I have scratched the blades on two of my Spyderco knives... These are superficial scratches, but I'd like to know how I can restore the lustrous shine they had when new. What polishing compound do I need to use, and what technique?
Sal, if you read this - how are these knives finished at the factory? The models in question are the Calypso Jr. Micarta in AUS-8 and the Stainless Police in ATS-55.
Thanks for any help you can offer, Jeff/1911.
Scratched blades…how to polish?
Jeff
If you have a Dremel tool, you could try one of the cloth buffing wheels with a bit of the dark red "jeweler's rouge".
It can be used to polish very soft metals like gold, so it can't possibly hurt stainless steel.
If that doesn't do it, you can try one or more of the more aggressive polishing compounds.
Dick AKTI #A001365
If you have a Dremel tool, you could try one of the cloth buffing wheels with a bit of the dark red "jeweler's rouge".
It can be used to polish very soft metals like gold, so it can't possibly hurt stainless steel.
If that doesn't do it, you can try one or more of the more aggressive polishing compounds.
Dick AKTI #A001365
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Clay Kesting
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C'mon now Jeff, time to let go <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. They are tools, right! They're meant to be used, right! They're going to get scratched, right! Just think of the scratches the same way I do my wrinkles, they give my face character and show I've had a long and interesting life <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. Same goes for my knives.
Take care,
Clay
Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.
Take care,
Clay
Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.
Clay,
I agree completely with the sentiment you express. The scratches that I am referring to however, came about as direct result of my silliness.
My Calypso Jr. was loking great until I tried to cut what I thought was a dish scrubber pad and what turned out to be a green scotch brite pad (or the like). It cut this successfully by the way. Now however, the blade has a series of scratches from top to bottom about an inch wide. I wish to remove these if possible.
And, my new Police model...poor thing. Yesterday, I decided that I'd try to remove some of the sharp edges from the inside of the handle and the spine of the blade using 600A emery paper, and this worked great. Fueled by my recent success, I decided to "smooth" out the Spyderhole in the blade as this felt a little sharp too. I realized after that this probably should be left with a bit of a sharp edge for positive purchase...anyway I suceeded in adding a ring of scratches around the entire hole on both sides...and I was being so careful too.
To me these are not really "natural" scratches incidental to doing work with the knives, although perhaps your thoughts are pertinent here as well. You've got me thinking now...certainly the Calypso Jr. was working at the time. I was using it to cut up a scouring pad to use for the cleaning of my sharpmaker sticks.
Thanks, Jeff/1911.
I agree completely with the sentiment you express. The scratches that I am referring to however, came about as direct result of my silliness.
My Calypso Jr. was loking great until I tried to cut what I thought was a dish scrubber pad and what turned out to be a green scotch brite pad (or the like). It cut this successfully by the way. Now however, the blade has a series of scratches from top to bottom about an inch wide. I wish to remove these if possible.
And, my new Police model...poor thing. Yesterday, I decided that I'd try to remove some of the sharp edges from the inside of the handle and the spine of the blade using 600A emery paper, and this worked great. Fueled by my recent success, I decided to "smooth" out the Spyderhole in the blade as this felt a little sharp too. I realized after that this probably should be left with a bit of a sharp edge for positive purchase...anyway I suceeded in adding a ring of scratches around the entire hole on both sides...and I was being so careful too.
To me these are not really "natural" scratches incidental to doing work with the knives, although perhaps your thoughts are pertinent here as well. You've got me thinking now...certainly the Calypso Jr. was working at the time. I was using it to cut up a scouring pad to use for the cleaning of my sharpmaker sticks.
Thanks, Jeff/1911.
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Clay Kesting
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Jeff,
Sorry mate, just giving you a hard time <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. I can understand you wanting to get rid of those scratches. Trouble is I think if you use a dremel you might end up with a spot which is shinier than the rest of the blade. I did that to an old Military I had with a polishing eraser. You might try wet-and-dry abrasive paper. Use a wood block and go in the same direction as the original grind lines on the blade. You could start with 240 to get rid of the scratches and then move up to 400 or 600 until you get a finish that you're happy with. You could also try one of the blue Scotch-Brite pads, they don't seem to be as abrasive as the green ones. Whatever you do I think you will need to treat the whole blade.
Clay
Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.
Sorry mate, just giving you a hard time <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. I can understand you wanting to get rid of those scratches. Trouble is I think if you use a dremel you might end up with a spot which is shinier than the rest of the blade. I did that to an old Military I had with a polishing eraser. You might try wet-and-dry abrasive paper. Use a wood block and go in the same direction as the original grind lines on the blade. You could start with 240 to get rid of the scratches and then move up to 400 or 600 until you get a finish that you're happy with. You could also try one of the blue Scotch-Brite pads, they don't seem to be as abrasive as the green ones. Whatever you do I think you will need to treat the whole blade.
Clay
Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.
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Sword and Shield
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Here's an addition to what everyone else has said. After using whatever scratch removal method you prefer, take an old leather belt and rub that surface of the blade numerous times. This will polish out most scratches and leave the blade with a nicely polished finish.
Be willing to mess up the belt a bit, as this method can very easily scratch the finished side of the belt. For that reason, I recommend using an old belt, and always using the unfinished side.
Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.
Edited by - Sword and Shield on 7/1/2001 12:35:27 PM
Be willing to mess up the belt a bit, as this method can very easily scratch the finished side of the belt. For that reason, I recommend using an old belt, and always using the unfinished side.
Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.
Edited by - Sword and Shield on 7/1/2001 12:35:27 PM
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sam the man..
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Clay Kesting
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RAOFLMAO <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> I don't think the dremel would come close to touching them, especially if it can't get rid of a few measly scratches on a knife blade. I'd have to start with 40 grit garnet paper and work up from there. I suppose I could get a face lift but I'd look silly with a navel in the middle of my throat <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. Actually I take the lazy man's way out, a full beard hides a lot of wrinkles <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.
Clay
Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.
Clay
Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.