question on satin finsh

[DANA HOLMAN]

i asked this question before, but i'm not doing something right,
i'm trying to get a good satin finsh on my knives, lin had told me to use wd-40 with 600 grit, i did but not a really good finsh, the lines don't look straight(even though i'm sanding straight) is there another way to do this, or what am i doing wrong?
thanks for your time
dana

[Wampus]

What kind of sanding block are you using?  I've got some really smooth/square pieces of hard maple that I wrap the sand paper around.  When you're finishing up, only sand in one direction and not back and forth.

[DANA HOLMAN]

i've got a piece of wood about 2 inches wide and 4-5 inches long, i've been sanding in one direction from 220 all the way up to 2000, but it stills looks bad to me, is there another way?
thanks dana

[Jeremy]

If the lines don't look straight it's b/c the aren't  

The key to getting an even hand-rubbed satin finish (or gloss finish for that matter) is patience.  I'll go through with a grit, say 220, parallel with the blade until all the marks from the grinder are gone.  Then I'll switch to 400 grit and go at a 45 degree angle to the blade until all the 220 grit marks are gone.  For the final grit, 600 in this case, it's parallel with the blade, going the full length of the blade only with oil (I use honing oil b/c I hate getting my fingers soaked in wd40).

By switching sanding directions between grits you'll be sure you're not missing any scratches.  For the final grit, you really need to go the full length of the blade on every stroke.  If you don't, you'll end up with little swirls.

[DANA HOLMAN]

thanks jeremy
that may be the reason, i'll start over
thanks again
dana

[Kevin Evans]

Dana
I don't know if this will help or not but here's my two cents.
If that's the first one you have done ,I would bet alot you didn't get all vertical scratches out might even go ahead and start with 180 grit,and as Jeremy said go at different angles that's the only way you will know if they are gone.You will not need to go to 1200 or 800,if you do a good job at 400 you will be happy and I know you will be happy at 600(the key is to do a really good job at each grit)Believe me I've been messing with this for three months and just now got it.
Couple of more thing I do is I use water instead of W-d or oil I just started using water (and like it)
And the other thing is on the final grit I put leather under the wood piece and soak all of it in water.
One more thing when you are ready for the final grit (with leather under wood)Only go one way like they said and KEEP sand paper FRESH
Hope this helps.Kevin

[tippit]

The other way to do it is don't worry about the lines.  Once it goes through a couple of critters, you can't tell the difference     tippit

[Kevin Evans]

Yea Jeff, now we can talk about whats really important! sharpness of the edge.      
And in the new thread longivity of the edge!!!
Hopefully some of the more exserenced guys will chime in!!!!

[Kevin Evans]

Sorry ,No wise cracks about my spelling pushed the wrong button

[DANA HOLMAN]

thanks again guys
after thinking about it, i may have gotten in a hurry, and i know thats a (no no), the only thing i'll have problems with is next to the finger guard, any ideas?
dana