Holy.... This guy is on a whole other level. Holding a perfect angle against a powerful belt sander with no guide is one of those things that looks easy but is next to impossible to accomplish. In a world where nearly all precision work is done with the use of purpose built computer guided machines people with this level of skill are the stuff of legend. So much priceless hard won knowledge in this video.
Awesome video. I love how you patiently show the knife, hold it in front of the camera, and give the viewer plenty of time to look from different angles. Too many knife makers just flash up the knife for a second then crack on... so you have to keep stopping the vid to take a look. Great video, great skills, +1
Wow...I was looking for tips to polish my motorcycle parts. I couldn't stop watching. A true master.I bow before you. Now about my exhaust down pipes, lol
Excellent video. What I learned the most from this is the amount of time it takes to polish to a mirror finish. You spent all day - and a long one at that - polishing that knife.
That was a really nice video, and it fully demonstrates why highly polished blades come at premium cost. The amount of skill and time involved explains it all! Thank you for making this video.
I work at a chrome plating shop and we sand and buff in house. All types of metals. I've done plenty of stainless knives. They make abrasive compounds for the woven cotton wheels too that you should consider. I stop sanding at 320 and work the rest out on the cotton wheels with finer grit, then to the final buffs with the green compound.
I second that. I just stumbled across Bowiemaker by accident today and I think hes awesome. He can barely finish a sentence without dropping 2 or 3 really useful tips or facts. The guy is dripping with knowledge. Really impressive.
Looking at my old Buck 119, you'd never guess that it's 440C like the one in your video; you did a marvelous job polishing that blade. I hope to see it at the museum some time.
I can't say enough kind words about your work. Your knives are absolutely amazing and the one you made on video is a true mirror polish to me, sure, there is always someone better but holy crap I hope I can hold your standards some day. I hope one day to do this.
Where's the secret sauce? You Sir are craftsman at the highest level, i appreciate your knowledge. I have been sanding/polishing for a week with a fraction of your results!
Thanks so much for your time and video. Very informative. I would like to see the finished knife if possible before you send it to the museum. Keep up the good work!
You can see the finished knife here: scontent-1.2914.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10574396_676733092405494_329690463929307340_n.jpg?oh=463b756301d753e3d050b1be491464f6&oe=54D7C827 . As it turns out, I did not donate the knife to the museum because the National Knife Museum closed about the time that I finished it. Instead, I donated it to www.kniferights.org as part of their fundraising efforts.
Man you did a hell of a job with that mirror polish . I started working on blades about 2 years ago . I get worried about blades heating up while buffing because it can throw out the rockwell in the temper which can lead to chips on the edge or edge rolling . I just always keep the blade moving and dont bind to hard on it because the more pressure you put on a blade then the the hotter it would get quicker . im still in training my friend . I been a trim carpenter for 20 years so this working with steel is pretty new to me so any advice is very much appreciated .
Beautiful work, thank you for sharing the whole process. I just began polishing knives and I see that you holding the knife in a horizontal position. Other UA-cam buffing clips show people who keep the knife in a vertical direction. What is the best way?
Trying to get rid of 120 grit with 600 is not fun, my 220 and 400 belts will be here today. As well as the 1200 and 3000 being added to what i have. I own green chrome but i kinda want to get a few other polishes and wheels as well. I have misplaced my black stick :/ but i dont know what grit it is supposed to be. When i used to hand make knives with just a grinder and sandpaper and had to do all these steps by hand i was thinking the same knife but mirror polished would add a thousand bucks to the price lol. Now that its just patience and belts, it just looks “done” and is much less traumatic. Very good work on doing it right and tedious detail. I disagree on the statements that the polish does not remove metal because it does. Just not much lol. You absolutely do have to go back to sanding if you miss one and that is so annoying.
Hey Mike, beautiful blade! It takes a lot of hard work to put out a quality custom product. People really don't understand how many hours go into making a custom knife. If you charged by the hour, the knife would be unobtainable for most customers, so people should never scoff at the price. They should respect the hard work that goes into making a fine piece of craftsmanship like your knife. The work that goes into a custom knife is tremendous, and the customer is getting a quality, hand-made product, forged and made in America. I was wondering, the buffing wheel on your right side looked glazed over with compound. Usually one would take a rake to the wheel, to get all of the old compound and grim off of it. Is there a specific reason you use the wheel like that? We all have our own methods when we work, so I'm sure there's a reason for yours. I was just curious. Great job, and thank you for the demonstration.
