Thread: how to get scratches from sanding out

Hey guys I have been noticing with some of my restores that I cant get most of the scratches polished out from sanding. I know that there are going to be some no matter what but after looking at others restore jobs and mine well my razors have a ton more scratches left compared to everyone elses once its said and done. How can I reduce the amount of sxratches? Any info helps I usually start with 220 grit and stop at 1500 and polish before sanding and after with blue magic buffing bonet cotton pads then polishing cloth. Thanks guys hope this isnt a dumb question. -john

you just need to spend more time on each grit to fully remove the deep scratches caused by the lower grit papers...

one method of doing this consistently is to start going east-west then when you go up to the next finest grit, move the paper north-south. Also, unless the razor is extremely pitted, 220 is probably a tad too low to start with. I would begin at 600 to see how quickly that removed rust and pitting. If it's particularly bad, 400 grit is about as far down as I go.

the scratches are most likely from the lower grits. Sometimes you have to back up and then go ahead. Lets me explain. You are sanding away with 400 and then you go up to 600 and then 1200 as you are sanding with the 1200 you start to see 400 scratches that you hadn't gotten out. It is a long road to keep going with the 1200 to get the 400 scratches so you need to drop back down to 600 and then go back up again. Try to make the smallest steps you can with your grit. I try to sand to 2000 and I hear of guys that go to 3000 before polishing. Where I live supplies can be a little hard to come by and I spend more time than required sanding due to big steps. Just part of the price I pay for living in paradise.

Are you using the WD-40/Oil trick on the grits starting at 400 ????

From my own experience, the lower grit north south higher eat-west from Rezdog is the way I do it. What I find very helpfull is tilting the razor north/south east/west under a good lightning son I can see the "scratch pattern" and correct deeper scratches. I also go the extra mil with 2000 and 2500 sandpaper.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Are you using the WD-40/Oil trick on the grits starting at 400 ????

yes this improves things very much.

tell me more about this wd 40/oil trick

Are you machine or hand sanding? I would agree with going to 3k grit before compounding and polishing. Use automotive sand paper like 3M, Norton or Meguiars as the grit is more uniform. When you start with the higher grits you really don't want to descover there are lower grit sanding abrasives in the paper.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Are you using the WD-40/Oil trick on the grits starting at 400 ????

Trick ????

Very easy trick

Once you hit the 400 grit level you do the normal dry pass, then using that same piece of paper, you spray on some WD-40 or light oil (NOT water) and do another pass.. It basically creates a slurry and really helps with getting a glow out of the finish...