How to: Mirror polished edge from SharpMaker

[GiftedMisfit]

Just wondering if it's possible and how to?

[bearfacedkiller]

The UF rods will produce a very shiny finish but I wouldn't call it a mirror finish. A true mirror finish will require finer grits. You could progress through some strops afterwards and get there.

That said, you would probably be quite pleased with the finish that you can get with just the UF rods.

[GiftedMisfit]

Run through on 30° first and then 40° or just the 40°?

[Evil D]

Order yourself an array of silicon carbide sandpaper like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZ ... UTF8&psc=1

Then use binder clips to hold them onto your rods like this



Then use a grit progression like you'd use when polishing anything else. After that all you have to worry about is your own ability to hold the blade consistently and patience.

[Zatx]

Just wondering if it's possible and how to?

I recently took an Ultrafine stone to a Spyderco factory edge. Using only the ultrafine (it was the bench stone which is bigger than the sharpmaker stones, but it's the same grit), I was able to put a mirror polished edge on the blade. It took four hours to do only one side... but it was possible.

[Catamount123]

Run through on 30° first and then 40° or just the 40°?

Unless you've reprofiled to less than 30 inclusive, just the 40. If you don't know what reprofiled means, then definitely stick to 40

[Sharp Guy]

Order yourself an array of silicon carbide sandpaper like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZ ... UTF8&psc=1

Then use binder clips to hold them onto your rods like this



Then use a grit progression like you'd use when polishing anything else. After that all you have to worry about is your own ability to hold the blade consistently and patience.

Yep! I think I have SiC sandpaper up to 7000 grit. I originally bought it to use on the Shaprmaker as you show. Now I use double-sided tape to stick it to a Edge Pro blank to use on my Hapstone. I don't even go up to 7K anymore. The last few knives I've stopped at like 4K. Shiny enough for me!

[Evil D]

Order yourself an array of silicon carbide sandpaper like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZ ... UTF8&psc=1

Then use binder clips to hold them onto your rods like this



Then use a grit progression like you'd use when polishing anything else. After that all you have to worry about is your own ability to hold the blade consistently and patience.

Yep! I think I have SiC sandpaper up to 7000 grit. I originally bought it to use on the Shaprmaker as you show. Now I use double-sided tape to stick it to a Edge Pro blank to use on my Hapstone. I don't even go up to 7K anymore. The last few knives I've stopped at like 4K. Shiny enough for me!

The tape is a good idea. Have you tried using it on Sharpmaker rods? It may work well for the flats at least. I've found that sandpaper doesn't hold up very long on the corners. The way I fold it around and use binder clips does waste a lot of sandpaper, maybe cutting narrower strips and using double sided tape will work better. Any recommendation for tape brand? I have some stuff that's used in corrugation manufacturing but only a partial roll and I can't buy it anywhere. It's quite sticky though.

[Sharp Guy]

Order yourself an array of silicon carbide sandpaper like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZ ... UTF8&psc=1

Then use binder clips to hold them onto your rods like this



Then use a grit progression like you'd use when polishing anything else. After that all you have to worry about is your own ability to hold the blade consistently and patience.

Yep! I think I have SiC sandpaper up to 7000 grit. I originally bought it to use on the Shaprmaker as you show. Now I use double-sided tape to stick it to a Edge Pro blank to use on my Hapstone. I don't even go up to 7K anymore. The last few knives I've stopped at like 4K. Shiny enough for me!

The tape is a good idea. Have you tried using it on Sharpmaker rods? It may work well for the flats at least. I've found that sandpaper doesn't hold up very long on the corners. The way I fold it around and use binder clips does waste a lot of sandpaper, maybe cutting narrower strips and using double sided tape will work better. Any recommendation for tape brand? I have some stuff that's used in corrugation manufacturing but only a partial roll and I can't buy it anywhere. It's quite sticky though.

I never did try it on the SM rods. I just use the 3M tape that you can buy just about anywhere. I'm not sure it'll stick very well on ceramic. Once I get a bigger printer I can make you a set of paddles that fit in the SM base with 1" flats (or ?). You may need to sand the flats completely smooth the get the tape to stick well enough. I'll add that to my list of potential projects. :)

[Evil D]

I never did try it on the SM rods. I just use the 3M tape that you can buy just about anywhere. I'm not sure it'll stick very well on ceramic. Once I get a bigger printer I can make you a set of paddles that fit in the SM base with 1" flats (or ?). You may need to sand the flats completely smooth the get the tape to stick well enough. I'll add that to my list of potential projects. :)

So you mean Edge Pro blank adapters that fit into the Sharpmaker base? That's a good idea. That'll open up the use of all my Moldmaster stones. That plus the Sharpmaker rod adapters for the Edge Pro and I'll be all set :D

[Sharp Guy]

I never did try it on the SM rods. I just use the 3M tape that you can buy just about anywhere. I'm not sure it'll stick very well on ceramic. Once I get a bigger printer I can make you a set of paddles that fit in the SM base with 1" flats (or ?). You may need to sand the flats completely smooth the get the tape to stick well enough. I'll add that to my list of potential projects. :)

So you mean Edge Pro blank adapters that fit into the Sharpmaker base? That's a good idea. That'll open up the use of all my Moldmaster stones. That plus the Sharpmaker rod adapters for the Edge Pro and I'll be all set :D

No, I've already thought about that. I could probably do it fairly easily but I think that's too complex. I may still consider it but I already have something cooking that's much easier to execute.

What I was referring to was a simple flat surface (6" x 1"?) that you could mount your sandpaper to with a triangular end that would fit into the Sharpmaker base. Something like this....



This is a quick and dirty sketch that would need more refinement. But you get the idea. I could even do two of them to make it easier to alternate sides.

[Evil D]

No, I've already thought about that. I could probably do it fairly easily but I think that's too complex. I may still consider it but I already have something cooking that's much easier to execute.

What I was referring to was a simple flat surface (6" x 1"?) that you could mount your sandpaper to with a triangular end that would fit into the Sharpmaker base. Something like this....



This is a quick and dirty sketch that would need more refinement. But you get the idea. I could even do two of them to make it easier to alternate sides.

That would work great as long as the triangular insert part is sturdy enough to not break or bend over time. I'd imagine you could even glue EP stones directly to it if you didn't want to use sandpaper.

[ZrowsN1s]

The kind of steel you are working with makes a bit of a difference too. H1 for example is pretty easy to get a mirror finish with the ultrafine rods. Stropping with some kind of metal polish, compound, or diamond/cbn paste is the best way to mirror polish. Just be careful not to round the edge and wreck all the hard work you did with the stones.