Finishing help needed

[johnggrg]

I need some help. I am finished shaping my blade and need to sand it before HT. What grits of sand paper do I need? Don't know what I should start with and finish with before HT. And what I will need after. I have a couple nice scratches that need to come out. I am doing all by hand with a block. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. john

 

[Jason Fry]

I think a good smooth 220 finish is OK before heat treat. Get all those deep scratches out before HT or they'll drive you nuts. You could go all the way to 400 if you wanted to, but I'm not convinced it would do you any good.

 

[Dan Zawacki]

I take a radically different approach. Most people will tell you exactly what has already been stated.

However, I have found that polishing the blade as if it were finished and ready for mounting does me some favors...

I typically take the blade through 800 and then through polishing compounds on a cloth wheel, and get to a mirror polish before HT. I have found that I get much less scale and oxidation pre-quench this way, and lets me pick up with 300 or 400 post temper. Just a quick vinegar soak, scrub with a kitchen scrubbie, then on to sandpaper. Makes for post HT cleanup to be much easier.

Even if I'm going for a 600 matte finish, I'll take it out to mirror before HT. This helps both make the cleanup easier, and helps the final finish go down more smoothly with less effort.

 

[Hengelo_77]

120 -> 180 -> 240 -> 400 -> 600 -> HT -> 600 -> as high as you like

Edit: draw file with a smooth file before sanding. It will take out scratches and help flatten the bevels

 

[johnggrg]

Hengelo_77. That was exactly what I was looking for thank you very much. John