Originally Posted by
JoshEarl
I wouldn't go below 600 grit, because it's just not necessary for what you're doing. (I haven't found that using coarser grits increases microchipping, but others say they've seen it happen.)
Stick with 600 grit, or even 1000 grit, and don't be stingy with the paper. You'll probably need to change it every 50 strokes or so. It cuts very fast. Be careful not to apply pressure unevenly or you'll cause problems. Just keep it even all through the stroke.
The main problem you're likely to have is going from the 1K sandpaper back to the 4K Norton. I've always found that the sandpaper leaves a rounded bevel, and it takes some time to flatten that out again on the hone. Don't be surprised if you hone for quite a while and don't notice any change. In your case, it sounds like you made a good choice to go with the paper, even given the rounded bevel issue. Some damage is just too extensive to remove with the 4K hones, at least in one lifetime. :)
Josh