Lindsay Sharpening system question

[J.B.]

I purchased the lindsay sharpening system with all of the stones and the ceramic stone as well. I can't seem to get a mirror finish even with the ceramic + hard leather/diamond spray. What am I doing wrong? Getting a bit discouraged.

I've tried swiping back and forth & to and fro trying to get rid of the lines from the lower grit stones, but I just cant seem to get a mirror shine.

The ceramic stone is brand new so there are no metal chips on it causing the lines.

 

[mitch]

not to be glib, unhelpful, or insensitive, but maybe you should ask Steve? just a thought...

 

[Terrezar]

When sharpening, the usual way to do it is to start off with the most corse stone, and work your way up towards the finest grit. Try moving the graver in different directions when you change stone, so that you can see when all the marks from the last stone are gone. Then, and only then, do you move on to the finer ones. It is easy to rush it, and move up to the finest one to fast, but then you can say bye to a mirror finish, for sure. Don't apply hard preassure, but use light strokes when grinding. The heel is set only with the finest grit you have, so if the finest you got is the ceramic, then that is what you use for the heel.

Something to understand is that the ceramic is only made for making heels, and for giving the graver the final touch, not for having it go from ruff to glissening. The 2000 grit stone will make the graver shine, and then you can use the ceramic to get it ut to the last level.

Good luck.

 

[J.B.]

Thanks so much Terrezar!

I've noticed that I DO apply quite a bit of pressure. I'll try calming it down. And I love that method of switching directions per stone. I'll give it another shot in the morning!

 

[Big-Un]

It just makes sense to switch directions when changing grit. Even though the striations are minuscule, they are still very small ridges and need to be sanded across the ridges, not with them. Theoretically, less work.

Bill

 

[atexascowboy2011]

Take a piece of 4, 000 grit SP and lay a #2 pencil on it's side and coat the paper with graphite.
As the others have stated you need to work up to a scratchless finish before using the 4k grit.

 

[Willem Parel]

What I noticed is, using to much diamond spray doesn't give a mirror finish either.

 

[J.B.]

Thanks guys!!

 

[Southern Custom]

And one more thought on the subject. Is there a particular reason you want a mirror finish? If your cuts are to be filled/ inked later there is no reason to polish that far. Unless a finished bright cut is my goal then I never polish to that level.
Layne