Did some blade polishing tonight, what do you think? Any tips for a better finish?

I spent about 5 hours working on this blade tonight. I left the back side untouched, so you could see the condition I got it in. Those will be the before pics.


Before:
http://www.blazedmonkey.com/uploads/...srestore01.jpg
http://www.blazedmonkey.com/uploads/...srestore02.jpg
http://www.blazedmonkey.com/uploads/...srestore03.jpg







I spent about 5 hours sanding by hand. Started with a 320 grit to get the heavy scratch lines out (although I'm thinking I could have started with a lower grit, that took FOR-EV-ER), then went to a 600, then a 1000, then finished with a 2000. I switched directions between each grit, went up and down with the 320, then lengthwise with the 600, then back to up and down for the 1000, etc. Once I started with the 600, I was using a spray bottle to mist the blade for a wetsand. I used a small buffing pad on my dremel when I was done, and finished off with some MAAS polish, but those 2 things didn't do anything that the sandpaper didn't already do.


After:
http://www.blazedmonkey.com/uploads/...srestore04.jpg
http://www.blazedmonkey.com/uploads/...srestore05.jpg
http://www.blazedmonkey.com/uploads/...srestore06.jpg




I still don't think it is as glassy smooth as I think it should be, but I'm out of ideas on how to make it look better. Any tips, tricks, or suggestions to get a more mirror quality finish?

Hard to say from your pics, but I think more time with the 1000 and 2000, then polish with stainless compound, then white or green rouge. You'll need to practice a lot to get a perfect mirror finish. I've done dozens of blades now and I'm still not where I want to be with regards to my mirror finish.

Looks pretty obvious in the pics that there are still scratch lines going both vertically and horizontally along the blade, so you didn't spend enough time getting at least a couple rounds of scratches out. If all of the scratches were uniform and from the 2k grit paper, you would know it- i.e. almost mirror.

I spent another ~5 hours with the dremel and the jewelers rouge and MAAS working on my blade, finally got my mirror finish :D



Now I just have to do the other side :o

You could have started at 150 or 180, then 230, then 320, then 400 and then 600 and up.
Otherwise it takes forever indeed.
This way you can remove all the damage before going up in grit.
Going up in grit is something you only do if all damage is gone, because it is pointless otherwise.
Low grits are for removing damage, high grits for erasing scratch lines of each lower grit.