question on o-1 mirror finish

Jim Coffee

Jim Coffee

Well-Known Member
on o-1 what grit do you guy's take your blades to before heat treat if you want a mirror finish after heat. thanks for any help. jim
 
I've only done 2 so far, but I went to 600 on the grinder and then went back to 220 on hand sanding all the way up to 600 again pre heat treating.
 
I have done several O1 mirrors, don't anymore, but what I did was go to a 400 prior HT. I would suggest you use some de-carb powder or paste or treat in SS foil (foil makes quenching a pain) or you will have trouble with the mirror finish. If you do it right, you can go right back to 400 up to mirror @ 2000. I use PMC powder and the blade comes out of quench slightly dull grey but otherwise perfect. I now go straight from that to a cork 600 belt for final finish 75% of the time. I try for a "semi-mirror satin" finish.
 
I go to 220 pre heat treat on the sander, after heat treat I do the flats on the sander with a 220 grit then 320, and finish grind the bevel with a 120 to the finish thickness, then go to 220, then 320 till all 220 grit scrathes are gone. Then I start hand sanding with 220 grit and progress up to 2000 grit. I see no need to go any higher than 220 pre HT. because you will have to clean up the scale, plus most don't grind to the finished edge thickness pre HT, unless it is an air hardening steel wraped in foil for the HT.
Just the way I do it.
 
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