Thread: Coarse Powders anyone?

So people talk about using powders an pastes for finishing, but no one's ever mentioned coarser powders, as far as I can find. Well, in my recent communications with Naniwa, I mentioned I'd like to see some samples of their precision powders, used in silicon cutting and polishing, and their representative very kindly sent me some!

I have small bottles of both Green Carbon and White Alumina in #400, #1000, #1500 and #3000.

I was thinking about seeing how they'd work on pads as a kind of beveling set, if you will.

Now, I know that this is silly. I know that the hones we all know and love, inexpensive and widely available, are the best solution for lower grit honing, and it makes no sense to try powders for various reasons (they might cut too fast and get all messed up with swarf, they might be difficult to distribute evenly and so might hone unevenly, etc.). But I figured hey, why not? They were free, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, they could work. It'll be fun to try, at the least!