Pits in New Razor While Buffing
Hi Guys,
i am making a few razors out of some CPMS30V steel i had on hand. i have not used this steel before and have come across a problem i have not had before.
i followed my usual routine for stainless steels - belt grind down to 600 grit, drop back to 360 to begin hand rubbing with wet/dry paper with water and bicarb soda, progressing up through a few stages to 800 grit. Then send out for vacuum heat treatment {this time to 58 Rockwell}.
On return back to hand sand with wet/dry, water and bicarb 800, 1200, 1500 & 2000grit. Under a magnifier with fluro light (you know the round ones} it looks good with only the 2000 grit scratch pattern - very fine.
Then i buff with green compound followed by white - both on soft cotton buffs.
This time, after the green {haven't gone to white yet} on half the blades i have had very small, random pits appear. There seems to be no pattern and it is not on all blades or both sides every time that has appeared.
i am looking for a cause. i keep the buffs and compounds in sealed plastic containers in the workshop to avoid contamination. Due to the lack of pattern and it being pits and not scratches i tend to discount contamination anyway. Could it be inclusions in the steel revealed when a very fine layer is buffed off? Really could not see them before buffing; and buffing for me is a very light finish after all the hand work. As i said, have not used this steel before and i have not had it occur with any of the other steels i use in knives and razors.
Any feedback from the voices of experience will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks & Regards,