How Does This Satin Finish Look?

I have been wanting to try out a satin finish for awhile now since the last time I produced a satin finish it was a nondirectional look on the tang and haven't been able to recreate it. Figured I would just try for the normal look on the blade. I sanded the entire razor to mirror-like finish and then went back down to 600 on the blade and 400 on the stabilizer to give it alittle different contrast, but think I should have went with 400 on the blade and 600 on stabilizer and leave the tang and tail mirror-like. The razor sat for quite awhile because I couldn't think of anything I could use to keep the scratches uniform till I noticed that my roll of double sided tape was the perfect diameter to fit inside the hollow. I taped some sandpaper to the roll and just rolled it with the palms of my hands while the tang was clamped to a table to give it a fairly uniform look. Unfortunately it won't stay that diameter and not every razor is the same. Anyway I am wondering how does this look for a satin finish? Quite a PITA to try and capture the finish in a picture. It doesn't look as nice as some of the factory finishes I have seen, but since I don't have machines and a way to keep everything perfectly still I don't think its too bad. There is some pitting left on the blade, but the finish hides it. It almost feels dishonest using a finish like this since it hides imperfections, but I guess if I don't hide the fact that there are imperfection it can't be bad. I have always preferred the factory look with grind marks than that of a mirror finish as long as they are uniform.

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I also love the satin on the razor. Sometimes harder to do than the satin finish.

I like the satin finish too...... Maybe another way to do a satin finish is to use sand with a leather/cloth? I think C.V. HELJESTRAND razors were done in a satin finish by using sand and seal skin to polish it. They look very nice!

One thing that I have been wanting to also try is using slurry to polish a blade. I figured if honing on a JNAT with slurry would produce that hazy like finish on a bevel I wondered if you could do that on a blade. Maybe using the slurry with different mediums like leather or something else non abrasive to produce a blade with a hazy like finish.

I have tried to find the technique for the perfect satin finish also. It can be very tricky. At 1000 grit you get a nice semigloss and I do like the looks of the 400 grit satin. I have not been to the mainland for a while, but on my next trip plan to look for a large variety of different sized old hair curlers for the purpose of sanding cores for finishing, similar to your roll of tape. Caswell and Gesswein both have scotch brit pads for rotary tool and buffers that may be a solution too. I have only internet shopping available for most of supplies so it is a tough on for me. I did try to make a satin finish with slip stones on time. It was not quite uniform enough for my tastes and has left a need for more experiments. I have wondered about my tumbler and some of the different mediums available too. I do not do enough razors to be able to figure out the best methods very quick.

I like it!


Mike

It is a pity that there is no grinder. I have a recipe for satin. On the grinder can do it. The method of course is not very clean.

Crocus cloth, It is readily available from Ace Hardware for two bucks per sheet. Cut into strips a single sheet last a long time. It is also sold in 1 in rolls. Sold in Fine, Medium and Course, buy the fine.

I sand to 2k, then hand sand spine to edge with a cork, wrapped with ¼ in craft foam, dry, no water or oil.

Mike, Woldpack34 has some post of amazing satin finish razors, he’s the one that turn me on to Crocus.

Make sure you are buying Crocus, not Emery or A/O Wet & Dry. Crocus is Iron Oxide.