Maybe a little dramatic, but...

I read the posts about grinding scratches and jumping from 60 grit to 400 after ht. Well, I figured you guys had been grinding waaay too long. Probably best not to make any sudden movements or loud noises, lest you all turn violent or something. So I tip-toed away from the computer and out to the shop. Boy-howdy, does that ever work! I'm completerly blown away.

Then Steve says you need to break the cork belts in for ten minutes. Too funny - I'd been told to break them in before, but never how long. I had tried twice before, for a total of probably 3 minutes, before getting bored, saying intemperate things and hanging it back on the wall. Out I went to try again. I had to dodge two year old green compound that rocketted out like gravel when I turned on the grinder, but sure enough, ten minutes later, it was working.

This is amazing, cleanup and finishing now takes 1/3 the time, and I've still got more to learn. I'm one happy camper!

Thanks again.

Glad this forum was a good move for you. You made my day. Never hurts to try something new.

I'll second that!!!

I tried the 50x to 400x jump today on a push dagger I just got back from Paul.... Whoo-hoo, it works!

I was first afraid that I wouldn't be able to control the 50x enough, as I usually clean up my plunges and grind lines at 120x and 220x. Also, I really couldn't imagine that one could go from 50x to 400x, but I knew you guys wouldn't all be pulling my leg.

That's a slick thing, and it's saving 3 belts out of the sequence, a.k.a about $18 or so.

I need to call up John and order some cork belts, but I tried it with the trizacts I have, and it works great.

I still have that practice thing, but this sure has helped a TON!!!

Thanks Steve!
Nick

Matt. Yes you need to break in those cork belts to start using them ,but the best part is that with time those belts get much better.
Now the step that is going to take some practice and understanding is the one to know how to look for those bigger scratches. Good luck.
Ricardo Velarde
www.velardeknives.com

The scratches are easier to see if you can move the blade around and get a different angle of light to hit the scratches on the blade.

Sometimes I go on a time thing, rather than even looking for the scratches, put enough time into the polishing/belting and they go away. Tehy can be hard to see. Even if they show up on the buffer, it doesn't take much to go back to 400x cork and go over it again, then a bit on the 600x cork belt.

Previously, I had problems with 120 grit scratches showing up at the 400 grit stage. I think the 220 grit paper was folding metal into the 120 scratch and disguising them. Then the 400 grit would show them up again.

Obviously, no technique is a complete silver bullet. They all require practice, good lighting, and a good hard look at the results. This one does seem at least to be a real silver-jacketed bullet to me though.

Sometimes it is the little things that make big differences. :)

I guess, like it or not, knives, and even life, are made up of little things. Some of them matter more than others, but either way, if you don't take care of the details, the end result might be a little less than one had hoped for.

Wow. I tried this today on some S30V before HT. Ground with a worn 36 grit belt, then a 320 norzac. Wow. It worked really well!!! I went and vertical flat ground it on the contact wheel after, and was amazed at how few scratches were left. A little time on the 320 again and they were almost all gone!!!!

Glad it worked on that tough stuff. How did you finish the blade after the 320x? Or was that the final finish?
Thank you.

Well, after 320, I went to 500 norzac on it, then it will be off to Paul bos for HT. Then I will get the scale off and prob hand sand to 400 or 600 or so. I guess i'm a glutton for punishment hand sanding S30V, but i need something to do!

Sounds like a good plan. With my limited experience with these types of steels, I'd recommend getting as close to a final finish as possible before heat treat. Life will be easier after, I'm sure!