Thread: Vintage Finishes

A "Burnished Finish!" That is a nifty concept, as if literal, would be affecting the what? The molecular surface of the metal? Let's see, what have I burnished? Got it, years ago I learned to sharpen a wood scraper...the rectangular kind. It started with a filed perpendicular surface then I took a burnishing rod and with main force, drew it along the surface and racked it over to create a hook which would make the most amazingly fine wood shavings and actually kind of polish the wood. I'm sure an actual woodworker could explain this better.
If you polished with rouge on a wooden wheel it seems that you would have to mind the grinding lines. I wonder if that would make any difference?

"Plus, let's not forget that polishing was the last task performed and it was done by the apprentices. IE, children. Admittedly children who'd been starved and beaten until they got it right, but children all the same."
Voidmonster

I'm calling for the reinstatement of the Sheffield finish and for yanking some children away from their electronic screens. I'll bet they would end up enjoying the hardship. Maybe just start with summer apprenticeships.

It was call a “Black Finish or Polish” because at some angles the reflection was deep and black. There are a group of young guys in Sheffield that have access to some of the old guys that were kids that did the polishing and more importantly the making of the wheels. There are links to some of them who post on British Blades. They do have some very nice bright finishes mostly on knives.

Some say to replicate the finish, each step of the process must be followed, including the Seal or Walrus skinned wheel.

I recently spoke with an old cutlery shop owner, who told me he was using a similar process with hard felt wheel and glued on red rouge, Ferrous Oxide, but even he admitted it was not the same finish. More importantly it seems no one knows what exactly was in the “Red Rogue” as it could have been a special blend or grind.

Originally Posted by WW243

I'm calling for the reinstatement of the Sheffield finish and for yanking some children away from their electronic screens. I'll bet they would end up enjoying the hardship. Maybe just start with summer apprenticeships.

Historically, most Sheffield apprentices ran away to an easier life in the Navy.

(I'm not even joking)

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

Historically, most Sheffield apprentices ran away to an easier life in the Navy.

(I'm not even joking)

Whoa, tough decision....slavery in a toxic oven or being a cabin boy for Captain Queeg.

Seiko uses a process called Zaratsu to finish the cases on their high end watches that results in superior mirror finishes. As I understand it they use a tin plate that spins at a very high rate and by using differing angles can get a finish without distortion under high mag that is really superior.

Originally Posted by WW243

Whoa, tough decision....slavery in a toxic oven or being a cabin boy for Captain Queeg.

The Navy had rum. The Little M'esters had week-old oat cakes and janky meat.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

It was call a “Black Finish or Polish” because at some angles the reflection was deep and black. There are a group of young guys in Sheffield that have access to some of the old guys that were kids that did the polishing and more importantly the making of the wheels. There are links to some of them who post on British Blades. They do have some very nice bright finishes mostly on knives.

Some say to replicate the finish, each step of the process must be followed, including the Seal or Walrus skinned wheel.

I recently spoke with an old cutlery shop owner, who told me he was using a similar process with hard felt wheel and glued on red rouge, Ferrous Oxide, but even he admitted it was not the same finish. More importantly it seems no one knows what exactly was in the “Red Rogue” as it could have been a special blend or grind.

I remember a post from Neil about the special crocus they used, and it was done by using exclusively the powder at the very edges of the pestle.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Seiko uses a process called Zaratsu to finish the cases on their high end watches that results in superior mirror finishes. As I understand it they use a tin plate that spins at a very high rate and by using differing angles can get a finish without distortion under high mag that is really superior.

From the GS website:


"Every surface of each case and bracelet is polished by the experienced craftsmen. The mirror finish on the case side surface has no distortion. The process is known as Zaratsu or blade polishing and is made by carefully applying a rotating tin plate against the case at a very precise angle. This process is entrusted to only the most skillful and experienced craftsmen."

basically, it's tin polishing for the case. The same procedure (polishing steel on tin plates with ultra fine diamond paste) is done by brands like Glashutte Original for their swan necks and other brands for steel components to attain what is known as black polishing, where the surface is so highly polished it looks black from certain angles. This is why the GS case is unmatched in my humble opinion.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

The Navy had rum. The Little M'esters had week-old oat cakes and janky meat.

Reminds me of life some 50 years ago in San Francisco, except it would have been week-old oat cakes, weed, wine and janky meat.