How fine a finish for color case hardening?

[smallpatch]

Just finishing up some Hawken pistol parts to send for color case hardening, and wondering about how fine to sand/polish?
Thanks in advance.

[David Rase]

I have been taking my stuff to 400 grit and then buffing it with 0000 steel wool and I like the results.  I know you have seen a few of my examples.
David

[jerrywh]

1000 or 2000 grit

[Tim Crosby]

1000 or 2000 grit

 You will find it at an auto parts store, Wet/Dry sand paper. TC

[David Rase]

1000 or 2000 grit

Jerry,
You are making me feel lazy. 
David.

[smallpatch]

Thanks gang!
I'm at 320 right now..... Think I'll go with David's suggestion...... Not sure I want to go to 2000.  Wow, that's a LOT of work.

[Acer Saccharum]

The smoother the finish, the brighter the colors.

[David Rase]

The smoother the finish, the brighter the colors.

True, to an extent.  I heard the same thing, so I polished a couple of pieces beyond 400 just to see what the difference was.  I did not see enough difference to warrant the extra work and consequence of rounding of sharp corners.  Again, I refer you back to my "I must be lazy comment". 
David

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It is my experience that each successively finer abrasive requires less time and thus effort, than the last.  I polish to 1200, 'cause that's as fine abrasive paper as I can get here.

[snapper]

I agree, anything past 400 grit goes really fast.

Fleener

[L. Akers]

Hand polish to 600 grit then tripoli polish on a muslin wheel.  The brighter the polish, the better the finish.

[Daryl]

Canadian Tire has or used to have the black-faced 1500grit wet/dry paper.