Polishing a cutting blade

[Dwight]

I was told that polishing a cutting blade will make it MUCH better as a cutter, . . . 

What is the process for polishing a blade?

Thanks, may God bless,

Dwight

[electrathon]

Polishing and stropping are the same thing.  Once you use a quality stone and your blade is razor sharp step up to your strop and polish it till it is sharper.

[Dwight]

OK, . . . not meaning to sound funny, . . . but how do you strop the blade out of a splitter?

I'm thinking there should be some way other than pulling that blade out and handling it with my hands that can cut and bleed profusely should I make a mistake with a razor sharp splitter blade.

I bleed easy and profusely, . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I use a cloth wheel loaded with various types of compound on an electric motor (not a bench grinder).  I always let my splitter blades go way too long before I take them out because I hate the job. It's not so much the danger part of it as it is taking the time to do it and then getting the blade set back where I want it when I'm finished. The only blade I haven't taken out yet is the one out of my big splitter. . . 18 or 20 inches. That one does scare me.  Sometimes for a quickie job of stropping, I rub some compound on a piece of leather and pull it backwards through the splitter. It "kind of" works.

Edited November 14, 2016 by Big Sioux Saddlery

[OLDNSLOW]

what size splitter is it?  I have the 6 inch Tandy one I use on belt ends that I have done a few times now, each time after running several straps through it. Size might be the factor on how it is done.  For the one I have and there are several others on the market under different names, but, I loosen the hold down bolt on one side remove the other swing out retighten the remain bolt and run a stone over the blade in the appropriate direction then repeat with the leather.  The loosen the bolt switch the blade to the opposite side, I think you get the picture, I am still a newb but that is how I have done it with good success. 

[MADMAX22]

Here is one video on stropping splitter blades. 

 

[Dwight]

OK, . . . thanks, Madmax, . . . I had visions of my hands holding this thing, . . . slipping, . . . crying, . . . bleeding, . . . you know the drill.

Now I see it can be done rather safely, . . . may just up and get me one of them there toys.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Colt W Knight]

I use finer sharpening stones(hone) to Polish things like jointer and planer blades. 

[TomG]

17 minutes ago, Dwight said:

OK, . . . thanks, Madmax, . . . I had visions of my hands holding this thing, . . . slipping, . . . crying, . . . bleeding, . . . you know the drill.

Now I see it can be done rather safely, . . . may just up and get me one of them there toys.

May God bless,

Dwight

Crying??? there's no crying in leatherwork!!!!