Thread: How far will hand sanding take me?

Rookie Question, but just wanted to know how far I could get with hand sanding alone. I intend on picking up a bench top buffer here soon, but I have a few projects I'd like to get started on as soon as I can, and wondered how far I could get with the hand sanding. At the moment, project time is not a huge factor as I'm just learning.

Welcome to the Forum!

Hand sanding will take you as far as you want to go. In some instances it will most-likely take you too far. My suggestion would be to read the Blade Restoration Section in the Library. Good luck.

Hand sanding will not remove larger pitting, takes way too long to remove all that metal evenly.
Hand sanding combined with buffing will get you very close to a very mirrored finish.
There is a trick to doing proper hand sanding, and to get good at it will take some practice.

You can do a lot with hand sanding if you are willing to put in the time and elbow grease. I do a lot of hand sanding, because my buffer skills are not quite there, but coming along. I believe Glen says rush a restore and ruin a blade. Having a backing for your sandpaper like a cork or a curler.That will help keep the removal of metal even. It is easier to control the sand paper, in part because it is such a slow process, allowing you to more easily maintain all the lines of the razor. When you do get a buffer you will figure out right away that there is a learning curve. There a few threads on tips for using a buffer. This is probably the most important link for restoring http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

Depends how you define "hand sanding" Remember that all of the post forge shaping of nihonto is done by "hand sanding." and scraping. So, if you have a month to squat in front of a set of stones........ But seriously, a lot of people who make sharp things have started off using files and sandpaper.

this was an ugly duckling that hs been predominantly hand sanded with little or perhaps no buffer time.

Thanks guys. I'll get to work later this week.

So reading the hand sanding link from above, I notice he polishes with a dremmel. I've also seen people say they have trouble with dremmels and even broke razors. What's everyone's opinion?

Originally Posted by dickpicnic

So reading the hand sanding link from above, I notice he polishes with a dremmel. I've also seen people say they have trouble with dremmels and even broke razors. What's everyone's opinion?

If you are not careful you are going to break razors. Always wear eye protection.

Personally, I would never use an emery wheel/stone on a dremel for task like this. i am also not sold on the sanding sleeves, but I frequently use softer stuff like the little buffing wheels and points, Cratex rubber abrasive points and cylinders, etc. to get into tight spots where the KMG small wheels won't reach. But a warning. Even these can jump on you because of the speed of the Dremel.