Mirror shined edges

[Forrest]

I am a knife sharpener, and have been practicing it for a year or so now. but I see people on this forum with their edges like mirrors and it awe strikes me every single time, how do you guys do this? I can strop a knife and make it shiny, but the edges that some of these people have on their blades is down right mirror polished! are there any tips that may help with getting to that mirror polish?

[razorsharp]

Get these results by sharpening to 2k grit sandpaper, that is worn. Then go to ebay, search diamond paste, get THE THK set, about 16 aud with 5 microns through to 0.25 microns, load pastes, just a tiny dab onto paper or mdf, polish away

[Forrest]

thank you! :)

[rodloos]

Some of the guys are using a guided system like Edge Pro or Wicked Edge, which helps maintain consistent angles, and then start with a coarser grit and progress up to a really fine stone. Also realize some of these guys are a bit obsessive, and have tons of time invested both in getting the experience sharpening, and in terms of time spent on each knife. I won't mention any names, but the obsessive guys know who they are! :D

[razorsharp]

Some of the guys are using a guided system like Edge Pro or Wicked Edge, which helps maintain consistent angles, and then start with a coarser grit and progress up to a really fine stone. Also realize some of these guys are a bit obsessive, and have tons of time invested both in getting the experience sharpening, and in terms of time spent on each knife. I won't mention any names, but the obsessive guys know who they are! :D

Im obsessive, but can get edges done like this:



in 20 minutes now :D :D :D

that was full re profile and polish done in 20-25 minutes

[MadRookie]

For those with interest in mirror finishes, look here:

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... post879331

:)

[w3tnz]

I'm no Travis :p , but I just wrap some 2000gr sandpaper around my wicked edge stones, and use that between the 1000gr diamond stone and the strops, gets a pretty fine polish to the naked eye, I will spring for some ceramics one day.

[MadRookie]

Cool, gotto agree, there are many ways to skin a cat, and less expensive as well.

Some people become real innovative & by thinking outside the box, achieve miracles.

:)

[Per-Sev]

When I had my house I had a hard pressed cardboard wheel on my bench grinder and used white polishing compound to take the burr off and polish the edge to a mirror polish after sharping and it only took few minutes, but now I live in a apartment so I just do it on a leather strop with polishing compound, but it takes to long for a mirrored finish that way. I find that to much polishing takes away from the cutting ability of some material and causes the blade to slide off rather than cut. I prefer to leave some of the micro serrations for cutting through things like rope and 550 cord and also cardboard.

[MadRookie]

100% correct.

My mirror finishes are only on the relief bevel (back bevel) - I still put a micro cutting bevel on afterwards, anything between #500 & 4k grit - knife usage dependent.

:)

[.357 mag]

Here is a thread is started a while back. If you have some or all of this stuff laying around it won't cost you anything.

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... highlight=

[kbuzbee]

I won't mention any names, but the obsessive guys know who they are! :D

Yeah, we do

Polished bevels are fun, but I'll be the first to acknowledge they don't always last as long as a toothier edge, depending on use. Of course, you can "tooth" a micro bevel on a polished bevel.

Ken

[MadRookie]

Yeah, we do

Polished bevels are fun, but I'll be the first to acknowledge they don't always last as long as a toothier edge, depending on use. Of course, you can "tooth" a micro bevel on a polished bevel.

Ken

Exactly - the mirror bevel is only on the relief edge, not the actual cutting edge.

The cutting edge is a different beast.

It is applied after the mirror relief has been established.

:)

[chuck_roxas45]

Exactly - the mirror bevel is only on the relief edge, not the actual cutting edge.

The cutting edge is a different beast.

It is applied after the mirror relief has been established.

:)

Yup. :)

[Forrest]

all of this info is so informative! thank you so much! I am realitivly new to it all, only two years in training and one of the youngest in the knife community! thanks for not looking down on a newer member for asking a simple question! :D :spyder:

[Holland]

I'm no Travis :p , but I just wrap some 2000gr sandpaper around my wicked edge stones, and use that between the 1000gr diamond stone and the strops, gets a pretty fine polish to the naked eye, I will spring for some ceramics one day.

great idea, i might have to copy u :)