tools for polishing your fullers ( bohi)

[bubba-san]

I also have a few tools I use for shaping and polishing your fullers (bo-hi) on your blades . The middle one is M4 polished like a mirror. the large piece is made from D-7 , the files are my HT black diamond chain saw files. When you are doing this kind of project the steel must be hard, hard hard . No temper just hard as heck . Otherwise it wil gaul the steel you are working on . Only thing needed is some hard carnuba or min wax to keep her sliding .Tools for polishing that is bullet shaped is called Mikagi -bo
You can then put a lot of pressure on piece and work away . This will polish them like mirrors . Better than any abrasive for polishing . I put a handle on for better grip.
The grit on polished steel is in the 100,000 category.These are old japanese style tools still in use today.

 

[Doug Lester]

So, as I understand it, these are just as quenched hard, smooth faced tools that basically burnish the surface of the fuller?

Doug

 

[bubba-san]

Pretty much , although you must get as smooth as possible by filing with progressivly finer cut round file . Then start working with smooth mikagi rod . Also pictured is D-7 cutter . It has a very smooth bottom but, it has cutting edge on tip for smoothing Grooves and scratches .
Its a lot of handwork . The resulting shine and mirror polish is worth it and it looks nice . I Tape the opening with several layers of blue painters tape just in case I slip It wont gouge blade . I then tape blade to floor where I work , or top of workbench so it wont move around.