finishing/hardening/polish sequence

[tHinslice]

I'm new to the art of knife making and am starting with old circular saw blades.

1. Looking for a good all around starting system for sequencing through sanding (2x72 @ 3600rpm) grits and buffing (3600prm) wheel types and compounds. I have purchased white rouge LA555, but nothing else. WHat type and grits of sanding belts work well, and what type of buffing wheels and compounds?

2. How much polishing work should be done on the blade before heat treating?
3. How thin is too thin on the edge before heat treat?

 

[Patrickknives]

3600 is pretty fast for a 2 x 72 and you can go slower on the buffer as well.

I rough with a 50-60 grit, then 120 and sometimes 220 prior to Heat Treat, You will get scale and need to grind more so no use in polish. For your first knives I would skip the polish, choose a nice grit 220 or 320 and stop there. That way you dont need a buffer, I really dont use my buffer much anymore.

For up to 120 I use Norton Blaze, over that I use other Norton Belts

Leave the edge about the thickness of a dime prior to HT.

BTW you need to choose your steel based on how you are going to HT. You may not be able to HT saw blades very easily but someone with more experiece can discuss that. I would recommend skip the saw blade and start with a know steel like 1075 or 1084.