Maybe a literally perfect mirror doesn't exist, but you can't certainly get a "perfect" mirror polish that doesn't have visible scratches at a level that normal human sight can see.
In that case, its definitely very important to get rid of the scratches of the previous grit, as well as brushed (what I call satin) finishes like @Luftmensch mentioned. I normally go with satin generally speaking, if using a belt sander with either trizact or, scotch brite belts you can get a very nice machine satin quite easily.
Going for hand satin finishes takes more work, but isn't too tough with the right setup. Generally a vise to hold the blade (I need to make one) then sandpaper, and different backing materials is the most preferable. Doing alternating directions between each grit. Then only taking single strokes on the final grit (generally 600 or 800)
Mirror, is definitely more work in general. I had wanted the knife I made recently to have a mirror finish, but I just didnt have high enough grit belts, and ran out of 1000 and 1500 grit paper (3m wetordry really isn't great above 800 grit, I need a better sandpaper in these grits) during my progression. So anyway doing that didnt work. Its the same principle, alternating scratch patterns until you can get to a high enough grit that a buffer can erase the scratches. Then buff it out.
I've done mirror polishes before, and it is a very tedious process to get visibly scratch free mirrors. I've gone up to 10000 grit before using any kind of polish or compound.
In that case, its definitely very important to get rid of the scratches of the previous grit, as well as brushed (what I call satin) finishes like @Luftmensch mentioned. I normally go with satin generally speaking, if using a belt sander with either trizact or, scotch brite belts you can get a very nice machine satin quite easily.
Going for hand satin finishes takes more work, but isn't too tough with the right setup. Generally a vise to hold the blade (I need to make one) then sandpaper, and different backing materials is the most preferable. Doing alternating directions between each grit. Then only taking single strokes on the final grit (generally 600 or 800)
Mirror, is definitely more work in general. I had wanted the knife I made recently to have a mirror finish, but I just didnt have high enough grit belts, and ran out of 1000 and 1500 grit paper (3m wetordry really isn't great above 800 grit, I need a better sandpaper in these grits) during my progression. So anyway doing that didnt work. Its the same principle, alternating scratch patterns until you can get to a high enough grit that a buffer can erase the scratches. Then buff it out.
I've done mirror polishes before, and it is a very tedious process to get visibly scratch free mirrors. I've gone up to 10000 grit before using any kind of polish or compound.
... thanks to Freddy's Nazi sister
. They stressed the importance of privacy and securing personal information. But I was born before the internet... the culture has changed! Sharing your life with the world is the new normal.
