Blade Polishing

[singleshot03]

I have a few SAK that I bought used and the blades are scratched up.  I tried using I think Flitz polish but still scratches; I used 2500 grit sandpaper and made a bunch of smaller finer scratches.  Would a grinder with a buffing wheel remove scratches and return the look of the knife blade?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Jim

[JAfromMn]

Im following this one.

I get a good finish using flitz buffing by hand

there has to be a better easier way.

if I use a dremil I leave marks .

[Sparky415]

The answer is yes 

Use the 2500 at 90degrees to the way you used last, this will show any scratches you missed before
Then use the large wheel, I found I kept having to go back a step as the polishing bought out deeper scratches

I found polishing with the Dremel 'digs' holes' in the steel 

[HankSolon]

For this job I made myself some custom sandpapers for my Proxxon (like Dremel). Using double sided duct tape I got 280 - 1000 grit sandpaper rings.

A 1000 grit Sandpaper rotating at at least 5000 rpm creates a mirror-like surface. After that, only some polishing (with special polishing paste) is needed if neccessary.

[GigaHz]

I have sand paper ranging from 800 grit to 7000 grit. I use the highest grit paper I can to get rid of the scratches. Then just go higher from there till done with the 7000 at the end.

[PTRSAK]

I work up through the grit sizez (or is that down?  ) to 1200 wet & dry and then use white compound on an unstitched mop in my bench grinder.

[HankSolon]

But be aware, there are different standards for sanding paper. A German comparison table can be found here

[Sparky415]

The answer is yes 

Use the 2500 at 90degrees to the way you used last, this will show any scratches you missed before
Then use the large wheel, I found I kept having to go back a step as the polishing bought out deeper scratches

I found polishing with the Dremel 'digs' holes' in the steel 

I've just checked, I used 3000 grit

[powernoodle]

I get a good finish using flitz buffing by hand

Same here, except that I use Mother's Mag Wheel polish from Walmart or any auto parts place, which is very much like Flitz except you get a big tub of it for cheap.

[Aloha]

Great tip Powernoodle  .  Coarse to Progressively finer grit sand paper then same for jewelers rouge is what I have used for my MTs.  I use a felt wheel with the rouge but be careful as the metal heats.   

[neillcurrie]

I never use any powered polishing equipment. I never want a blade to suddenly catch on a powered wheel and spin off somewhere.
Yesterday I used 400, then 600 and 1500 wet and dry, followed by Simichrome. All done on a flat smooth surface.
Not quite a mirror polish, but good enough for me, and certainly much better than most used blades look when first acquired.

[singleshot03]

Thanks for all the advice.  Lets see what I get done this weekend.

Jim

[tap78]

after polishing (600/800/1200/2000/ dremel+green paste compound) and changing the scales:

[SAK Guy]

That looks great!!!! What a cool knife!

If I may ask, what is that DE-GM and serial number (?) tang stamp?

[Aloha]

Great job on the polishing 

[tap78]

That looks great!!!! What a cool knife!

Thanks

If I may ask, what is that DE-GM and serial number (?) tang stamp?

Here is an answer

[SAK Guy]

That looks great!!!! What a cool knife!

Thanks

If I may ask, what is that DE-GM and serial number (?) tang stamp?

Here is an answer

Thanks Tap!