I took mine to a mirror before getting ready to heat treat. Oops, a lot of extra work for nothing. I didn’t know. I thought I had to get it perfect before heat treating or the scratches wouldn’t come out. 100% by hand.
Hi, first up I must say that you certainly know what you are doing, you are nothing but a true artisan if ever I saw one, great work. Could I ask if you would respond with the "TYPES OF BELTS & GRITS) that you use or recommend to use so as to polish up a blade that has quite a number of scratches in the blade. I have a number of Japanese steel and stainless steel blades that I would like to polish up to a mirror finish. Thank you.
Police scanner in the back ground my type a guy..Lmao thanks for the video I have been doing this by hand no power tools it takes me like a couple weeks to get that status
Im having a hard time with my 5160 spring steel and my 1060 high carbon steel with trying to get a mirror polish on my katanas . I have sandpaper all the way up to 5000 grit and I have a sisal pad for my buffing wheel along with the denim pad and finishing pads for my buffing wheel . I dont want to heat up the steel on my katanas because I dont want to ruin my rockwell or tempering in the steel . I figure that I'll just get it as good as I can and just let it be . if I can get them real close to a mirror polish then I'll be happy .
MiIke you really know your stuff and the results are amazing,but the direction of the buffer is still confusing. I was always taught to use the mop revving away from yourself and use the top area. John from Oz
How does there farrier rasp handles do? Man that is awesome at 800 grit thank you for saying that thank you for these whole sharing of this whole video may I ask how much one of those mirror knives go for? Wow yes I see that very nice great job.
Very nice finish! Thanks for taking the time so show the process. When you sharpen your blade what grit (or grits) do you use? Is that multi-step process as in polishing or is the sharpening accomplished with one step? Tks.
It varies a little depending on the type of blade steel, the type of knife and the thickness of the blade but I usually sharpen on the slack part of the belt using 220 grit, followed by 600 grit, and then stropped on a leather belt. Sharpening on a slack belt gives a slightly convex edge.
Beautiful work. Quick question on buffing compounds . When you use a colour , let’s say white on a wheel can you put other colour compounds on that wheel or is that wheel then only for white compounds ?
Man, I just love seeing old school methods taught by old school artists. You, sir, are a talented guy.
Holy.... This guy is on a whole other level. Holding a perfect angle against a powerful belt sander with no guide is one of those things that looks easy but is next to impossible to accomplish. In a world where nearly all precision work is done with the use of purpose built computer guided machines people with this level of skill are the stuff of legend. So much priceless hard won knowledge in this video.
Yep this bloke is impressive.
I believe this is known as "Master Craftsman"
Almost impossible no matter how careful I am not to slip somewhere
@@shonuff1365 exactly! Notice that this master eventually put gloves on. The times I messed my hands up was when I didn't have gloves on!
Awesome video. I love how you patiently show the knife, hold it in front of the camera, and give the viewer plenty of time to look from different angles.
Too many knife makers just flash up the knife for a second then crack on... so you have to keep stopping the vid to take a look.
Great video, great skills, +1
Mr. Carter, this is what I call the perfect job, and you, sir, are a true master of old school! Thank you for this video. Greetings from Croatia :)
Probably the best video created to show exactly how to produce a perfect mirror finish. Thank you, sir.
I really can't find the words to describe the awesomeness of this work, greetings from Algeria
watching this in 2024. i can say this is the best mirror polishing video. ❤
Woooow 😲, that is Mirror Allright!! No wonder not a lot of people want to do it, and if they do is expensive, thanks for sharing Sr 👍
Wow...I was looking for tips to polish my motorcycle parts. I couldn't stop watching. A true master.I bow before you. Now about my exhaust down pipes, lol
Gordon Reeves same here bro😀
Great.I never knew there is so much of toiling to see a knife a good finish leave alone making. Thank you.
Outstanding video and workmanship. Lots of prides and attention to details went into that blade.
Its always a pleasure to watch master craftsman at work.
Excellent video. What I learned the most from this is the amount of time it takes to polish to a mirror finish. You spent all day - and a long one at that - polishing that knife.
That was a really nice video, and it fully demonstrates why highly polished blades come at premium cost. The amount of skill and time involved explains it all!
Thank you for making this video.
I work at a chrome plating shop and we sand and buff in house. All types of metals. I've done plenty of stainless knives. They make abrasive compounds for the woven cotton wheels too that you should consider. I stop sanding at 320 and work the rest out on the cotton wheels with finer grit, then to the final buffs with the green compound.
Cotton wheels tend to blur your grind lines.
Great video! The best I have seen so far on this subject. You are really good at sharing your knowledge, and do outstanding work! Thanks.
