Beginner's Guide to Knife Finishing Tools — What You Actually Need
You've made your first few knives. The bevels are decent. The heat treat went fine. But the finish looks... okay. Not professional. Not clean. Something is missing between "I ground this" and "this looks like a real knife."
The answer is finishing tools — and you probably need fewer than you think.
The Essential Finishing Setup
Belt grinder with a range of belts (you already have this)
Your belt grinder does the rough work. You need belts in a progression: 36 or 60 grit for shaping, 120 for refining, 220 for smoothing. This is your starting point, not your finish line.
Sandpaper (120 through 600 grit, minimum)
After the belt grinder, hand-sand through a progression. This removes belt grinder scratches and prepares the surface for polishing.
Cratex points and blocks
This is where most makers see the biggest quality jump. Cratex fills the gap between "sanded" and "finished." Points on a rotary tool handle plunge lines, detail areas, and precision polishing. Blocks handle hand finishing on blade flats and handles.
If you buy one thing to improve your finish quality, buy the Cratex Mini Point Kit No. 167.
A rotary tool (Dremel or Foredom)
You need something to mount the Cratex points on. A basic Dremel with variable speed works. A Foredom with foot pedal control is the upgrade most makers eventually make.
Mandrels (3-4 minimum)
Keep different grits loaded and ready. Swapping abrasives mid-session is the fastest way to lose momentum.
Nice to Have (But Not Required Yet)
- Cratex cones — for guard and bolster detail work (buy when you start making knives with guards)
- Cratex large wheels — for bench grinder finishing on longer blades
- Polishing compound and strop — for mirror finish (buy when you're ready to go beyond satin)
What NOT to Buy Yet
Don't spend money on buffing wheels, multiple compounds, specialty strops, or elaborate finishing stations until your basic skills are solid. Master each step before adding tools.
The $75 Starter Investment
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cratex Mini Point Kit No. 167 | $58.28 |
| 2 extra mandrels | $17.00 |
| Total | $75.28 |
That's it. Points in all four grits, multiple shapes, and enough mandrels to keep your most-used grits loaded. This single purchase will improve the finish quality on every knife you make going forward.