OPINEL DIY Modify & Customize

OPINEL knife Mirror finish Custom

To make a Mirror finish is tough work, but Beautiful custom !

I made a carbon steel Opinel to mirror finish this time.
If you try to INOX blade Opinel, it's same way. How to make mirror finish is no differences between carbon steel and INOX stainless steel almost.
INOX steel is Little bit easier. Because do not have to care for rusting. And INOX steel is not so hard compare to carbon steel. So it means easy to polishing.
I said INOX steel is little bit soft, But it means only relatively meaning. Both metals have enough hardness for cutting use. So it dose not means make a mirror finish blade is easy job.

Especially Opinel's carbon steels blade is not "Sanmai-Awase", but single metal blade. So not only edge but side surface have same hardness.
"Sanmai-Awase" is Japanese blade term meaning clad metal. which use hard metal for edge and soft metals for both side surface.
If your blade have some deep grooved scratch and pin-holed corrosion. it make you force patiently work.

Mirror finish blade show you brilliant refraction

Polished mirror finish blade is so beautiful. It's worth to appreciate.

About this OPINEL knife

I get this OPINEL in 90's. Size is No.10.

It's have some difference compare to new model. Can not rock blade in the folding situation. Also trademarks are little bit classical on a grip and blade. I like it.

OPINEL's old models may be difficult to get recently. And I have nice memories for this model also.
So I made this OPINEL "Mirror Finish" and made it for "Eternal Memory Keeper".


You can see how to make mirror finish after these pages
But those are still translating and written in Japanese. So please enjoy Images as for now.
Yow may read in all English some day.

How to make OPINEL Mirror Finish INDEX

1. Disassembly OPINEL knife


2. Make elementary base using sandpaper


3. Make elementary base using Japanese wet stone


4. Polish up by sandpaper


5. Use compound and make it shiny


6. Check surface condition


7. Buffing with Red bar (Redoing make base)


8. Polish finishing


9. Assembling OPINEL knife


10. Sharpen OPINEL BLADE with wet stones


11. Sharpness of OPINEL carbon blade

• Considerations about OPINEL's blade shape


• Return to Main Index for kitchen knifes

Before / After for Mirror finish

Before polishing 　Remaining grinder groove and so many black rust pin-hole. Not so good condition


Polishing work　Make base surface perfectly is most important.


After mirror finish　Polish, polish and polish, that's all. Needs patience but blade is shining brilliantly !

Disassembly OPINEL knife

OPINEL disassemble How to

Caution for OPINEL knife custom

• Work at Self-responsibility
• Care for injure and bleeding
• Make blade edge dull before work start
• Sharpening is important and necessary skill. Before mirror finish polishing
• Do not disassemble OPINEL knife forcibly
• Prepare and arrange work room and take time for break. if you feel tired and bored, it do not bring you nice result
• Do not trust internet information completely including this pages. Think well and check surface condition before you move next step

These are self-commandment for me. So I do not obey so much.

Customized OPINEL Fillet knife

Customized OPINEL Fillet knife

Custom point
1. URUSHI lacquered handle
2. Mirror finish blade

OPINEL INDEX

OPINEL INDEX
Written in Japanese

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