What is finer??

[melsdad]

2000 grit sand paper, or 0000 steel wool?

The reason I am asking is I am finishing a knife handle in Oak diamond wood. When I have finished woodwork projects in the past I have used steel wool to rub in paste wax. I have hand sanded my scales to 2000 and am happy with the finish, but don't want to knock it down any if steel wool is not as fine.

Thanks
Brian

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

They're apples and oranges I'm afraid, but I believe in this application the 2000 grit sand paper is finer.

I've been experimenting with pink scratchless buffing compound and a low speed buff for this application with good results (if shiny is what you're after).

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Nathan is correct, they are different. FWIW, some woodworking charts list 0000 as being 600 mesh equivalent. Others list it higher.
The difference is best compared to a scraper and an rasp. Steel wool shaves the surface with a wide loop of fine metal, and sandpaper scratches the surface with a pointed Crystal of hard material. For rubbing in the final finished, 0000 is perfect, and for sanding down to a glassy surface, 2000 sandpaper is perfect. Together they will produce a perfect finish.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Using steel wool and paste wax together defeats the purpose of the wax. Would you wax your car that way?
Diamondwood is a laminate. It can be polished to a mirror shine on a buffer, or by hand. Sand to 800 grit (or use 0000 steel wool), then buff shoe-shine style with a soft cloth and Simichrome, Flitz, etc. Wax is not necessary, but it won't hurt anything.