Removing minor scratches on St8's

**Arkwell** · 05-24-2011, 10:54 AM

Guys, from my first attempts with honing a long time ago with a short hone I have some minor scratching on some of my blades from where the St8 slipped off the end of the hone. It doesn't effect the edge now that I'm way better at honing and I get great shaves from all my St8's but I was wondering how I can get those scratches out?

**O.G.** · 05-24-2011, 10:57 AM

I tried Brasso didnt work so well but its an option, I tried mothers metal polish- yeah pulled the gold wash off my blade but not the scratches to well. So hopefully we can get an answer on this one cause I did the same exact thing and I want my shine back.

**Kentos** · 05-24-2011, 11:32 AM

It's hard to tell without seeing, but mothers polish only takes out scratches around 2000 grit or so, may 1000. So if the scratches are deeper than what 2000 grit will leave it won't take it out.

I should rephrase....it won't take it out in a reasonable amount of effort and time. The paste polishes do have abrasives, so it will eventually take them out.

**Brent** · 05-24-2011, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Arkwell

Guys, from my first attempts with honing a long time ago with a short hone I have some minor scratching on some of my blades from where the St8 slipped off the end of the hone. It doesn't effect the edge now that I'm way better at honing and I get great shaves from all my St8's but I was wondering how I can get those scratches out?

Have you rounded out the edges of the hone a bit since then? That probably won't totally prevent scratches if it happens again but may make it a bit more manageable.

**mdunn** · 05-24-2011, 09:28 PM

Do you have pics so we can see how aggressive we're gonna have to get with this sucker?

**Arkwell** · 05-26-2011, 05:53 PM

Can't get my hands on a good enough camera but if you can imagine running a metal brush or Brillo on the side a couple of times where you get that light but not really deep scratching that's what I have.

**Kentos** · 05-26-2011, 07:05 PM

Only way is to try. Get the finest wet dry you can find, 2000 minimum, and see if it takes out the scratches. If it doesnt, drop down to the next finest, try that, and so on. If you go as far as say, 600, you then go up to 800, then 1000, then 2000, then 3000, or whatever, then polish with mothers or some other paste, or a greaseless and a buffer. Deep scratches are a pain in the buttocks to take out by hand, but it can be done. The harder you press on the sandpaper, the more the material taken out, but the deeper the scratches left behind. Also, if not careful you will leave a shallow gouge where the scratches are if you sand the same spot over and over , which will be very noticeable when its fully polished. GL

**life2short1971** · 05-26-2011, 07:11 PM

They come right out on a buffer with black rouge

**spindlecone** · 05-26-2011, 07:15 PM

Purely by chance,I discoverd a great way to remove minor scratches from straights.
Believing that all fine metalwork should always be done by hand,I have a Tormek grinder,it comes with a finishing paste used on the leather wheel for final edge refinement on Chisels,knives etc.
is a very fine abrasive paste,Put some on the blade,than used 1000 grit paper,It makes sort of a slurry and polishes great,and pretty darn fast.