Tips for Hand Sanding

M

me2

Joined
Oct 11, 2003
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Just thought I'd come to the pro's for some tips on hand finishing a blade. I'm finishing the blade of an 806D2 from Benchmade. So far I've only used 320 grit paper. I have it backed with an old DMT that has lost the cutting ability. For the bevel I'm using a small ceramic sharpener to back the sandpaper. The bevel and the flat seem to be taking 2 different finishes. Are the different backings causing this? Also, there are some pretty deep scratches on the blade. Can these be rubbed out, or are they there to stay using just hand polishing? Thanks for the info.
 
the best hand sanding tip I ever got was from Bruce Evans

Buy one of those walmart $12.00 sanders and replace the rubber pad with a piece of micarta, put a piece of 320 on it and go to town. :D :D :D

TRY IT YOU WILL LIKE IT.
 
sweeny...can you show what a Wal-mart sander looks like :D

Is it an electrical one?
 
Yes it is a electric hand held palm grip sander that uses 1/4 sheets of paper.Just go up through your grits and then back up one grit and start hand rubbing out the finish.I usually go to 800 then start rubbing with 600 and go up to 2000 from there...Always use a hard back when rubbibg untill you are at your finish rub and then I back the paper with 1/4 inch thick sole leather..Remeber to always cross your grits untill the end rub also...

Next thing I have learned the hard way is to make sure all your paper is one brand as different brands grits will actually be off from a different brand..After learning this my finishes have cleaned up to what they should be.
Bruce
 
Thanks Bruce...I have a palm sander :p
 
What Bruce said.
another tip is lighting. I use a 100 w. incandescent bulb to work with, one of those little halogen flashlights, to shine paralell to the blade. you'd be amazed what shows up with the penlight.
 
I took the blade to a 320 finish, using my sharpmaker rods to back the sandpaper. This is harder than Micarta, which is usually the backing recommended. Is it too hard? Also, I'm guessing there is no easy way to hand finish the area near the base of the blade where the plunge grinds start, even though Benchmade's are quite shallow. The 320 is as far as I'm going, but it seems to break down and get finer if I use a piece too long. The first stroke or 2 has a uniform finish, but now there are some streaks, but the overall appearance in almost a mirror finish when held just right.
 
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