Thread: How to polish Buffalo horn into high gloss finish?

So far the most dependable way I have found is using the sandpaper wet, from 400-800-1500-2400-4000-8000-12000... (1500-12k is Micromesh)
The following with a wax coating and hand buffing...
I have moved away from using buffing wheels even though they are faster and easier the results are just better by hand...

I just finished these. Wet sanded up to 2K then buffed on 4 compounds up to chrome ox. Only took a half hour.

I don't polish horns so I don't know But these guys can help . They are a great bunch of people .


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That really is one nice looking razor. I have a thing for nice Greaves razors. Will try that procedure on the horn scales that I have ready for my George Brittain razor. :-)

Depends on your supplies. I can't buy mircomesh locally, so I stayed with sandpaper up to 2000 grit, than a light buffing with my finest compond. Horn sands well, and polishes very easily to a high mirror gloss.

My progression for horn scales, for a high gloss, reflective finish:

120 grit on bench sander to shape
hand sand 220 grit for final shape
hand sand 320 grit for scratch removal
hand sand 400 grit
Black rouge jewelers compound on loose sewn buffing pad in buffer
blue rouge jewelers compound on loose sewn buffing pad in buffer

No need for anything else.

Originally Posted by sheffieldlover

My progression for horn scales, for a high gloss, reflective finish:
120 grit on bench sander to shape
hand sand 220 grit for final shape
hand sand 320 grit for scratch removal
hand sand 400 grit
Black rouge jewelers compound on loose sewn buffing pad in buffer
blue rouge jewelers compound on loose sewn buffing pad in buffer
No need for anything else.

Good progression. I use Bobbing Compound on the buffer, after sanding, as a last finishing which gives a great luster without shine. It is also great for brass, copper, and a period finish for steel.

It is something I found from Jewelery work. It is a frangible compound and breaks down as you use it. So it starts fairly coarse and ends up as a polish
~Richard