How to Polish Knife Blade Scratches? Easy 5-Step Guide!

Almost every day we have to use our knives to cut things. But we don’t take proper care of them like other utensils. But without care and rough usage, it gets scratched. By the time you finally notice, it’s too late.  Removing them can be a pretty lengthy process.

So you’re now asking how to polish knife blade scratches?

Well, to do that, you need to clean the knife. Then smoothen the knife a bit. After that, add polish to the knife. Use a polishing tool to ensure there’s no scratch on the knife. Finally, rub some oil on the knife and let it rest before using it.

Well, the instructions are somehow vague. But we have all the details in the next segments.

Let’s get started with that!

Can You Remove Scratches from The Knife Blade?

The truth is you can’t remove scratches from the knife blade fully. What you can do is minimize the visibility of the scratches.

So don’t let anyone fool you by saying otherwise. Even if you become successful in removing the scratches, you might end up changing the knife finish. So that’s another factor you need to consider.

But we still mentioned a way for you to remove the scratches from your knife. Before that, look into the reasons why a knife gets scratched in the first place.

Why Do The Knife Blade Get Scratches? How to Prevent That?

Well, scratches on a knife blade never look good. If you mirror-polished your knife, the scratches are the worst. 

You know if you can find the reason behind it, it gets easier to avoid the next time. So let’s tell you what causes the knife blade to have scratches.

Cutting Objects Incorrectly

Well, cutting can be one of the reasons. But you’d think that’s what a knife is for. That is true, but you don’t need to be rough while doing so. Because then the knife blade will get some scratches.

A lot of the time, we use knives to open a bottle or cut a can. But there are other tools like can openers to help with that issue. A knife shouldn’t be your go-to option for every need. Otherwise, you might leave scratches on the blade.

Prevention

You can put knife stickers on both sides of the knife. These stickers are mostly harmless. But don’t cover the edge with it. So that you can cut it effortlessly. Or you can get a blue patina layer on the carbon steel blade.

This will minimize the possibility of scratches.

Rubbing on Unsuitable Surfaces

We do end up rubbing the knife on different surfaces. Especially we rub it on the cutting board. Now not all cutting boards are good enough. Some of them are made of plastic materials. You shouldn’t rub your knife on them.

Because that will leave scratches on the knife. Or it can be that your steel scrubber is scratching the knife you’re cleaning. So let’s see how to prevent that from happening.

Prevention

Firstly, you can use wooden cutting boards. So that it won’t be able to scratch the knife blade. For further security, clean the knife with a gentle foam cleanser. Or you can use a soft loofah to clean it.

Inappropiate Storing 

Lastly, the scratches might be from the wrong storing process. We sometimes do the mistake of storing other utensils like forks and knives altogether. When we do so, the utensils might scratch one another.

Prevention

To prevent that, it’s always preferable to keep the knives separate. You can store them in a clean and dry drawer. So that you can prevent it from getting scratched.

Now, to remove those scratches, let’s get to polishing.

How to Polish Knife Blade Scratches?- 5 Easy Steps!

Well, polishing knife blade scratches are really hard. But you can still do so. We have listed out the steps just below the section.

All you have to do is, go through the steps. And then get the scratches out of your blade.

Step 1 of 5: Clean The Knife

The first thing as always is to clean out the knife. For that, you’ll have to take a scrubber that’s not too harsh or soft. Then scrub the knife with it for 1 minute. And then wash it with normal water. Cleaning will make the scratches more visible.

So you’ll know which parts to work on mostly.

Step 2 of 5: Rub Your Knife on A Whetstone

Now take a whetstone and rub the knife on it. Keep rubbing the edges and places with more scratches. So that the whetstone can fix them. 

Then, you need to recheck if most of the scratches are gone or not.

If you see fewer scratches, move to the next step.

But if the knife tip is really thin, then be careful with the whetstone. Because you can accidentally bend the tip of it. Then you’ll have to fix the bent knife tip. 

Step 3 of 5: Apply Polishing Paste

At this point, you’ll have to apply a polishing paste over the knife. Take a cotton bud and with it take some polish out. Now polish the knife with it.

Apply a double layer of polish so that no place is missed. If you feel like some spots need a bit more polishing, apply another layer there.

Step 4 of 5: Use A Dremel

Now take a Dremel and use it on the knife. It will smoothen up any faults on the knife. It’ll also remove any leftover scratches on the blade. So what you need to do is move the Dremel over the blade in a circular motion.

It will ensure that the Dremel touches every bit of it. Now while you use Dremel, the knife can get hot. So wearing gloves will be a better option. Once you’re done with the Dremel work, wait for 15 minutes.

Step 5 of 5: Wash And Oil The Knife

Now wash the knife with water. Then dry it using a towel. Make sure the knife is completely dry. You might have to wipe it twice. So that you can ensure it’s totally dry.

Finally, rub some gun oil over the knife. But you need to find the specific one for your knife. Make sure you don’t use any lubricant for your knife. So here are a few suggestions on the gun oils that we prefer:

Then leave it for 3-4 hours as it is. After that, you can wash and use the knife.

So that’s how you polish knife blade scratches. With that, we draw an end to this topic.

FAQs

Question: Can I use sandpaper to polish the knife blade scratches?

Answer: Well, a lot of people do that. But we don’t suggest doing that. It’s because rubbing on sandpaper might leave you with more scratches.

Question: Can I use patina to get rid of scratches?

Answer: Well, you can get a patina on your steel knife. It will cover the scratches lightly. But it won’t fade them completely. Also, it’s not a permanent solution.

Question: Can I scratch my knife while sharpening?

Answer: Yes, you can scratch your knife while sharpening. Because we sharpen the knife on harsh surfaces mostly. So there’s a chance of scratching it then.

Parting Words

Here’s where we end the article today. You know how to polish knife blade scratches. So it’s time you work on the knife.

If you have confusion, you can always ask for guidance in the comment section.

Good luck!