Roy,
When you say ripples what exactly do you mean? One "ripple" is from not keeping the blade flat and the edge of the belt grooving the steel and the other ripple can be from the belt splice which can put a wormy looking groove down the length of the blade. For the latter, better quality belts are in order. I believe that L6Steel gets his belts from a quality supplier that he is quite happy with. L6Steel, if you see this post, chime in.
If your problem is the grooves from the belt edge, then a little more practice at where you first touch your blade to the belt may be in order. I don't know if this is the "proper way" to do it but the first placement of the blade to the belt is always at the plunge in my operation. I only move the blade in one direction, never back and forth. I don't use a tool rest but I do use a guide which is only two pieces of flat stock bolted together at the plunge. This helps considerably. I take the guide off after 120 grit.
Hand finishing is part of flat grinding, sorry to be the one to tell you that. I have a "Cadillac" grinder (Hard-Core) and I still do quite a bit of hand finishing. It doesn't take "that" long. I go up to 400 grit on the grinder then start with 180 or 220 grit for hand work. I just clamp the blade in a vise and use a piece of flat wood with leather glued to it as my "sanding pad".
Bob Wills playing in the background doesn't hurt......
