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Which grits should I start with to sand out watermarks on a blade? I don't want to start too coarse. How high do I need to go for a mirror finish?
Should I use sandpaper to restore horn scales? Which grits are safe? Should I oil them after they are smooth or use some other type of finish?
I have no idea about horn. Never handled the material.
For watermarks it depends on how deep the pits are, really. you want the blade to be smooth, so if the pits are deep, you'd have to sand away a lot.
Since it is always safest to start too fine, I'd suggest starting with 320 grit.
If that does nto work fast enough, go to 240.
If the watermarks are really superficial, you can also start with 400.
I always go up to 1000, but only because I don't have higher grit paper atm.
One good tip if you progress from fine to coarse: if you change the grit, always go perpendicular to the sanding direction of your previous grit, and sand until all the scratch lines from that previous grit are gone.
You will get an unbelievably smooth finish.
i always try to start with 400grit sandpaper. the lined/marks it leaves are not deep and are easily removed going up the 600/800/1k/1500/2k path. if the 400 won't removed it, but it does remove most discolouration only thing that i need to go lower for is rust/pitting, then i drop to a 220 grit. i don't go lower then that becuase it just takes way to long to get those teeth marks out for a mirror finish.
i go up to 2k (high grit papers are purchased at auto part stores like pep boys) though i think if you stopped at 1500 that would be sufficient. i see the real shine and mirror come out after using a buffing compound followed by maas/simichrome whatever polish you use. for the buffing compound i use fabulustre. bought it on ebay and it works good. its a hard substance and applying it is a tad tricky, i ground a bunch of mine down to powder and apply that with some maas when using then finish with only maas. easier and sticks to the pad easier after ground into powder.
~J
...what they said, about sanding the blade.
AND, yes, you can use sand paper on horn.
I rub the horn with neatsfoot inbetween each grit, but, I'm have somewhat of an OC disorder when it comes to some restoration aspects. The neats foot is probably not necessary (but on older horn scale, it doesn't hurt).
C utz