Club Obi Wan

So I just ordered an Adventurebilt Raiders buckle. Kim told me they come unfinished and require "filing and water sanding"..So, anyone got any tips for making my buckle look new? Here is the pic Kim sent me. The one on the right is the unfinished buckle. The one on the left has been finished and water sanded. How to do I do this? Thanks guys!

I'm surprised you got an unfinished buckle, although I guess some people like to finish stuff on their own. I just don't happen to be one of them.

An auto supply can set you up with the proper sand paper and answer any questions you might have.

Imahomer, the AB buckles come like that.

A bit of filing and wet n dry will sort that out.

Yea, I see they come like that. Like I said, that isn't for me, but I understand others may like that.

What do I file with? A fingernail filer? And whats Wet n' Dry?

Hey ReturningSon,

I believe these things are laser cut stainless steel, so they harden slightly on the cut lines. That said, a fine or medium "b*****d cut" file might not cut it (mine wouldn't).

I used sand paper (300 or so grit to keep me from cutting too much). I backed the paper with a straight sanding stick (about 1/2" square) to keep the edges straight on the out side, a smaller stick (maybe 1/4" square) for the inside. Same tools for rounding things off a bit so the buckle wouldn't cut the leather.

Wet and dry sand paper will work with water if you decide to "wet sand" it. I didn't. Any slight scratches 300 might leave we'll call disstressing.

Dan S

wet and dry is usually not regular sandpaper. It's used on metal, which is why I suggest an auto supply house. You sand, but keep the sandpaper wet.

So what should I do? Take it to my local auto repair joint and ask if they can wet-sand it? I would rather do it myself. So do I file down to a point or what? Do I wet the sand paper? Please give instructions for dummies!!!

Go to Pep Boys or wherever, and pick up some "Wet-Dry" sandpaper in the paint / body-work section. Get a rat-tail file for the inside angles, and a flat file for the outer ones.

Do all the filing first, to get the edges smoothed down, then hit it with the sand paper. That will give it a nice finish, and take care of any nicks or scratches from the file.

You've sanded projects before, right? Do the coarse stuff first, then move to the finer grit.

Good luck.

Thanks Haliburton, will do!!!!

Lowes also has wet/dry sandpaper... 400, 600, 800, maybe even 1000 grit. Menards might have it too. They should all work fine, but if you start with 400 make sure you finish with about 800 would be my advice.

-Allen

I've found that the auto parts stores are usually VERY helpful. If you tell them what you want to do, they'll help you along with good suggestions, pointers, as well as how to points.

You were being sarcastic, right?

If that last question was directed to me. The answer is no... I'm not.

Should have ordered more of these. The buckle was 3 euros and the shipping was 4 euros!!!! Man, should have ordered 10 or something and possibly saved on shipping. Oh well!!!!

Imahomer wrote:If that last question was directed to me. The answer is no... I'm not.

The ones over here are quite the opposite, they are really geared up for trade sales, pretty unfriendly places! Unless you go in covered in grease and wearing overalls.

For something like that, buy yourself a nice set of Jeweler's files

It arrived. I might just leave it as is..no biggie...anyway, here ya go!

So all that worrying for nothing. ;-)

How much are these again?

like 3 bucks then $4 to ship to US (yes, the shipping costs more than a buckle) but its worth it!