Beginner Mirror polish

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Gjackson98

Gjackson98

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I have seen a few thread here about hints and tools regarding how to Mirror polish a blade.
I am still little unclear regarding the polishing method and when do I know its time to move up the grits.
Please help answering the question below, more detail the better :) Cheers!

What polishing tool do you use?
What polishing method do you follow?
Any advise for a beginner?
 
I used sandpaper. I bought 2 packs of Gator automotive sandpaper, starting at 400, ending at 2000. I should of bought some in the 200-300 range also.

Advice? Dull the edge just enough to not cut you and the sandpaper, but able to be brought back easily. Use some kind of backing/holder, it'll save you cramps. Use full strokes, especially in the finishing stage, don't want J-hooks. Use alternating parallel and perpendicular strokes, helps you know if you removed the previous grits scratches. WD-40 or similar is your friend. Be patient. You can also finish with simichrome or similar polishing compound.

Once done, you will be proud. Feel accomplished. And also feel like, why did I punish myself.
 
Last edited:
M1k3 said:
I used sandpaper. I bought 2 packs of Gator automotive sandpaper, starting at 400, ending at 2000. I should of bought some in the 200-300 range also.

Advice? Dull the edge just enough to not cut you and the sandpaper, but able to be brought back easily. Use some kind of backing/holder, it'll save you cramps. Use full strokes, especially in the finishing stage, don't want J-hooks. Use alternating parallel and perpendicular strokes, helps you know if you removed the previous grits scratches. WD-40 or similar is your friend. Be patient. You can also finish with simichrome or similar polishing compound.

Once done, you will be proud. Feel accomplished. And also feel like, why did I punish myself.
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Thank you so much man! thats very helpful! What do you use WD-40 for?
 
Alternatively, cut 500 lbs of carrots. Whichever's easier.

Edit: I've done a sandpaper mirror a couple times. Takes forever, and you have to be super certain you remove the previous scratches. Hence M1k3's good suggestion to alternate the direction of the stroke with the grit. After all that effort, I've usually been like: meh... looks fancy, but food release is a bit worse.
 
ian said:
Alternatively, cut 500 lbs of carrots. Whichever's easier.

Edit: I've done a sandpaper mirror a couple times. Takes forever, and you have to be super certain you remove the previous scratches. Hence M1k3's good suggestion to alternate the direction of the stroke with the grit. After all that effort, I've usually been like: meh... looks fancy, but food release is a bit worse.
Click to expand...

Yeah fully agree; I figure I should at least try everything ones :)
 
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I did the sandpaper thing too. I hated myself afterwards. It was also kind of sloppy and looks like a really old scratched up mirror. That said I don't mind it but I think stiction increased. When the time comes to thin the knife I definitely won't bother polishing it again now that I know exactly how careful through the process I have to be.
 
dsk said:
I did the sandpaper thing too. I hated myself afterwards. It was also kind of sloppy and looks like a really old scratched up mirror. That said I don't mind it but I think stiction increased. When the time comes to thin the knife I definitely won't bother polishing it again now that I know exactly how careful through the process I have to be.
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Yep, mirror polish sucks for food release.

Natural stone almost-mirror polishes (I'm thinking of my soft uchi) are much better, though. Go figure.
 
Gjackson98 said:
I just went through it! That’s an awesome instruction! Thank you!
Click to expand...

I mirror polished a few blades by hand before but it needs a lot of time.... hours and hours..... after a few blades i saw the sander at the regal. Hilti WFO 280 is the real deal for mirror polish :D Its a god :D . But i think a cheap sander will give you a nice mirror polish too. It does not have to be a sander for 500$.
 
da_mich* said:
I mirror polished a few blades by hand before but it needs a lot of time.... hours and hours..... after a few blades i saw the sander at the regal. Hilti WFO 280 is the real deal for mirror polish :D Its a god :D . But i think a cheap sander will give you a nice mirror polish too. It does not have to be a sander for 500$.
Click to expand...

Never imagined using electrical sander for this kind of job lol, maybe I will give it a try on a cheap blade some time in the future!
 
How you start out depends on the starting surfaces of the knife blade.
You can buy specialist 3M green buffing pads which I think are made for the car industry which are very fine and may be initially used with water along the length of the blade.
Then use a small buffing wheel (like a Dremel buffing wheel or slightly larger) that you can buy on eBay and use it in a cordless drill (I use Makita) using Austosol or some other polishing compound can work well. Be careful and buff evenly and you should get satisfying results. This takes patience and care.
 
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