How do I get a mirror finish on my knife?

knivesandguns

knivesandguns

Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
3,200
Hey guys, I've been using sandpaper working up to 1500 grit on a JYD CB that I am working on. I couldn't find any higher grit sandpaper at my Napa auto parts store.

What do I need in order to make my knife look like a mirror? Thanks!
 
Are you talking about sharpening or polishing the whole blade?

Either way you will still need finer than 1500 grit and polishing compound can be found at lowes or home depot. If its the whole blade you are polishing you will also need a powered buffer unless you have a lot of time on your hands. :)
 
knifenut1013 said:
Are you talking about sharpening or polishing the whole blade?

Either way you will still need finer than 1500 grit and polishing compound can be found at lowes or home depot. If its the whole blade you are polishing you will also need a powered buffer unless you have a lot of time on your hands. :)
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Yes, the entire blade. I already get mirror edges with the paper wheels. Could you please elaborate with a "powdered buffer"?
Thanks!
 
knivesandguns said:
Yes, the entire blade. I already get mirror edges with the paper wheels. Could you please elaborate with a "powdered buffer"?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I sand my blades down to 1000 grit. Then, I use Mothers metal polish which turns it to a mirror with very little effort. I do it al by hand BTW. One ?, what kind of steel you are working with matters a lot. The knives I have mirrored are A2.
 
peppercorn said:
I sand my blades down to 1000 grit. Then, I use Mothers metal polish which turns it to a mirror with very little effort. I do it al by hand BTW. One ?, what kind of steel you are working with matters a lot. The knives I have mirrored are A2.
Click to expand...

Mothers metal polish, sounds great, I think I can probably find that. (Which store do you buy yours from?)

I'm using a JYD composite, so Sandvik along with CPM D-2
 
You might look around town for a rock shop. They carry a lot of ultra-fine grit polishing abrasives.
 
knivesandguns said:
Mothers metal polish, sounds great, I think I can probably find that. (Which store do you buy yours from?)

I'm using a JYD composite, so Sandvik along with CPM D-2
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Mothers can be purchased at most auto parts stores. Flitz will do the same, available at a full service hardware store. You will be able to mirror the D2, I'm not experienced with the other two however it is usually just a matter of how ''silver'' the mirror becomes.
 
peppercorn said:
Mothers can be purchased at most auto parts stores. Flitz will do the same, available at a full service hardware store. You will be able to mirror the D2, I'm not experienced with the other two however it is usually just a matter of how ''silver'' the mirror becomes.
Click to expand...

Ok, thank you!
 
peppercorn said:
I sand my blades down to 1000 grit. Then, I use Mothers metal polish which turns it to a mirror with very little effort. I do it al by hand BTW. One ?, what kind of steel you are working with matters a lot. The knives I have mirrored are A2.
Click to expand...
Could you use the work sharp pro to first sharpen and then use the sandpaper on the edge with the compound or do you have a suggestion for a type of strop with a compound after the blade has already been sharpened by the machine to get the mirror finish....im very new to this any help would be appreciate I'm trying to narrow down the tools I'll need and the specific types and brands I should get
 
Ben Dover said:
For polishing the edge, get a good stropping compound like cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) or diamond paste from some place like:
www.us-products.com
www.japanwoodworker.com
www.gravescompany.com

Or just googloe stropping compounds.
Click to expand...
Could you use the work sharp pro to first sharpen and then use the sandpaper on the edge with the compound or do you have a suggestion for a type of strop with a compound after the blade has already been sharpened by the machine to get the mirror finish....im very new to this any help would be appreciate I'm trying to narrow down the tools I'll need and the specific types and brands I should get
 
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