Polishing wood??? Use same stuff as metal

[Brads86stang]

I am making a knife (assembling) for my father in laws birthday next month. I have in the past, about 10 years ago made one, and used a friends stuff to polish the wood after the final shape sanding.


Ordered the blade "kit" last night *Boot Skinner - w/Bolsters/Pins

Wood
Birdseye Maple - Scales - Natural - (5 x 1.5 x 1/4)

And Mosaic pins
Mosaic Pins : 7/32 inch

The pin material is just a hair bigger than the tang holes in the blade kit so I will have to adjust that but otherwise it should go together rather easily.

I have to figure out my wood polishing now. I think have all I need but going to do some more research to see if the Tripoli, and rouge I have will work on wood.

Update as soon as the stuff arrives. Do you guys think it will work using standard red, and white rouge?

[Rasper]

Good looking knife.

You will have some oils and colors added to the wood from the compound. I doubt that you want that.

Most knife makers use belt sanders with long narrow belts to shape knives and the handles. I would sand the wood with increasingly finer paper down to maybe 1000 grit. That's about as smooth as you are going to get even a hard wood like maple anyway. The polish will come from the finish you apply to the wood and more rubbing by hand.

R

[jct55]

Sorry, I can't really agree with the part about 1000grit getting it as far as it will go....nay nay! AFTER you work your way up to 8000 grit, you will be looking at glass coated wood! I promise! I do it everyday. Stabilized or unstabilzed wood, doesn't matter, as long as it's hardwood. Heck, even pine shines! Exotic's are exquisite, such as your birdseye maple, you should see curly maple Orrrrrr my favorite 2 are, Orange Ossage (some folks call this Bodark (Bois' D arc)) and you really can see the luminesence in it. Next is of course, ebony. Piano key (black keys) wood. Georgous! Aww man, makes me want to make some now...
My process is 13 steps, 220, 320, 400, 600, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 6000,8000. After this, you "MAY" want to go see a white compound soft wheel, but I usually don't bother....most folks love my knives as is from the 8000.....good luck! Ha ha... I didn't even see the date on this till I got done, 4 yrs ago. Still got the knife? Maybe this will help on your next one...sorry.
JT

[Jycorro]

I seen this while looking for some new wheels for me.

Caswell Inc. - Acrylic Buffing Wheel

I hope this helps.

Laters,
Ken

[Brads86stang]

jct55. Thanks for that information. Here are a few pictures of the knife I made 10 years ago. ... I do NOT remember the entire process of sanding I did when I made this one, but I DO infact remember using some white rouge and a wheel on it after I had sanded it.. I think I stopped at like 800... but dont remember for sure.

[Brads86stang]

Here are some pics of the kit I got for my Father in law.

[Brads86stang]

I put the bolsters on last night. I am going to start the lay out of the handle tonight so I can determined how much pattern I can get to show in the wood. I would really like to see some of your work on knifes and any other wood you take all the way to 8000.. thats a LOT!! ahaha

Thanks again

Brad

[Rasper]

Hey, jct55. That is good to know. I have worked with wood for years—I built wooden boats professionally for a long time—and never even imagined wood could be polished that fine. I never stop learning.

R

[Brads86stang]

Well the knife for my father in law is finished. I hope he likes it. I enjoyed making it. I think I am going to try and polish it a little more.. I haven't decided just yet.

[Brads86stang]