Thread: How to Get that Mirrored Finish

Hi all, I have a question about what steps are involved to accomplish:

- 100% Mirrored Finish
- Remove Minor Pitting
- Remove Minor Tarnish

I was hoping you could advise me on the right types of grit and sandpaper, any necessary compounds and what process to use. Here's the blade I am trying to work on so you can get an idea:



You can see some tarnish on the point and very light pitting on the spite. Just a note, the blade is not frowning, it's just a weird illusion from the picture.



Here you can see some more tarnish near the heel and the pitting on the spine I was talking about.

I hope you guys can help!

Not frowning, really? there looks like there is quite a lot of hone wear in the middle of the spine, as well as a chip on the edge. I would straighten up that edge and remove any chips before doing any polishing.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Not frowning, really? there looks like there is quite a lot of hone wear in the middle of the spine, as well as a chip on the edge. I would straighten up that edge and remove any chips before doing any polishing.

Agreed.
It seems a bit strange to me that this illusion would appear in both of the pictures.

To begin with I actually bought a small lot of the worst razors ever, on purpose. I knew there was a learning curve and though that four dead razors should be able to teach me a lot. They have, I also continue to do experiments on them. The learning curve is also a lot longer than four razors, but I had to start somewhere. Looking at your razor I can't help but think the guys above have it right. Straighten the edge and set the bevel. It will show you a lot of what you have to deal with. The next step sounds a little counter productive. Dull the edge. It is for safety purposes. There is several really good threads on how to. Both in the library section and again in the workshop forum. It is a lot of information. I'm a slow typer and it would take me days to quote everything in there.

Originally Posted by RezDog

To begin with I actually bought a small lot of the worst razors ever, on purpose. I knew there was a learning curve and though that four dead razors should be able to teach me a lot. They have, I also continue to do experiments on them. The learning curve is also a lot longer than four razors, but I had to start somewhere. Looking at your razor I can't help but think the guys above have it right. Straighten the edge and set the bevel. It will show you a lot of what you have to deal with. The next step sounds a little counter productive. Dull the edge. It is for safety purposes. There is several really good threads on how to. Both in the library section and again in the workshop forum. It is a lot of information. I'm a slow typer and it would take me days to quote everything in there.

Thanks for the great advice! I'll definitely check that out as I haven't ever heard about dulling the edge.

I don't think there's a chip on the blade and here's another picture for reference. Badgister, do you still think it's frowning from this picture?

That's a good razor to practice on...cus it's got a lot going wrong with it...and if you mess it up ..nothing lost. You will learn grasshopper...what is a good razor and what is bad...we have all been there !!!

Originally Posted by nessmuck

That's a good razor to practice on...cus it's got a lot going wrong with it...and if you mess it up ..nothing lost. You will learn grasshopper...what is a good razor and what is bad...we have all been there !!!

Thanks man! Can you describe some of the problems you see with it? It's hard to know what to fix when you can barely spot the problems.

You can check to see if there is a frown yourself. Any flat surface will do, like a barber's hone or any hone. P{lace the razor's edge perpendicular to the surface, hold it up to, or place a strong light behind it. If you can see light coming through the middle section of the blade, then you have a FROWNER. If there is light coming through at the ends of the blade, then you you have a SMILER - a good thing.

get ready to buff a lot.
100% mirror is a myth unless you have the right equipment, which I do not think is too common.
Your razor has a frown and a lot of spine wear from improper honing. The razor is hollow ground and I dount you will be able to remove the pitting completely, only because you have not enough steel to remove. I would not go all the way with it.

I would probably break the razor down and then salvage those lovely scales and then put out a SOS out saying you are looking for a Dubl Duck blade in good order minus the scales, I really don't think the blade is worthy of the scales.