Epic! Anyone would appreciate that kind of craftsmanship. Bravo!
Great video, it really cleared up some misconceptions for me. I've been doing it the hard way. Thanks a lot and have a good day.
You are a true professional. Great video and excellent work!
I second that. I just stumbled across Bowiemaker by accident today and I think hes awesome. He can barely finish a sentence without dropping 2 or 3 really useful tips or facts. The guy is dripping with knowledge. Really impressive.
Looking at my old Buck 119, you'd never guess that it's 440C like the one in your video; you did a marvelous job polishing that blade.
I hope to see it at the museum some time.
As a beginner in knife making this was truly instructional thankyou so much
Most kitchen chef doesn’t like mirror polish, but I tell you it cut so much better.
Respect that effort and attention to detail.
damn thats a nice polish. I always loved using buffing wheels and strops with compounds. Polishing stuff if just so rewarding to do!
I can't say enough kind words about your work. Your knives are absolutely amazing and the one you made on video is a true mirror polish to me, sure, there is always someone better but holy crap I hope I can hold your standards some day. I hope one day to do this.
Gorgeous Mirror finish
now that's a man who knows his job
Very eloquent, well-spoken. Thanks so much. I learned a lot!
Hi Mike,
many thanks for making a great and informative video on the art and hard work involved in polishing knife steel. Appreciated.
Thanks for the time to teach you truly do beautiful work from one ironworker to another God bless you and yours
A true master at his best !!!!!!
wow, really appreciate your attention to detail and the work you put in. thank you for the video.
Easy to follow. Thnx Mr Carter.
You sir are a very talented craftsman. Beautiful knife in the works.
Fantastic video! Very interesting and very well done. Incredible display of skill demonstrated by Mr. Carter.
thank you.
Man..that turned out to a stunning finish...wow..really nice and well done...
Great Job Mike Carter!!!! you are indeed a Bowie Maker.
Pure artistry ....
Thanks Tim
He is a Master Awesome vid!!!! I learned a lot Thank You Mr.Carter
Beautiful finish! Lots of work but really looks spectacular... Thanks for sharing your uber expertise!
Amazing. Well done Craftsman.
very beautiful knife.. thank you so much for sharing how you do the mirror polish I always wondered how it was done thanks so much and take care Ran
beautiful work mate your a craftsman extraordinaire
nice craftsmanship!!very good!!learnd a lot thanks!!
Thankyou for making the video. Very informative and great skills.
Where's the secret sauce? You Sir are craftsman at the highest level, i appreciate your knowledge. I have been sanding/polishing for a week with a fraction of your results!
Thanks so much for your time and video. Very informative. I would like to see the finished knife if possible before you send it to the museum. Keep up the good work!
You can see the finished knife here: scontent-1.2914.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10574396_676733092405494_329690463929307340_n.jpg?oh=463b756301d753e3d050b1be491464f6&oe=54D7C827 .
As it turns out, I did not donate the knife to the museum because the National Knife Museum closed about the time that I finished it. Instead, I donated it to www.kniferights.org as part of their fundraising efforts.
Awesome thanks for your speedy reply. Can't wait to see it!
Wow that was a great video and in detail!
Man you did a hell of a job with that mirror polish . I started working on blades about 2 years ago . I get worried about blades heating up while buffing because it can throw out the rockwell in the temper which can lead to chips on the edge or edge rolling . I just always keep the blade moving and dont bind to hard on it because the more pressure you put on a blade then the the hotter it would get quicker . im still in training my friend . I been a trim carpenter for 20 years so this working with steel is pretty new to me so any advice is very much appreciated .
Outstanding work!
Beautiful work, thank you for sharing the whole process.
I just began polishing knives and I see that you holding the knife in a horizontal position. Other UA-cam buffing clips show people who keep the knife in a vertical direction. What is the best way?
Brother, YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Awesome job Sir!
You do great work. Thanks for the video.
Very good work thanks for sharing and teaching ...RESPECT MAESTRO
great video ,I might not go as far with my finish,but you help ,thank you sir
Thanks for the great video , just what I was looking for
Trying to get rid of 120 grit with 600 is not fun, my 220 and 400 belts will be here today. As well as the 1200 and 3000 being added to what i have. I own green chrome but i kinda want to get a few other polishes and wheels as well. I have misplaced my black stick :/ but i dont know what grit it is supposed to be.
When i used to hand make knives with just a grinder and sandpaper and had to do all these steps by hand i was thinking the same knife but mirror polished would add a thousand bucks to the price lol. Now that its just patience and belts, it just looks “done” and is much less traumatic.
