ATS-34 sparkles

D

dmarx

Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
59
All right, I'm getting aggravated now. I ground out and sanded to 900 grit before hitting the buffer. All scratches have gone, but now I'm getting these little sparkly things. All over, in clumps! Look under a magnifier and yep, they're little sparkly things. I resanded, rebuffed, and voila! Little sparkly things. Grrrrrrrrr........... Any ideas?:grumpy: :grumpy:
 
dont mean to be a smart ass but just brush finish the bad boy and put her to use :)

I think those sound like carbides in the steel...........
 
C L Wilkins said:
What buffing compound are you using? Is it possible you are over buffing?

Craig
Click to expand...

that's what I thought too ..
also what steel are you using?
but most the time from the grinder 400-600 grit go to hand 1000 - 1500 wet then to dry, if you have to and do a very light buff with white rouge, very light.. see if that that helps..
but the steel and H/T makes a differace too.
I hope this helps..:)
 
I'm using ats-34 from Admiral. Heat treat was by TKS. I hollow grind and am going 80, 120, 240, 320, 400, 600, 900 then buff. I'm using White and Green buff compound.

I'm thinkin it's the steel. I had a couple of inclusions on the last blade. (looked like black pinholes) This blade I had one on the tang so it didn't matter much but these sparkles have been driving me nuts.

I now redid the blade with a 3m green belt and it came out great; covered most of them up, but not all. In just the right light you can still see the buggers.
 
What happens when you over buff and what's the result? (go ahead, tell me you get little sparkley things :o )
 
dmarx said:
I'm using ats-34 from Admiral. Heat treat was by TKS. I hollow grind and am going 80, 120, 240, 320, 400, 600, 900 then buff. I'm using White and Green buff compound.

I'm thinkin it's the steel. I had a couple of inclusions on the last blade. (looked like black pinholes) This blade I had one on the tang so it didn't matter much but these sparkles have been driving me nuts.

I now redid the blade with a 3m green belt and it came out great; covered most of them up, but not all. In just the right light you can still see the buggers.
Click to expand...
make sure you do not soak toooooooooooooo long you will get what I cal white spots.. grain growth if you are a bit to hot also..
buffing
if that translates into orange peal then I'd say yes:confused: :)
I'd cut out the 240, 320, and the 900 if you are doing that on the Grinder
then go to hand sanding as I mentioned, but that's me.. I got fed up with wasting belts..
 
I agree with Dan about the belts...hand work after 400 grit or so...at least that is what I do.

If you are after a mirror finish, there are much better steels than ATS34. RWL34 and 154 CPM are unsurpassed if that is what you are after and are on a par performance-wise as ATS34.

For a using knife that is mirror finished, remember that it will get scratched the first time you use it.

Craig
 
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