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Q&As since 1989


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SS sword blade polishing and etching/engraving

 

I am attempting to finely polish a stainless steel sword blade which is, to my eye, only half-way done. There are many ultra-fine scratches in the blade, which is rather thin on the edges, and the scratches are such that you can see the different directions the polisher went with your naked eye. I have very limited experience with metal polishing, especially the hard SS that the blade is made from. Can you suggest a good abrasive/polishing compound that I may use, and a laymen's technique for finishing the blade?

Also, I would like to do some sort of etching or engraving on part of the blade. Is there any acid or other chemical that will etch SS, or if you think engraving is a better option, what tools and techniques do you recommend? Thank you for any and all help.

Dan Burns
- Laurel, Montana

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My suggestion is rather odd sounding but I have just finished my blade using this technique it requires a lot of elbow grease but definitely works wonders . I use 1000 then 1200 sandpaper both used along the length of the blade from tip down to hilt or other way round if you prefer. Then I get loads of 2500 grit paper and a can of brass polish (must be abrasive type check it by applying some to a spoon if it dries to a white residue it's the right stuff) Brasso [on eBay or Amazon] works well its our local stuff not sure how available it is but its what I use then apply a thin layer to the blade and run the 2500 grit paper along the grain of the scratches till the polish dries then wipe the residue from the blade and repeat as many times as is required it works and you get a great workout big biceps when your done.

If you have issues with this technique please voice them I might be able to improve my technique or help you better understand it.


Kind Regards,

Draydan Johan Bezuidenhout
- Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa