Buffing before heat treat

H

hellgap

Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
1,189
Should I buff my knives with green polish before I get them heat treated . Im using mostly cpm 154 , cm154 and some 440c. I polished one up tonight but I couldnt rember how high Isanded too so I layed into it untill I had like waves in the mirror finish. Im sure that I ll have to resand to 500 and up from there and rebuff after heat. Or am I correct. I am at least 95 % finished before HT . the reason I am asking cuzz im not happy with my polish after HT
 
I wouldnt bother buffing pre-HT. If youve sanded to 500 like it sounds thats plenty far to go before HT
 
no don't buff before H.T. Buffing removes metal and your steel is in a soft state. Depending on how YOU buff , you could create low spots .
After HT I will take my blades down to a 15 micron belt , a 9 micron I think would be better . Then to the buffer .
 
I dont go any more than 220 prior to HT, usually have some spots to remove and will need to resand anyway.
 
when i made a knife for kalama i put a mirror finish on it even though he wanted a satin finish. i had a 19 micron finish on the blade before heat treat. after heat treat i went back to the 19 micron belt and then buffed with white rouge. you can also hand sand with 1500 grit before buffing if there is any scale from heat treat. are you using foil wrap on your ss blades? here is the link if you want to check out the knife i made for kalama http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=582180
 
Im not doing my own heat treat , I dont have a oven or cryo so that will have to wait. I looked at the knife any mine is clos to the one your showing even the style is close lol.
 
Mate different heat treating techniques effect how finished your part can be. For instance using high pressure inert gas quenching you can have close to net finish when it goes into the furnace and have it come out fine.
 
Oneill has a very valid point. buffing before HT could creat valleys/etc.
so don't.

Buff is to finish....and if you really well hand stroke the blade...and bolsters....then a very light green chrome or white, buff can give you a very deep looking finish of a stroked steel.....just be gentle and "light-touchy". Try it and work out to your desires.......
A good example is to see Eugene Shadley's slipies.....and I am not sure that is how Gene does them...but gorgeous.......
 
The method of HT i get is from Rob at Ranger Knives. Maryln and ROB both do them together. I believe she does all the washing and wraping rob does the oven and cryo. When the knives come back they have a thin scale and some have blue on them but sands off easy with 500 grit. Im just thinking that the scale may not be as severe and I could use 1200 abrasive grit to remove the scale . when i get the knives to this point I am scared to sand below 500 as the blade has been thinned so much already from hollow grinding . kellyw
 
kelly, send me your number and i'll give you a call. i have some more tips that are too lengthly to type that can help you out a lot.
 
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