Best Sandpaper for Steel

I've never used EDM stones. Do you use the same hand sanding technique like in the Nick Wheeler videos? (changing sanding direction with each new grit)
 
I thought that was the way it's always been with Redline Rhyno-wet.. with only the 1500-2000-2500 grits being SC.. I only have up to 1000 grit and always get it from supergrit, and it all works great!

I've never used EDM stones. Do you use the same hand sanding technique like in the Nick Wheeler videos? (changing sanding direction with each new grit)
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Yes.. Even when draw filing you do this technique. Doesn't matter what abrasive or "cutter" you use.. Check out Don Fogg's video over on his bladesmithsforum (com) in the Arctic Fire vid's.. He show some great techniques as well as speaks some words of wisdon :cool: .. I haven't seen the entire vid yet as I only just found out about it the other day, but it's Don Fogg, nuff said! ;) :D lol seriously though.. check it out as well as Nicks, I think they'll both really compliment eachother. Here is the link to the diff vids in the series.. Don's is the first vid (top of the page)

http://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?showtopic=23706


~Paul
My YT Channel Lsubslimed
 
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That is perhaps not as important when you get to the finer grits. Burt Foster IIRC, told me a few years ago at the Blade Show that if you have steady enough hand, you can alternate between fine grit belts and hand sanding or stoning in alternate directions up to say 600-800 grit and save a lot of time. He also had a blade that was "only" hand finished lengthwise to like 220 or 240 but it was PERFECT. He asked me to guess what level of fishing it was and I think that I said 600 grit. That is when I stopped trying to finish Cru Forge V to any higher than 400 and even them, i was just rounding off the tops of the 320 grit scratches that I had made with the EDM stones. :D
rcetroy said:
I've never used EDM stones. Do you use the same hand sanding technique like in the Nick Wheeler videos? (changing sanding direction with each new grit)
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Don't hate me for saying this, but I've found 3m Sandblaster Pro sandpaper to work very well on annealed steel. Very little loading and works for a long time. Grab a pack next time you're at HD, you might like it.

Edit- I assumed this was only for wood. Just looked and 3m says it's gtg with steel so maybe I'm a tad less embarrassed. [emoji14]
 
3m precision is a ceramic paper that HD carries. Pretty good review but I doubt that those folks were removing metal with the paper.
 
The fastest stuff I've used is the 3m auto paper. Ran out and had to purchase at a local KOI. It worked great but for almost 2 dollars a sheet I'll hopefully plan better in the future.
 
JMJones said:
EDM stones are often much better than paper as they are cheap, last a long time and more pressure can be used. I use paper only for the final few grits.
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Sorry for my ignorance, what is an EDM Stone? Google and Wikipedia were no help...Google just kept giving me vendors, and machining info, please inform this lowly apprentice...
 
As far as pre-sanding goes, if you're doing everything with files it's worth taking an old file and making a sen(the scraper Japanese swordsmiths, and the guys who still make the pullsaws) use. I made my first one from a worn out half round-ground a hollow in the flat to get rid of the teeth and make it easier to hand sharpen, and ground pretty steep chisel edges in the working area. On annealed steel it pulls up beautiful long curls, and avoids the deep scratches you get when a chip gets stuck in the file.
(I realize that the above requires a grinder...but it's easier to mooch a half hour on a bench grinder once than to do so every time you make a knife...). I'll try to find one of mine and post a pic-the other advantage they have is that it's pretty hard to put ripples in a blade with one.
 
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