[sandpile]

JIM- Rich has it right. We need more info on the steel and manner of work.

If you don't have a buffer, is one thing, if you are afraid on washing the lines out with a heavy buff, is another thing.

There are some steels that do not buff well under a hard buff. D2 and 5160 are two of the most popular that a fellow needs to be careful with.

On my blades that I intend to have a mirror finish and still have sharp grind lines, I carry my sanding out to 6 micron. You have to be careful on the fine belts, they will over heat in a heart beat. A light green buff using very little pressure on the blade is the final machine step.

I can get almost the same results with hand sanding, using 2400 grit as the last sand paper, then using rouge on a flat leather on a board and finally news paper. Much to much work when it can be done on the sanders.grin

chuck