I know everyone probably does it different, but what process do you guys use in putting a handrubbed finish on a blade.

What progression of grits?
What is your final grit?
Do you use a lubricant such as water, wd40, 3 in 1 oil???

Special little tricks that make it easier for you?

Just wondering

Thanks

All of my blades have hand rubbed finishes, and most follow this progression: 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200. Since my knives are all hollow ground, I have had to make curved sanding blocks.

The radii match the radius of the wheel used to do the grinding. I made them out of wood, micarta, hard rubber, etc., and they look like half a hockey puck (about that thick, too). I wrap 1" wide strips of paper around the curved edge, and go to it.

I finish all my blades with diemakers stones to 1200. I keep the stones in kerosene. Using stones keeps the grind line nice and sharp then I finish with a couple passes of 1500 paper on a hard felt block.

Well helllooo Timmy:)

Do your stones have beveled edges to get into the blade bevel? That is my biggest problem with satin finishing, the area right around the bevel.

Hey Tim, good to have you here.

Dogman, are you talking about the radius at the ricasso shoulders? That's a tricky area for me too. I've used the stones with varying degrees of success. I'd like to hear more about them too.

OFF TOPIC
Tim,
Are you going to occasionally show some of your stuff in our "Display Case" forum, like this?

http://www.qni.com/~tai1000/butterfly.jpg

I hope so. Man I love that knife.

I use a rubber finger I made.1"x4"x1/2" rounded on one side(for bevel).
400, 600, 1000, 1200, grits. (Windex for the final)
BTW that was ONE BEAUTIFUL knife.
Welcome Tim.

no beveled edges on the stones. if you push into the plunge area and lift the stone out seems to work for me, then do the same with a final paper pases.

Thank you all for the welcome:D