Very good work on doing it right and tedious detail. I disagree on the statements that the polish does not remove metal because it does. Just not much lol. You absolutely do have to go back to sanding if you miss one and that is so annoying.
Very nicely done.
Absolutely gorgeous..
Hey Mike, beautiful blade!
It takes a lot of hard work to put out a quality custom product. People really don't understand how many hours go into making a custom knife. If you charged by the hour, the knife would be unobtainable for most customers, so people should never scoff at the price. They should respect the hard work that goes into making a fine piece of craftsmanship like your knife. The work that goes into a custom knife is tremendous, and the customer is getting a quality, hand-made product, forged and made in America.
I was wondering, the buffing wheel on your right side looked glazed over with compound. Usually one would take a rake to the wheel, to get all of the old compound and grim off of it. Is there a specific reason you use the wheel like that? We all have our own methods when we work, so I'm sure there's a reason for yours. I was just curious. Great job, and thank you for the demonstration.
Fantastic work
Amazing Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent.
sir i really enjoy your videos and your work! keep it up!!
You have the patience of a Saint, lol.
Great and informative video! Thanks.
Well done. I would like to achieve such result with my old kitchen knife but probably never get it.
best polish ever ...love it
Best polish ever? Are you serious? It's not even close to a clean mirror finish.
love your work
A 5 Star video thank you sir . Cheers
Great video. True mirror.
Lots of patience needed...nice job indeed!
Still a great video..thank you
wow, very nice... thanks for the video.. learned alot!
Great job from an artisan.
Very nice !!
I took mine to a mirror before getting ready to heat treat. Oops, a lot of extra work for nothing. I didn’t know. I thought I had to get it perfect before heat treating or the scratches wouldn’t come out. 100% by hand.
Hi, first up I must say that you certainly know what you are doing, you are nothing but a true artisan if ever I saw one, great work. Could I ask if you would respond with the "TYPES OF BELTS & GRITS) that you use or recommend to use so as to polish up a blade that has quite a number of scratches in the blade. I have a number of Japanese steel and stainless steel blades that I would like to polish up to a mirror finish. Thank you.
I tell you the way i hollered after the first buff and he went on and said " its nowhere where i want it to be yet"
Police scanner in the back ground my type a guy..Lmao thanks for the video I have been doing this by hand no power tools it takes me like a couple weeks to get that status
Im having a hard time with my 5160 spring steel and my 1060 high carbon steel with trying to get a mirror polish on my katanas . I have sandpaper all the way up to 5000 grit and I have a sisal pad for my buffing wheel along with the denim pad and finishing pads for my buffing wheel . I dont want to heat up the steel on my katanas because I dont want to ruin my rockwell or tempering in the steel . I figure that I'll just get it as good as I can and just let it be . if I can get them real close to a mirror polish then I'll be happy .
great work
wow great work
I think ill try that.thank you for the video
So cool you have the same last name and make knives and I do too
great job
nice work!
Guy is basically holding a mirror, and says "Yeah this is pretty good but nowhere near where i want it to be" And my jaw instantly drops like :O HOW
MiIke you really know your stuff and the results are amazing,but the direction of the buffer is still confusing. I was always taught to use the mop revving away from yourself and use the top area. John from Oz
How does there farrier rasp handles do? Man that is awesome at 800 grit thank you for saying that thank you for these whole sharing of this whole video may I ask how much one of those mirror knives go for? Wow yes I see that very nice great job.
Great video.... I just confused about white compound and green compound... Which is better for smoother finish...... 👍
good video, thanks for the info
Thats literally how I polish mine. However rather don't look as uniform or clear as yours. Curious how much it costs in belt. Abrasives. Cutters. Etc
Thanks Mike.
Thanks for sharing!
That's awesome!!
You are a true craftsman,watched the video 3 times strait.one question ,
Will the sander you used make a hollow ground blade?
Yes. The blade in the video is hollow ground.
nice
Very nice finish! Thanks for taking the time so show the process. When you sharpen your blade what grit (or grits) do you use? Is that multi-step process as in polishing or is the sharpening accomplished with one step? Tks.
It varies a little depending on the type of blade steel, the type of knife and the thickness of the blade but I usually sharpen on the slack part of the belt using 220 grit, followed by 600 grit, and then stropped on a leather belt. Sharpening on a slack belt gives a slightly convex edge.
Beautiful work. Quick question on buffing compounds . When you use a colour , let’s say white on a wheel can you put other colour compounds on that wheel or is that wheel then only for white compounds ?
Nice video..Thxs