Question About Polishing With An Angle Grinder

T

Tanner Frisby

Joined
May 8, 2011
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I have no bench grinder, but I do have a 4-4 1/2 " angle grinder. Can I practically/safely/feasibly polish a knife blade with an angle grinder. If so, would it be something along the lines of: clamp knife in sturdy vice on the table, run an assortment of different (pads? wheels? what do you call them) over the knife, remove and finish.
Thanks,
Tanner Frisby
 
I would think that the angle grinder would be running wayyyy too fast for this kind of work. buffing is already dangerous, and so this just makes it worse.
 
Tanner Frisby said:
I have no bench grinder, but I do have a 4-4 1/2 " angle grinder. Can I practically/safely/feasibly polish a knife blade with an angle grinder. If so, would it be something along the lines of: clamp knife in sturdy vice on the table, run an assortment of different (pads? wheels? what do you call them) over the knife, remove and finish.
Thanks,
Tanner Frisby
Click to expand...

You could use it to rough in the bevels if you had to, but it'd be almost impossible to get the blade flat. The discs don't wear evenly and you'll be working with a slowly shrinking disc. Instead, do a search on draw filing. Elbow grease a couple files and some sandpaper and you could make a very nice knife.
Count will likely link a post with all the relevant posts soon...

Brian
 
If you have a cordless drill, they make tons of buffing/polishing attachments for them. Harbour Freight carries them, just don't buy your compounds there, get good stuff.


-Xander
 
I started buffing, and buffing, and buffing, and just drove myself crazy because a buff blade shows the scratches too bad

Just use sandpaper and a good cutting fluid (I like Mobil 1) and go to town on it. Change the paper often, but use every bit of available grit. I go 220, 320, 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000 and get a greaet mirror polish. I usually only use a small 1.5" strip of each grit per side, so it doesn't take that much
 
Thanks for all of the input. Here is some more information:
My blade currently has no visible lines on it from grit (special technique to go from 600 to no lines) but it isn't at all a "mirror" finish. How do I get it to a "mirror" finish with out a bench grinder?
 
DSTiamat said:
Are the handrill attachments for grinding and polishing any good?
Click to expand...

Not so much for grinding steel, but for buffing and polishing they work well. You can get a 2-3" circle that is hard and accepts pads for flat sanding with higher grit papers, and dfferent cotton wheels for polishing. Many are made for air tools, but work fine in a cordless drill. Autobody suppliers should have a good selection of the stuff you need locally. Just be careful with power tools and polishing, you can heat up the steel enough to ruin the temper. I always check every few seconds to make sure it isn't too hot to handle bare handed.

Also some steels just won't ever get to that mirror polish look. O.P. what steel is it you are trying to polish?


-Xander
 
Get some VERY fine paper, like 1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000. Sand to 3000 grit then get out the flitz or semichrome. It will take quite some time. Also why are you going for the mirror polish? You will find it is a very fragile finish. It will scratch when you look at it. I would recommend a nice hand rubbed finish to 600 grit for a utility piece. If you really want the mirror then take the time and work out them arms.
 
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