Problem with buffing

backtines

backtines

Well-Known Member
Hey guys , when I started out making knives with bolsters, the material I used for bolsters was brass. The reason for using brass is because it was fairly easy to finish . I would hand sand the bolsters up to 1500grit, then move over to the buffing wheel.
I never really had to change the wheels because I used them for the same thing. I had one with green compound and the other with pink. I would run the bolsters through the green and finish shine with pink. They would come out beautiful. No problem.

I now started using stainless 416 for bolsters. I've definitely noticed a difference in getting that finish to a high shine. I can get that shine , but I feel like its taking me too long to get there .

This is what I do to finish bolsters .

I use my belt up to 400 Gt. Then clamp blade in knife clamping jig and start sanding through all the grits, right on up to 2500 and sometimes 3000.
I then move over to my buffing wheels. Green first then pink. I do get a nice finish, but when I look at it close, there's a bunch of scratches in it. I'd bring the knife back over to hand sanding again to get those fine scratches out , then buff with pink, buff lightly to final finish. Why am I getting those fine scratches ?? I even changed wheels , thinking they were the wrong type of wheel. I have so many wheels in the shop , I don't know which one is wright or wrong to use , and I know that makes a difference.

The average eye will not see what I'm looking at , but the fine scratches are there .
So again, I would go back to the sanding and repeat the process.
I will eventually get there , but I feel it's taking way to long .

Something is wrong ! Or is it ?

Can someone please explain the process to achieving that high shine finish on stainless bolsters? What are the right compounds to use and the right kind of wheels..

I'm always looking for a better way.

Thanks.
 
I had the same problem when I started using stainless.
I belt finish up to 3000 and sometimes 4500 on trizac belts. I did pretty much the same as yourself for brass until I tried the gray compound before the green. Now the stainless looks wet and fluid and clear as a mirror. The reflection in the blade is clouds, my house gutter on the bolsters and leaves on a tree on the bottom of the butt cap.

KnifeShow 024.jpg

Rudy
 
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Hey Mikey, I think maybe your buffing wheels may be contaminated with metal filings or something possibly. Try this. I polish jewelry almost every day so here is what we do. Hit the buffing wheel real hard with the edge of a putty knife for awhile. That should clean out all the old junk. Recharge with whatever you are using.Or just start with a new wheel and put it in a ziplock when your finished. Green should work great on stainless. The only other thing is its possible you are not getting all the scratches out initially? Just some thoughts.
Doug
 
Hey Rudy , beautiful finish. First off , what wheels are you using ? Sisal , cotton ,muslin? Secondly , With the trizac belts, are you moving right up the line from 4,6 800 gt right on up to 4000?

Doug, I did use my wheel rake and I even changed the wheels.. As far as me getting the scratches out. I come off the belt at 400. I then move to hand sanding from 4,8,1k,1200,1500,2500,3000. It looks like the scratches are out.
I'm just wondering , being that I'm not using the 600, would that make the difference? I mean they come out nice but something isn't right .

Ok I'm learning that the green compound is good. I can add gray before green. Now questioning how many different trizac belts before hand sanding ? Or straight to buffer?
 
Rudy Joly said:
Like Doug, I keep my buffs in zip locks even on the machine when not in use.

Rudy
Click to expand...

Wow, I never really thought that would make a difference. I use those wheels a lot , but never really made a difference withy the brass. I was always able to achieve my finish easier . Knowing that stainless was more difficult. I changed the wheels and not sure if I'm using the right ones.
I will use zip locks if need be.
 
I would use a cotton somewhat fine wheel for the final polish with green. A sisal wheel is for a aggressive cutting compound. You do not need to cake the wheel full of polish either. Just hit it a few seconds with the compound and proceed to polishing. Only use the the same compound for the labeled wheel. You may know all this though. I wouldnt think you should have to go all the way to 3000 before final polish.
 
Also the soft cotton wheel should be somewhat loose weave. Some have lots of stiching in the side of
them to tighten them up. Now i know your confused.LOL
 
Sorry Mike, can't tell you that.:biggrin:

Seriously, I use all felt wheels, medium on grey, soft on green, except for final buff is loose cotton. No hand sanding, I do all the work on slack belt trizacs especially hollow grinds. After HT, I clean up with ceramic 220. After that it's trizac 220 all the way up to 3000 or 4500. Probably no more than 4-5 passes with each belt, it goes quick. Before HT, I bring my blades up to 320 trizac, it really helps the process after HT. It sounds like a lot but it's worked for me for years now. Hand sanding is for the birds, I hate it.

Rudy
 
D.Douglas said:
I wouldnt think you should have to go all the way to 3000 before final polish.
Click to expand...

I don't do this for every knife. The 3000-4500 already give you a mirror polish but you can still see tiny grind marks on the work if you look closely. I could leave it, but a couple passes on the wheels makes it nice. Perfection.

Rudy
 
is there a certain type of sisal wheel you guys use? I had one that ive been using when I was doing brass bolsters .It had so much crud in there iven after raking it . I almost had a semi hard crusty coating on it. You'd think it would scratch everything it touched but it worked out ok .

Now that Im using stainless and seeing those small scratches , I changed wheels. The sisal wheel Im using now for green is growing hairy fingers that stick out from the wheel . Im thinking those fingers may be scratching the bolsters?? Thats why I ask the question of the type of Sisal or Cotton wheels you guys are using. Even on the new cotton wheel I have , Its throwing crap all over the place. I must of got lucky when I bought those other wheels . Of course I dont know the brand and i must have 10 or so wheels in there without knowing what is what.

Time to start from begining on the right wheels first i guess ?
 
Thanks Rudy and Doug,
Great advice from guys who know how to do it right!!

Hey Rudy, as a side note, I magnified your knife and it was so clear that I could also see the reflection of myself looking at it through the computer, Astounding!

Steve
 
Steven Janik said:
Thanks Rudy and Doug,
Great advice from guys who know how to do it right!!

Hey Rudy, as a side note, I magnified your knife and it was so clear that I could also see the reflection of myself looking at it through the computer, Astounding!

Steve
Click to expand...

LOL.

Aaaaaaw shucks Steve, Thanks, that's just the perfectionist in me. Try this one...we can shake hands.

KnifeShow 033.jpg

Thanks,
Rudy
 
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Instead of just reading the post and absorbing all the information and putting it to use without ever saying a word, I just want to say thanks to everyone for the invaluable insight. I think it is important for those who help others out in a post to know that there are countless others who check out the post, grab hold of some great input and never say a word. I've done this quite often since I became a card carrying member of the kennel. But this time I wanted to say thanks!

Bruce, great shine you got going there. When I read that you didnt like to hand sand I thought to myself, does such a world exist? I guess your results speak for themselves.
Thanks!
 
Lagrange said:
Instead of just reading the post and absorbing all the information and putting it to use without ever saying a word, I just want to say thanks to everyone for the invaluable insight. I think it is important for those who help others out in a post to know that there are countless others who check out the post, grab hold of some great input and never say a word. I've done this quite often since I became a card carrying member of the kennel. But this time I wanted to say thanks!

Bruce, great shine you got going there. When I read that you didnt like to hand sand I thought to myself, does such a world exist? I guess your results speak for themselves.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Eric , I was thinking the same exact thing. I thought I was alone.
 
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