finishing/polishing

[Scott Roush]

I'm looking into improving my tools for cleaning up the difficult places on the blade.. ricasso, plunge line, etc.  What do folks think about the use of the EDM polishing stones? Overkill? Or... the right tool?  I liked the idea that kind of break off conforming to the shape of the area you are working on....

[kbaknife]

Good idea and used by many.
Whatever helps is "legal"!

[Scott Roush]

Thanks... I've been trying to find em online but it's kind of confusing about how to order them.  Do you get each grit in packs of stones? Or do you order each stone individually? They seem kind of disposable from what I'm reading...

[KHALVERSON]

scott
edm polishing stones are a great way to go
i work in a tool and die shop and the polishers set me up with a few from time to time
 they do break down but remove steel faster than sand paper
 the biggest draw back is you cant go to the hardware and pick em up when you need them
i use primarilly 280,320,400,500 grit
then back up to a 320 wet paper and go up with
finer grits from there
kevin

[Lin Rhea]

Norton makes some small stones called Abrasive Files. Is this about the same thing? Lin

[KHALVERSON]

lin
do a search for boride abrasives
we typically use the am, ao,and as stones
in grits to 600
kevin

[Doug Campbell]

EDM Stones are a great tool, cheap, good for getting into "tight" places and can be shaped to whatever you need. The 6X1/4X1/2 in 240, 320 and 600gr are what I use most.

 EDM Stones

[Scott Roush]

Doug... How long does each stone last?  Are these things considered disposable?  I will have to order from somebody... so how many of each would make sense??  Also... do you use any lubricants or anything to prevent gumming??