Working with heat treated cpm-m4

[M.FREEZE]

I know that it is recommended to do most of your grinding on CPM-M4 prior to HT, but does that apply to thin stock such as .074" ? I have never worked with M4 stock this thin and I am worried about warping due to HT.
1:Is it a bad idea to HT then grind, or is it better to grind then HT?
2:Will .074" M4 stock warp during HT?
3:What is the optimal hardness for edge retention?

 

[Kevin Cross]

I have used M4 that thin for small kitchen knives. I had it heat treated first then ground it with lots of water and new belts. It worked ok but good luck if you decide to hand sand this stuff!

 

[M.FREEZE]

Definitely will not be hand sanding this steel... I'll let the Bader III do the work. Thanks.