Smooth and polish really hard steel (Burnisher)?

[froglips]

Ok, yes, I am spending hours and more on abrasives than buying a $10 new burnisher.

Now that thats out of the way.....

My "new" burnisher was badly pitted. I didn't notice for way too long to return it.

So, in prep for St. Roy's class last night, I got inspired to try to take out the pitting.

Chucked the burnisher in my drillpress (Shopsmith) and worked it with ever darn sort of abrasive paper I had.

In the end, 120 Silicon Carbide did a decent job. But, now I've got deep scratches in it (yes, I traded pits for scratches....) :BangHead:

When I switch to 220 Wet/Dry with oil, it polishes the burnisher but is doing Bo Diddley to the scratches.

Any thoughts from those with metal learning as to a way to work on this really hardened metal?

Oh, and when doing this, would you recommend the drillpress be running faster or slower?

Thanks!
Jim (Likes to do things the hard way)

 

[Mike Davis]

Do you have a diamond stone? Say, about 600 grit?

I would work it by hand with the diamond stone, probably take about an hour if the scratches are very deep or 20 minutes if light. If you have a 220 and a 600 so much the better/faster.

Use a rolling slide technique to keep the surface straight and round.