what grit

revencer · Post by **revencer** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:10 am

I have everything I need for making my knife, but what grit sandpaper do I use? I have the file, premade blade, I drilled it, I cut the pins, and I have the scales, but what sandpaper range do I need? I need for uses from shaping to polishing. What grit range do I need?

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:17 am

moved your question here, these guys can answer your grit questions.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:39 am

revencer,
Can you post some pics of what it is you are trying to make?
Are you making a folder, or fix blade?
Are you talking about sanding the handles or the blade?
If handles, what material are they?

You said the blade is pre-made....... is it a finished bade from a supply house (which needs little or no sanding) or is the blade just back from heat treating and needs to be cleaned up?

If you could post some pics of what you are working with, both for the blade & the handles, we can more intelligently answer the question.

Also it would be helpful to know what type of finish you want on your knife.
Many blades are merely finished with Scotch Brite wheels. Simple, easy and nice looking, while others are highly polished. What type of finish do you want?

Show us some pics and let us know what you are working with and what type of finish you want.........then we can answer your question.

Thanks,
Dale

revencer · Post by **revencer** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:03 am

sorry about lack of details, it is a finished blade, and I need to sand the cocobolo handles. Also it is a fixed blade, ill post pics when I finished. And also what would I use for a scratched blade? (not same one)

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:31 am

I would sand the Cocobolo to 1000 grit at least, usually to 2000 and then buff in some Carnauba wax. There is too much oil in it for a varnish of any sort.

As far as the scratched blade goes…….I would start with 400 wet-or-dry and go up from there.
I usually finish it with Scotch Brite, but if you want it polished, sand to 1500 or 2000 (unless you have a real good buffer setup) and then do the buffing.

Dale

zorrothegreyblade · Post by **zorrothegreyblade** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:14 pm

For light scratches, I start with ScotchBrite and work backwards, that is increasing the coarseness, till the marks nearly dissapear, then work forwards again back to the ScotchBrite. Takes longer but why rush if you're looking to do a good job. In the UK we have a product called Autosol, its a chrome cleaner paste. I use this for buffing, put a thin film on the blade, then buff up with a rotary mop on a power drill. When done after Scotch Brite it can leave an old but looked after finish, depending on how much elbow grease you apply!