How to finish brass guard?

[Rasmus Kristens]

I would like to give my brass guard a satin finish.
How should i go about this the best way?

So far i'm at grid 400. How far should I go, and how to do the final finish?

Why is there a big difference between which direction I sand? When I sand horizonta (blade to handle) the scratches are very visible, but when I sand vertically (top to bottom), they at not nearly as visible?

[damon]

if sanding horizontal at 400 you still see vertical scratches.... then you still have 220 or 320 scratches. alternating direction between grits is a good way to make sure you get all the scratches from the previous, before moving up to the next.

a lot of makers use scotchbrite pads to apply a satin finish.take your handle and guart up as high as you want the handle to be finished to. then tape up the places you dont want to be satin finish. apply the scotch brite and.... ta-da.

hope this is somewhat useful.

[Rasmus Kristens]

Thanks for the advise. I think i need to go back a grid or 2 then.
Can i use steelwool 000 instead of scotchbrite?

I have that already.

[Crex]

You can as either abrasive is just putting a finer scratch pattern in the brass. However, it seems that the scotch brite is a little more consistent in scratch size. I have found it is increasingly harder to get quality steel wool, the QC is just not there anymore. That and the scotchbrite will not leave tiny slivers of steel to get trapped in every nook and cranny, especially in exposed wood grain.

[jimmontg]

If you cannot get ScotchBrite pads Rasmus the steel wool will polish the brass, least mine does. You can try using the scrub pad side of a clean kitchen sponge with a Dutch Cleanser type of abrasive cleaner. Or just take it to a 600 grit finish or 800 with sandpaper.

[Rasmus Kristens]

Thanks.

Scotchbrite is not so common here, I would have to order it online.

I sanded the guard to 600 grid, and actually tried the scrub part of a sponge. It made coarser scratches than the 600 grid! So i took it back to the 600 grid. I tihnk i will keep it like this, i like it and don't have a better solution right at hand :-)

[jimmontg]

When I do a satin finish on my blades it's usually 600 grit, so it will be fine. Very nice looking handle, nice shape too.

[dtec1]

Any hardware store that sells paint or any paint store should have scotch brite...i can go to a home depot (not sure if you have that near you) but i also have gotten them from local hardware stores in the paint isle and also a store that only sells paint they all have them is different "grits" there is green maroon and grey i like the grey ts a finer finish

[Ray Rogers]

Dave, Home Depot is a little out of his way - he's in Denmark ....

[WBE]

Problem satin finish brass is that sooner or later it will tarnish. Then you will have to polish it anyway, or re-sand it. I would suggest you just take it to 400/600 grit and buff it bright with green chrome or yellow rouge.