stage. Finally I polish it.

Give it a try. BTW use the rough side of the leather to charge with the compound.

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Life is short, art endures.
 
After getting various scratches in many ways on my khuks, I just gave up. Get used to the look; it will preserve your sanity. If you have some of those really annoying "non-work" scratches, like file marks, you can try some white sharpening stone like a hard ceramic croc stick or the spyderco stuff. These are used for polishing the edge after using a more abrasive cutting implement. They work pretty well in reducing those type of marks. Then you can use some polishing compound or fine steel wool or whatever. Don't try for a mirror finish. It won't last and you'll drive yourself crazy trying to maintain it.

Tom
 
Try wet sand paper used on automobiles around 600 grit. There is sand paper even finer at specialty shops (the smallest I have seen is 0.5 micron). Metal polish such as Fritz is the easiest to start with and may be enough.

My khukuri gets scratched a lot too. I don't do anything it about it though.

Will
 
If you use a khukuri or just about any other tool they will get scratched and beat up. There is not a tool I use that does not show signs of use and I just let them stay as they are.

My ivory handled khukuri along with a few others don't get scratched because I don't use them. Use it or lose it to the dust bunnies.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
Each scratch, nick, ding and gouge is the personality the knife carries. Even my great ancient knives have these stories written on their blades. It's what gives them their personality and karma.

Give me a beaten up, well used khukuri over a new shiny one any day.

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JP
 
And John Powell is not the only very knowledgeable collector to say this!

Bottom line is if you use it the knife is going to show some wear but that's fine. If you want one to look at or hang on the wall get a kothimoda.

I know, John, the scabbard maker is still working on your kothimoda scabbard. But we will get it to you, I swear! And without scratches! You can do your own.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
OK I surrender!
smile.gif


Seriously, thanks to everyone who replied. I didn't try sanding with water or oil, so I will give that a shot and if it doesn't work then I will just cope and deal. I guess I didn't stop to consider that khukuris are for using first and looking pretty second.......Thanks again.

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Kevin
 
I'm no expert of polishing, but hoping you wise people will learn from my experience.

I once started to polish up my "Predator matchet" from Frost, and gave up. The the blade was worse than before.

Mr. Miyagi said in "Karate Kid", "If you walk right side of the road yes, if you walk left side yes, but if you walk middle..."
I now know what he meant.


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Did you enjoy today?
\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
I think WrongFriend has the right idea. A polished blade is beautiful ... and a well-used blade is beautiful. But if you start to polish a blade and quit half way through it can be pretty ugly -- and when a blade first begins to get a few scratches and little spots and streaks of patina, that can be ugly, too. The moral of the story is: Don't stop halfway!

Or in the words of the charismatic mystic leader of the fanatical knife cult the Wholly Brethren and Cistern of Voracious Truth, "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing!"

-Cougar Allen :{)
Speaker to the Cistern, WB&C
 
20 years ago I used to washed my car - the whole morning ... sometimes up to one whole day! One day I start thinking ... why should I waste time washing car which will be dirty again and again and again!

So - since that time I send my car for a car wash at car shop AND I read books while they do all the washing! The point is I just need to pay few bucks to car wash attendence (who needs little extra money) & I enjoy reading (and gain knowledge) during that time! I guess my time & car wash attendence time is worth spend! WIN WIN strategy!!

NEPAL HO!
 
Handy tip, Bill...the paint sticks better if you wash it first. Then you'd only have to paint it every 12-14 years.
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Tom
 
If you want to polish the whole blade to a matching finish you might try 3M Wet or Dry for auto body sanding. If you have an outside work area like a picnic table use it wet with turpentine to prevent clogging and carry away the grit. (Better than water on carbon steel blades!)

If you work each grit at a 45 degree angle to the last it makes it easy to see when you have the scratches from the last grit out.

For a real high class finish, after all the scratches are out, lay two sheets of 600 grit face to face of a flat surface and work them together until both are evenly worn down pale grey, then polish the blade lengthwise until you have the finish you want. It won't be mirror polished but it is a beautiful, even finish.
 
Ron, then I'll just go chop something that I shouldn't and there goes my finish again. It is too much work for me -- just like washing the car everytime it gets dirty.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 06-28-2000).]
 
Cougar: what you said makes what WrongFriend said make sense to me now. Shame that I won't remember it for very long.

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John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.


Himalayan Imports Website
 
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