[TheForge] Finishing Swage Blocks

[Bruce Freeman]

Lotta talk recently on this subject.  I have a Green and Mengel block I =
need to finish.  I had previously tried flexible sanding disks, but found =
it rather tedious and didn't get very far.  I just picked up a couple flap =
wheels I'd intended to try on the angle grinder.

What techniques have the rest of you used, and how effective were they?

I was wondering whether acid etching would work.  Coat the block in =
asphaultum - which resists etching compound.  Then lightly sand the =
regions you want to finish, so that you cut through the asphaultum down to =
the HIGH points only.  Acid etch =AF should reduce the high points, =
selectively.  Then rinse off the acid, sand a little MORE asphaultum off, =
and re-etch.  Presumably this would take a few cycles.  When the area is =
smooth, recoat with asphaultum and leave it alone until the rest of the =
block is finished.  Finally wash off the asphaultum.  Note that I haven't =
tried this and am not advocating it.

Bruce
NJ